Just want to give a thumbs up for Primare NP5 Prisma (mk2) compared to a Google Chromecast Audio in the same conditions (WiFi, toslink out, Deezer HiFi, same DAC with "jitter eliminator"). Not sure what is causing such a (big) difference in sound, but first observation is how good is NP5 on forte passages where it is still keeping the detail finesse where CCA is all over the place.
For a 20X difference in cost, one would hope there'd be a difference in sound...
I had not expected a difference by changing the transport and keeping the DAC. I was expecting CCA to break on me any time because it run quite hot for seven years. I still don't think Primare is too expensive, maybe CCA is dirty cheap.
In many cases devices with "standard" internal DAC chips perform better than used with expensive external DACs. Not always but quite often. Example I experienced yesterday: Elac Discovery with CS4350 🙂 sounds way better than an external ES9028Q2M based DAC via SPDIF coax. The ES9028Q2M DAC has multiple low jitter clocks, various voltage regulators, OPA1642 output stage, linear PSU etc. The hundreds of Euro costing external setup turned out to be completely redundant/superfluous. It felt a little like X10D days 😀
It is quite hard to make things better with the 2 box approach and thus extra interfacing and double conversion/muxing/demuxing of signals as opposed to 15 mm long PCB tracks carrying separate I2S signals... The proof of that is the Chromecast thingie which apparently had your external DAC underperforming*. Ideally the DAC should perform equally regardless of source and an expensive one should not care about the source at all to make up to the expectations of an external DAC that would improve things. Reality is different, external DACs are simply good business.
*Toslink is often the weakest link compared to coax and exceptions with necessary trickery confirm the rule. It is jittery by nature and no original Toshiba transmitters/receivers to be found in modern devices. Now you have a decent source you could try out coax and be surprised.
It is quite hard to make things better with the 2 box approach and thus extra interfacing and double conversion/muxing/demuxing of signals as opposed to 15 mm long PCB tracks carrying separate I2S signals... The proof of that is the Chromecast thingie which apparently had your external DAC underperforming*. Ideally the DAC should perform equally regardless of source and an expensive one should not care about the source at all to make up to the expectations of an external DAC that would improve things. Reality is different, external DACs are simply good business.
*Toslink is often the weakest link compared to coax and exceptions with necessary trickery confirm the rule. It is jittery by nature and no original Toshiba transmitters/receivers to be found in modern devices. Now you have a decent source you could try out coax and be surprised.
Last edited:
Chromecast is great for convenience but either way it’s connected (analog or toslink) it is inferior sound quality to any other way I have to stream music with the exception of the toslink out from my cheap vizeo (smart tv) monitor (It’s almost unlistenable)
I’ve been using the DS-S101-G for several years now and never cease to be amazed by the sound quality from its d/a conversion, for best sq I find it needs to be native tidal through its roon app…….if the Elac Apple airplay is used (all else the same) with tidal from another source (iPad in this case) the sq suffers quite a bit, as in the smooth yet detailed magic is gone.
I’ve been wanting to try other streamers like the Cambridge 851N or Lumin D2 but am afraid it would be money and/or time wasted……maybe one day!?
I’ve been using the DS-S101-G for several years now and never cease to be amazed by the sound quality from its d/a conversion, for best sq I find it needs to be native tidal through its roon app…….if the Elac Apple airplay is used (all else the same) with tidal from another source (iPad in this case) the sq suffers quite a bit, as in the smooth yet detailed magic is gone.
I’ve been wanting to try other streamers like the Cambridge 851N or Lumin D2 but am afraid it would be money and/or time wasted……maybe one day!?
Yes the DS-S101-G is a well designed miracle. I am also amazed every day I use it (contrary to other devices I do use it everyday) and accepted its shortcomings and went back to class AB amplifiers because of its excellent analog outputs (and mediocre SPDIF output + lack of USB output). I still do try all stuff I can get my hands on but the Elac stays and that is something rare. It took me 3 or 4 pieces of them to realize the relationship was going to last.
Since we are happy campers anyway: the lack of even 1 button or switch so absolute minimalism while having quite rich and stable software is a blessing and a joy. In my case much more expensive audio players with features (MQA, DSD, femto clocks, blue LEDs ....Pfffff....) went as they were not as good sound wise or while the app or firmware simply were not user friendly at all.
So it is one of the best discoveries (pun intended) I made in audio in decades and IMHO one of the best choices in audio overall.
