Yes, but the design is far better than any standard bloody computer, regarding power supply design etc.
No bizzare background services creating issues, no electrically noisy fans, etc etc, and it goes on and on.
No bizzare background services creating issues, no electrically noisy fans, etc etc, and it goes on and on.
That is not true. Reclocking will reduce jitter from bad clocks but cannot make a stream bitperfect.
Let's take an example; you play a 16 bit 44.1 kHz file from Windows. The Windows mixer resample it to 48 kHz. Now it is not bitperfect. The reclocker sees a 48 kHz stream and reclocks it to 48 kHz usings its accurate clocks. So the jitter is reduced by the reclocking by the stream is still 48kHz i.e not bitperfect. The reclocker cannot know that the original file was 44.1 kHz and repair it.
Of course, if it gets resampled than its not bitperfect anymore, but this can be disabled in all cases.
It’s just a gavanicly isolated supply. The only thing is I used good regs and solid polymer caps with low ESR.
As for the pi 3 vs 4. Mostly no difference. I can under clock, under volt the 4 and it runs cooler than the pi 3 with better performance.
Good idea, never thought about underclocking it. Will try it later, perhaps this will be a solution to my emi problems.
I also thought about the rpi cm4, but they included a switching psu on the pcb, what a pitty, this smps is very bad quality.
I’m listening to Focusrite Scarlet 2i2 (2nd gen) right now. It is feeding my F5X via its’ balanced outputs and I think it sounds very good. The only nag is that it has no remote. 🙂
And yes you can do distortion measurements with it too. Actually that was the reason I bought for.
Wonderful to see so much interest in this subject on the Pass forums. Seems it struck a chord. Will dive into it all once my preamp is done =)
Now if I could just figure out how to build the little computer that is built in to that unit, I would be home free! That is really what is at the heart of my own quest, anyway. I figure DACs will come and go, but this part to a greater extent for me anyway, could be fixed for a while.
The Elac unit, at that price is a bargain. It comes with the lite version of the streaming program, and while I dont want, as I said in earlier post, an over priced streamer, and particularly one with a DAC is what I am trying to avoid.
That said, this unit addresses most of my concerns. Its more of a DAC that includes streamer! Plus, the over priced streamer part is addressed by way that it includes not only the subscription but a DAC as well. Not to mention it is at a substantial discount on Amazon from its MSRP.
So, I will carry on in my regular hindsight 20/20 manner, to go after a proper streaming part while in the mean time using existing DACs, in order to learn about proper streaming device. Then once that is accomplished the Elac will be wanted, but no longer available for me!
If play money was sufficient, I would buy this unit just for the bargain it represents, it could always go in one of my setups somewhere. In the meantime my search to learn the streaming end continues. This thread has many answers for me, or has led me to them.
Russellc
In addition to all the great info in this thread and forum, I recommend checking out Peter Tanner and Brystons take on digital players. They focus on PSUs and digital circuitry, even down to power sources for the different digital outputs, in order to make both significant and smaller improvements. Bryston might be expensive, but there are things for us to learn from what they share. CEO Tanner and his engineers share bits and pieces of their technology online, and James - like Papa in this forum - participates in the debate. Makes for a good read. Can’t remember the forum right now, but a quick Google search should do it for you. I would especially recommend the technology changes made to the sound card of the BDP-2 round about 2014, when they released an upgrade board. It resonates well with this discussion. I mention this because we might learn something, though people here really seem knowledgeable. The player does affect the sound, but improvements can definately be achieved at lower costs than Brystons price tags. As long as one know what counts. That’s the hardest part, next to getting there, I think.
Regards,
Andreas
Regards,
Andreas
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I'm trying to learn more about this R2R stuff and reclocking, steep learning curve for me anyway!
Russellc
Russellc
So I initially mentioned the PL D1 as a topology I would like to hear and perhaps implement. But they are in scarce supply. Now, the D1’s analog part includes Nelsons Zen I/V converter. And it is also likely Nelsons last contribution to the DAC domain, to use his own words in a thread about the subject in 2005.
So I came across an idea: why not try to make a D1? I mean, not a direct copy so as to be sued by Papa and all, but a circuit implementing the principles of the D1, and most importantly: The Zen I/V converter?
I am a complete beginner, but I am going to build my own DAC some day. So might as well start the thought process.
