|
|
Post by Clive on Aug 25, 2016 12:56:11 GMT
I'm finally going put together an RPi for a 2nd system. I'm trying to decide over a DAC "HAT" or using an external DAC. Choices that spring to mind are the Pi-DAC+ or HiFiBerry Digi+. The Digi+ would connect to one of my spare DACs. The rest of the system would be decent amp (I have a few, Temple Audio Bantam One is an option) into Markaudio Sota Viotti One speakers (as in my profile picture).
The Pi-DAC results in the fewest cables but will I end up wanting to give it an external power supply? If so I might as well go Digi+ into a spare "proper" DAC.
Ultimately my question is; how good is something like the Pi-DAC+ bearing in mind I'll be using it with a reasonably decent system?
|
|
|
|
Post by Greg on Aug 25, 2016 13:49:27 GMT
Ultimately my question is; how good is something like the Pi-DAC+ bearing in mind I'll be using it with a reasonably decent system? I normally use RPi with HiFiBerry Digi+ into a upgraded Beresford Caiman II using Roon. I have just borrowed a HiFiBerry Dac+ and made a comparison. The external dac wins hands down. The Dac+ in comparison sounds dull and flat, no three dimension sound stage,and lacks the overall resolution and transparency of the Caiman. IMHO, going with an external dac is a no brainer. |
|
|
|
Post by Clive on Aug 25, 2016 13:53:22 GMT
Ultimately my question is; how good is something like the Pi-DAC+ bearing in mind I'll be using it with a reasonably decent system? I normally use RPi with HiFiBerry Digi+ into a upgraded Beresford Caiman II using Roon. I have just borrowed a HiFiBerry Dac+ and made a comparison. The external dac wins hands down. The Dac+ in comparison sounds dull and flat, no three dimension sound stage,and lacks the overall resolution and transparency of the Caiman. IMHO, going with an external dac is a no brainer. Thanks Greg, it's great to be in contact with you again. You've confirmed what I suspected (about Pi DACs). It seems USB is best avoided with a Pi too, hence the Digi+ |
|
|
|
Post by ChrisB on Aug 25, 2016 13:54:07 GMT
There are plenty of folks ascribing amazing sound quality from what I have started to call Piggy-DACs and citing the lack of cables and connectors as the reason for this. I have serious doubts about this and wonder whether they have actually tried comparing this set up with, for eg, a Digi+ and a decent DAC. I haven't done the comparison either but then, I'm not making any absolutist public pronouncements! I do know someone who has tried it both ways though and he prefers it with the seperate DAC.
|
|
|
|
Post by ChrisB on Aug 25, 2016 13:55:56 GMT
It seems Greg was typing at the same time as me - that's another direct comparison to confirm our suspicions then.
|
|
|
|
Post by MartinT on Aug 25, 2016 14:06:31 GMT
I have one Pi with a HiFiBerry Digi+ feeding an external Caiman-II DAC. That sounds absolutely superb. I have a second Pi with an onboard IQaudIO Pi-DAC+ and that sounds pretty good.
I prefer the S/PDIF to external DAC solution for absolute best sound quality. It keeps the power supplies well away from each other, especially if using optical which I prefer.
|
|
|
|
Post by Clive on Aug 25, 2016 15:08:48 GMT
Thanks guys for your thoughts and experience. I'll probably go for the standard Digi+ and use optical option, saves a tenner and is a more elegant connection for the reason Martin states.
|
|
|
|
Post by ChrisB on Aug 25, 2016 17:52:09 GMT
Don't listen to him!
Mine sounds better via coax, so I strongly suggest you try both for yourself.
|
|
|
|
Post by MartinT on Aug 25, 2016 18:14:42 GMT
Hah!
|
|
|
|
Post by Clive on Aug 25, 2016 18:37:40 GMT
So I spend the extra tenner for the transformer....might as well I suppose.
|
|
|
|
Post by MartinT on Aug 25, 2016 18:50:19 GMT
I have the transformer version, too. Co-ax is good. I still prefer optical, but only because I have one of Stan Beresford's superb optical cables.
|
|
|
|
Post by stanleyb on Aug 25, 2016 18:56:59 GMT
I prefer optical because of the ground isolation it offers. i.e. there is no ground noise with optical.
|
|
|
|
Post by Greg on Aug 25, 2016 19:41:53 GMT
I prefer optical because of the ground isolation it offers. i.e. there is no ground noise with optical. That's very interesting. I was always inclined to using coax because it cut out the conversion process. I'll retry my Beresford optical in the morning. Thanks, Stan for the tip! |
|
|
|
Post by canetoad on Aug 26, 2016 5:42:13 GMT
I have a Pi2 with Digi+ into Caiman II via coax. I also have a Pi2 with IQAudio Dac+ and Pi B+ with HiFiBerry DAC. Best for sound is with external DAC. IQAudio DAC+ sounds pretty good but the Caiman edges it for me for ultimate sound quality.
Make sure you have a quality PSU feeding the Pi.
I haven't tried optical connection. Might try that next and see if I can hear any difference.
|
|
|
|
Post by MartinT on Aug 26, 2016 5:46:24 GMT
Make sure you have a quality PSU feeding the Pi. Yes indeed, I'm still using a battery which sounds best. |
|
|
|
Post by canetoad on Aug 26, 2016 5:54:47 GMT
I'm using the Longdog psu originally bought for my Squeezebox Touch.
|
|
seanm
Rank: Trio
Posts: 162 
|
Post by seanm on Aug 26, 2016 7:22:09 GMT
Hi, I have a couple of Raspberry Pi's, both currently have HiFiBerry products, one is a digi+ and the other is a DAC+ Pro. I have run a number of distributions, and over the summer they have ended up running v2 of Volumio (Currently build 0.979). I have not had the chance to experiment with a decent external DAC, (The Digi+ only feeds an Onkyo AV amp in the lounge) and so I cannot comment about the relative quality of DAC daughterboard vs quality external DAC. One of the things I like about this area is the ability to experiment and tinker for relatively small sums of money.... An additional microSD card will allow a whole new distribution to be quickly tried without the risk of losing a working configuration. tens of pounds will get you a newer faster Pi or yet another DAC to try out. As has been mentioned, power supply compromises are probably the first issue to hit many of the DAC daughterboards. I intend to tinker with a modification to the DAC+ Pro which allows a separate 5V DC supply to be sent to the Analogue side. I will use a battery. One DAC of interest, (I've only watched the review below) is the MAMOBERRY DAC which appears to have tackled the issue of power supplies head on. There is a video review below and this chap has a youTube channel which covers the whole area of digital audio reproduction via DIY networked streamers etc. Note. The actual MAMOBERRY DAC appears to be out of stock until the end of September www.collybia.com/product/mamboberry-hifi-dac-192khz-24bit/Cheers Sean |
|
|
|
Post by Clive on Aug 26, 2016 8:38:40 GMT
Another DAC to research....
RE Pi power supplies; What's a safe max voltage for the Pi? I've all sorts of power supplies and batteries to chose from.
|
|
|
|
Post by MartinT on Aug 26, 2016 9:23:22 GMT
I think it's stricly 5V in view of the chipsets used. You don't mess with that or with any computer board main supply.
|
|
|
|
Post by MartinT on Aug 26, 2016 9:24:41 GMT
Thanks, Sean. That looks to be a very interesting DAC for an all-in-one solution.
I love the Dutch delivery!
|
|