Since we are happy campers anyway: the lack of even 1 button or switch so absolute minimalism while having quite rich and stable software is a blessing and a joy. In my case much more expensive audio players with features (MQA, DSD, femto clocks, blue LEDs ....Pfffff....) went as they were not as good sound wise or while the app or firmware simply were not user friendly at all.
So it is one of the best discoveries (pun intended) I made in audio in decades and IMHO one of the best choices in audio overall.
Last edited:
I'm a big fan of the Wiim Mini.
$100 and 100% awesome
https://darko.audio/2022/02/the-wiim-mini-is-now-bitperfect-and-fully-gapless/
$100 and 100% awesome
https://darko.audio/2022/02/the-wiim-mini-is-now-bitperfect-and-fully-gapless/
No local file playback at all but does play from a NAS of course although I doubt the customers for devices like this are into NAS storage. Can't help to think that the WiiM Mini is a hook with bait to lure you in streaming services mainly?!
Never mind, I will try one out.
Never mind, I will try one out.
Last edited:
Both NP5 and the WiiM support Chromecast AFAIK. I wish they had included a coax output and ethernet port + USB port with the WiiM.
Did you try out the coax cable? You can even temporarily use an analog RCA cable just for testing. The NP5 is one of the devices that have galvanic separation with a SPDIF transformer which is good.
Did you try out the coax cable? You can even temporarily use an analog RCA cable just for testing. The NP5 is one of the devices that have galvanic separation with a SPDIF transformer which is good.
Last edited:
Hi
Trying to make strimer fumes about chromecast 3.0, HDMI extractor to i2s, and daca es9038q2m.
The DAC I wanted to use does not have an MCLK input, so I did not make this connection.
Unfortunately, my configóracja does not work, complete silence.
All suggestions welcome.
-Chromecast checked.
-Dac works with RPi.
-The extractor used for the first time.
Trying to make strimer fumes about chromecast 3.0, HDMI extractor to i2s, and daca es9038q2m.
The DAC I wanted to use does not have an MCLK input, so I did not make this connection.
Unfortunately, my configóracja does not work, complete silence.
All suggestions welcome.
-Chromecast checked.
-Dac works with RPi.
-The extractor used for the first time.
Attachments
Sorry, can't help with your project yogilla, but I just wanted to add that the Wiim Mini is now on sale for $79 https://www.amazon.com/WiiM-Mini-Multiroom-Preamplifier-Assistants/dp/B09HC5GRKY , and the new Wiim Pro (which adds a coax digital out, ethernet in, support for Chromecast Audio, and a few other things) is now available for $150. https://www.amazon.com/WiiM-Pro-Chromecast-Multiroom-Compatible/dp/B0BJDY6D1W/
For a comparison of the 2, scroll down to almost the bottom of this page: https://wiimhome.com/WiiMMini/Overview
No I don't work for Wiim at all, I just love really well designed and implemented audio products at prices virtually anyone can afford, of which this may be the best example!
For a comparison of the 2, scroll down to almost the bottom of this page: https://wiimhome.com/WiiMMini/Overview
No I don't work for Wiim at all, I just love really well designed and implemented audio products at prices virtually anyone can afford, of which this may be the best example!
yogilla62, you need an HDMI audio extractor, such as this -
https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/164374099879
I cannont find a board-only version, probably because the fully cased versions are so cheap. I think if you open up the unit you will be able to tap into the I2S lines between HDMI decoder chip and DAC chip, to feed off to your own DAC's I2S inputs.
There's a more comprehensive unit here, at higher price -
https://www.audiophonics.fr/en/hdmi...l-to-i2s-coaxial-optical-4k-60hz-p-13419.html
which does expose I2S outputs on header pins. This unit offers the additional feature of being able to decode DSD-over-HDMI.
https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/164374099879
I cannont find a board-only version, probably because the fully cased versions are so cheap. I think if you open up the unit you will be able to tap into the I2S lines between HDMI decoder chip and DAC chip, to feed off to your own DAC's I2S inputs.
There's a more comprehensive unit here, at higher price -
https://www.audiophonics.fr/en/hdmi...l-to-i2s-coaxial-optical-4k-60hz-p-13419.html
which does expose I2S outputs on header pins. This unit offers the additional feature of being able to decode DSD-over-HDMI.
Thank you very much for any suggestions. After thinking about my mistake, I started looking for a real extractor and I think I found the right one :
https://www.audiophonics.fr/en/interface-modules/hdmi-to-i2s-spdif-digital-interface-p-13415.html
https://www.audiophonics.fr/en/interface-modules/hdmi-to-i2s-spdif-digital-interface-p-13415.html