As you can see, this idea is not new: A New Take on the Classic Pass Labs D1 with an ESS Dac
There are probably more examples. But what if some digitally experienced guys gathered up with the likes of ZM and maybe some other Greedy Boyz? And perhaps Papa and Wayne can chime in correcting us along the way?
Picture this: In a few years time, the circuit is available in the store as a D1MOD kit?
I do not argue the provess of vinyl. Rather, I believe we are many who also appreciate the convenience of digital.
Thoughts?
Regards,
Andy
So I came across an idea: why not try to make a D1? I mean, not a direct copy so as to be sued by Papa and all, but a circuit implementing the principles of the D1, and most importantly: The Zen I/V converter?
I am a complete beginner, but I am going to build my own DAC some day. So might as well start the thought process.
As you can see, this idea is not new: A New Take on the Classic Pass Labs D1 with an ESS Dac
There are probably more examples. But what if some digitally experienced guys gathered up with the likes of ZM and maybe some other Greedy Boyz? And perhaps Papa and Wayne can chime in correcting us along the way?
Picture this: In a few years time, the circuit is available in the store as a D1MOD kit?
I do not argue the provess of vinyl. Rather, I believe we are many who also appreciate the convenience of digital.
Thoughts?
Regards,
Andy
I like the idea. For me right now I have the DAC on pause (in my mind, always looking) and am focusing on a player/streamer.
I think I am going to try a Raspberry pi with the Allo Digione signature. That will take care of the Raspberry pi shortcomings to large degree via reclocking and so forth. Still sorting the Allo products.
Russellc
I think I am going to try a Raspberry pi with the Allo Digione signature. That will take care of the Raspberry pi shortcomings to large degree via reclocking and so forth. Still sorting the Allo products.
Russellc
Spencer (FET Audio) did this D1 clone a while back. You can find his schematic in the first post. NP D1 DAC clone with enhancement
I considered tackling a D1 clone project a while back, but ultimately couldn't justify what it was going to cost, plus the overall complexity of the build. Ended up with a Soekris DAC and am very happy.
I considered tackling a D1 clone project a while back, but ultimately couldn't justify what it was going to cost, plus the overall complexity of the build. Ended up with a Soekris DAC and am very happy.
Do not forget this:
Zen -> Cen -> Sen, evolution of a minimalistic IV Converter
No boards available but you can make it P2P. Or make your own boards. I use it with an es9028.
Zen -> Cen -> Sen, evolution of a minimalistic IV Converter
No boards available but you can make it P2P. Or make your own boards. I use it with an es9028.
Soekris has finished products (DAC2541), as well as PCB only (DAM1021). They are true R-2R. However, they are not true DIY...
The true DIY would be Doede's DDDAC. It will sound pretty amazing as well, but you'll have to spend a lot of time and money to get it through the stratosphere.
Do not go cheap on DAC because Nelson's amps are very revealing. The cheap stuff will be unbearable, the good stuff will be absolutely amaizing.
DDDAC has only one resistor doing I-to-V conversion... Aleph J with its high input impedance will work REALLY well with this DAC.
DDDAC into Aleph J... exactly my setup!
But don't forget the volume control. I use a Sowter 9335 TVC, which relieves the impedance matching issue a lot. You don't need a power amp with a very high input impedance unless the volume is fully cranked up (TVC at 1:1 setting).
Would greatly appreciate hearing about how you accomplished under clocking and under volt the pi 4? I like the idea of pi 4. but noticed the allo digione signature mentions using pi 3 on the Allo site...I've read others talking about it making more of some kind of interference than pi 3. I have no idea myself but seems like this "under rating" may aid that? if it exists...😕
Russellc
I feed the DDDAC balanced-out straight into Aleph J and then use JRiver to control the volume. No transformers and switches to control the volume. But digital volume control has its downsides as well. I can (probably) hear the detrimental effect of this approach, but only below 80% volume. I'd call it insignificant. Plus, there are coupling capacitors as well, but no C1's in Aleph J. 🙂
What is stunning and puzzling is the sound difference between a "proper" high-end DAC (Matrix Audio X SABRE Pro, OPPO 205 used as USB DAC) and the simplistic purist NOS DDDAC approach with a single resistor doing I/V conversion. Measurements aside, DDDAC is superior in every way.
Well, at least I like it better. It simply sounds natural, clear, faithful to the original... unprocessed. With other DAC's, I always feel that there's a wet rug blocking the sound coming from the speakers.