Yeah, things can be simple 😀 I have a few better devices (hardware) but most suck on the software front. Since the DAC has all the tricks to overcome jitter issues you might be happy with an easy to operate device that simply delivers. Well, I can't describe the joy of "install and forget" and simply use a device to eh... play music. In my case that means now 3 devices all ready to play but only one that is being used most 🙂
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You make a good point, unfortunately with no real hands on experience in the streaming world it's a bit of a challenge for me to work out what my secondary and tertiary priorities are. My one and only reason in trying to find an alternative to USB connectivity is based on the quality of the sound and naturally sound will always be my first priority. I appreciate all the viewpoints and the more than merrier as far as I concerned.
Why the aversion against USB? Most devices have ethernet, coax SPDIF, Toslink SPDIF and USB (as in: output to DAC or FDA). Of all those I would avoid Toslink.
The Elac has USB but ... it is meant for storage like a USB hard disk or USB memory stick filled with favorite albums which is the simple approach compared to the streaming hype. It can do 24/192 via coax. So just copy albums to a good quality USB stick and use the Roon app to navigate. That is all. Roon really is excellent but the hard truth is that one is supposed to have an army of devices when one has the full lifetime license that costs 699$. The single device in the world that has the Roon Essentials software (supposed to do less but it is quite complete) and all the required stuff in an "all in one" is the Elac. Strange isn't it?
I can't know or tell what the secondary and tertiary priorities are but I would choose a simple high quality device to enter the arena. There are many devices out there but simplicity in operation is not on the priority list of the manufacturers it seems.
Volumio (software) is also very good. I don't have hands on experience (yet) with their Primo device but I do use the software on very cheap hardware that can compete with the Elac. DIYer by heart but most DIY solutions lack something in 1 or more department. For me it must be a combo of soft- and hardware that should just do its job whilst not being the ugly duckling. One of my devices is A quality but I have to shutdown the app and/or restart the device quite often. That is not the user experience I am after. I am not affiliated with Roon but these guys sure know how to make stuff.
The Elac has USB but ... it is meant for storage like a USB hard disk or USB memory stick filled with favorite albums which is the simple approach compared to the streaming hype. It can do 24/192 via coax. So just copy albums to a good quality USB stick and use the Roon app to navigate. That is all. Roon really is excellent but the hard truth is that one is supposed to have an army of devices when one has the full lifetime license that costs 699$. The single device in the world that has the Roon Essentials software (supposed to do less but it is quite complete) and all the required stuff in an "all in one" is the Elac. Strange isn't it?
I can't know or tell what the secondary and tertiary priorities are but I would choose a simple high quality device to enter the arena. There are many devices out there but simplicity in operation is not on the priority list of the manufacturers it seems.
Volumio (software) is also very good. I don't have hands on experience (yet) with their Primo device but I do use the software on very cheap hardware that can compete with the Elac. DIYer by heart but most DIY solutions lack something in 1 or more department. For me it must be a combo of soft- and hardware that should just do its job whilst not being the ugly duckling. One of my devices is A quality but I have to shutdown the app and/or restart the device quite often. That is not the user experience I am after. I am not affiliated with Roon but these guys sure know how to make stuff.
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Why not Raspberry Pi with its direct GPIO to I2S output - through one of the popular jitter correction modules (Allo?, Ian Canada?) for direct I2S connection?
Plenty of streamer / player software available in that domain.
I'm using one with a USB connected I2S converter, for ease of implementation. I'm tempted to get the Allo jitter "bug" FIFO reclocker and try that route. I could also try a USB isolator, or a different USB to I2S converter board (better clock osc). Lots of room to play, all relatively inexpensive.
Plenty of streamer / player software available in that domain.
I'm using one with a USB connected I2S converter, for ease of implementation. I'm tempted to get the Allo jitter "bug" FIFO reclocker and try that route. I could also try a USB isolator, or a different USB to I2S converter board (better clock osc). Lots of room to play, all relatively inexpensive.
I find the pi2aes amazing, and you can use aes/spdif out now and i2s later. It's even better with a good power supply. Pi2design is also close to releasing a complete streamer, Mercury. I found this video excellent: How do DDCs improve audio? (Denafrips Hermes, Pi2AES, Schiit Eitr, ifi Igalvanic) - YouTube
Just another opinion ;-)
Just another opinion ;-)
This YouTube video was the thing that got me started on the whole non USB streaming idea. I would recommend the video to everyone
Very interesting video and a fine collection of hardware. Maybe my luck is that I have either devices with built in DAC or that the ones I like have coax SPDIF so I don't use USB often. The Pi2AES is sold out, bummer.
The Pi2Design streamer "Mercury" seems a very good option. I hope they put time in the esthetics too.
The Pi2Design streamer "Mercury" seems a very good option. I hope they put time in the esthetics too.
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