Updated Pi 3 B+ and DACs worth a look

seanm
Rank: Trio

Posts: 162

Updated Pi 3 B+ and DACs worth a look Mar 18, 2018 12:54:13 GMT

Quote

Post by seanm on Mar 18, 2018 12:54:13 GMT

Dear All,

Looks like the Raspberry Pi has been updated to the 3 B+... Nothing earth shattering... +200Mhz on the CPU, and it looks like we now have the AC flavour of wireless and Gigabit Ethernet... Probably not enough to replace an existing 3, but probably worth ensuring a planned future purchase gets the update

www.raspberrypi.org/products/raspberry-pi-3-model-b-plus/

The Allo Boss DAC, which I have and like, appears to have been refreshed a few months ago to v1.2... subtle yet sensible upgrades... e.g. 5V direct to the DAC is now via a USB C connector rather than some anonymous header thing... Also:

Latest generation ULTRA low phase noise NDK oscillators (SDA series)
Optimized component layout
New film capacitors on analog stage

www.allo.com/sparky/boss-dac.html

There is also a new "High End" DAC available.... available from Volumio shop etc

www.terratechnos.com/products/terraberrydac/index-e.html

I know nothing about this... other than it is about 4x the going rate for a Pi HAT DAC, but it does look interesting... and the best thing... any worthwhile developments are likely to trickle down to cheaper DACs from competitors.

Cheers
Sean

ChrisB Administrator Posts: 19,719	Updated Pi 3 B+ and DACs worth a look Mar 18, 2018 12:59:20 GMT Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by ChrisB on Mar 18, 2018 12:59:20 GMT Interesting. Thanks for that Sean.
	*I think it's probably just my age that fools people into thinking I'm a grown-up.*

MartinT Administrator Posts: 54,857	Updated Pi 3 B+ and DACs worth a look Mar 18, 2018 13:08:40 GMT Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by MartinT on Mar 18, 2018 13:08:40 GMT Thanks for the update, Sean. Do you think the Allo DigiOne might get some trickle-down updates, too?
	TP-Link MR-600 router > Uptone EtherREGEN reclocker > Sonore Signature Rendu Deluxe streamer > Coherent modded Gustard U18 DDC > Gustard X26 Pro DAC > Belles SA-100 power amp > Usher Dancer Be-20 speakers. 2 x AfterDark master clocks. PS Audio P3 & P12 regenerators. 2 x Uptone JS-2 & Coherent QP-2 LPSUs.

seanm Rank: Trio Posts: 162	Updated Pi 3 B+ and DACs worth a look Mar 18, 2018 21:20:31 GMT Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by seanm on Mar 18, 2018 21:20:31 GMT Martin, While I have no idea about updates to the Digi board... adopting a USB (and why not USB C) connector for HAT power in makes sense to me Cheers Sean

simon Rank: Duo Posts: 71	Updated Pi 3 B+ and DACs worth a look Mar 18, 2018 21:57:52 GMT via Tapatalk Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by simon on Mar 18, 2018 21:57:52 GMT Seriously considering updating my squeezebox touch to a Raspberry Pi but don't know to go with a full Dac like the Boss or a digione feeding my Bushmaster 2.

John Administrator Posts: 15,622	Updated Pi 3 B+ and DACs worth a look Mar 19, 2018 5:06:22 GMT Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by John on Mar 19, 2018 5:06:22 GMT I am very impressed with the DigiOne the reclocking really helps take it to another level and responds well to improvements such as better power and isolation. I have no experience with the Boss.
	Music is where I find my solace Nothing is more beautiful than a guitar, save perhaps two. – Fredric Chopin

MartinT
Administrator

Posts: 54,857

Updated Pi 3 B+ and DACs worth a look Mar 19, 2018 10:08:19 GMT

Quote

Post by MartinT on Mar 19, 2018 10:08:19 GMT

Mar 18, 2018 21:20:31 GMT seanm said:

While I have no idea about updates to the Digi board... adopting a USB (and why not USB C) connector for HAT power in makes sense to me

I agree, I'd much rather feed the DigiOne separately than have it come through from the Pi.

TP-Link MR-600 router > Uptone EtherREGEN reclocker > Sonore Signature Rendu Deluxe streamer > Coherent modded Gustard U18 DDC > Gustard X26 Pro DAC > Belles SA-100 power amp > Usher Dancer Be-20 speakers. 2 x AfterDark master clocks. PS Audio P3 & P12 regenerators. 2 x Uptone JS-2 & Coherent QP-2 LPSUs.

seanm
Rank: Trio

Posts: 162

Updated Pi 3 B+ and DACs worth a look Mar 19, 2018 19:02:21 GMT

Quote

Post by seanm on Mar 19, 2018 19:02:21 GMT

Simon,

Both a Digi approach and DAC daughterboard approach should work. I guess, in terms of sound quality, it will be the performance of your Bushmaster vs a decent PI DAC.

I only have one part of the information.... I have Pi DAC experience, and experience of a older/inferior HiFiBerry Digi board feeding a cheap AV amp, I do not have experience of a decent external DAC

Martin has experience of a decent external DAC, But AFAIK has not her a Pi DAC

The good news is that both parts are cheap... could try the Digi first?

Cheers
Sean

MartinT Administrator Posts: 54,857	Updated Pi 3 B+ and DACs worth a look Mar 20, 2018 9:21:56 GMT Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by MartinT on Mar 20, 2018 9:21:56 GMT I would say: if you already have a good DAC (like the Caiman SEG) then buy an Allo DigiOne S/PDIF board. If you don't, then buy an Allo Boss DAC.
	TP-Link MR-600 router > Uptone EtherREGEN reclocker > Sonore Signature Rendu Deluxe streamer > Coherent modded Gustard U18 DDC > Gustard X26 Pro DAC > Belles SA-100 power amp > Usher Dancer Be-20 speakers. 2 x AfterDark master clocks. PS Audio P3 & P12 regenerators. 2 x Uptone JS-2 & Coherent QP-2 LPSUs.

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Updated Pi 3 B+ and DACs worth a look

Post by seanm on Mar 18, 2018 12:54:13 GMT

Post by ChrisB on Mar 18, 2018 12:59:20 GMT

Post by MartinT on Mar 18, 2018 13:08:40 GMT

Post by seanm on Mar 18, 2018 21:20:31 GMT

Post by simon on Mar 18, 2018 21:57:52 GMT

Post by John on Mar 19, 2018 5:06:22 GMT

Post by MartinT on Mar 19, 2018 10:08:19 GMT

Post by seanm on Mar 19, 2018 19:02:21 GMT

Post by MartinT on Mar 20, 2018 9:21:56 GMT