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Post by speedysteve on Nov 24, 2018 17:32:47 GMT
Here's my CA perched on top of the rear pillar of the equipment rack Innocuous little things Just think of all the expensive, bulky gear, not to mention millions of CDs it is an alternative to..
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Post by mikeyb on Nov 24, 2018 18:52:25 GMT
Full Dynamic Range IS the default if you plug in an optical cable 😉
You can also buy a Google power adapter for it that carries the internet too if you have a poor WiFi signal
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Post by tony on Nov 25, 2018 7:32:44 GMT
plumbed in a good quality glass optical last night....raised the bar again
likewise added the dorado to the seg another incremental improvement.
Just cant get my head round how good it sounds,do wonder if it will improve even more once its had time to burn in.
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Post by speedysteve on Dec 2, 2018 19:41:34 GMT
Full Dynamic Range IS the default if you plug in an optical cable 😉 You can also buy a Google power adapter for it that carries the internet too if you have a poor WiFi signal I've got one of these on the way.. I will have a compare WiFi Vs Lan -> USB. Comparing the two using the supplied wall plug power on both. Then it's apples and apples. If favourable I'll open it up and try to bypass the mains all together, in favour of my 5v linear supply, then I'll have WiFi free and linear PSU to help the CA along..
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Post by speedysteve on Dec 6, 2018 18:28:28 GMT
Been doing the tests between
1) Chromecast Audio (CA) original power supply and WiFi streaming
VS
2) CA power supply and ethernet connection streaming
VS
3) CA with linear power supply and WiFi streaming
Results are..
3 is best, quite closely followed by 2. 1 is clearly worse. I would not go back to this.. Most striking is the siblance introduced by the original power supplies on both Ethernet and WiFi. Take Good Harvest's Woodstock track.
It's irritating beyond the pale with original power. With the linear it's a convincing life like performance. It notches up Res and realism across the board too.
I switched back and forth many times on various tracks to confirm..
So Ethernet streaming and linear PSU should be a worthwhile little mod to make.
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Post by speedysteve on Dec 6, 2018 18:30:12 GMT
A further update This evening's fiddling was to cut the Google Chromecast Audio Ethernet / power thing open and extract the mains to 5Vdc module. Put that in the recycling bin and give it some decent quality connecting pins to fit on my linear PSU. I checked that the output really was 5V and indeed it was so should be all good for this evening's listening test of Ethernet connected Chromecast Audio and linear 5V supply. Should be a match made in heaven.. See pics below. Striking fear into every Audio modders heart. Seeing HF stamped on a PSU What's left the power input and Ethernet to usb module. Power lines in added and strain relief tie wrap added.
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Post by tony on Dec 27, 2018 14:47:16 GMT
im thinking of powering CCA with a car battery.
a 12v dc to 5v dc step down module with mini usb output is only a couple of quid.
whats the thoughts on this bringing benefits?
Im with Steve on the sibilance with the standard PSU.
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Post by John on Dec 27, 2018 14:52:39 GMT
It should help I used to do this with the pi. No harm in trying I have a spare battery and perhaps converter somewhere you can have if I can find them
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Post by tony on Dec 27, 2018 15:15:43 GMT
Thanks John...I was wondering if the voltage convertor would add any sonic nasties.
I still have all the wiring in place for my solar powered car battery set up in the cellar-used to power dacs and t amps to good effect.
need a new car battery...the old ones are not holding charge for long now.
may well give it a go....Steves findings with linear power got me thinking.
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Post by John on Dec 27, 2018 15:51:36 GMT
It certainly was a step up from the SMPS
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Post by MartinT on Dec 27, 2018 17:25:48 GMT
Linear PSU or 12V-5V buck converter are both good solutions (I've used both).
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Post by speedysteve on Jan 2, 2019 16:02:19 GMT
I've found 5v linear to be better than battery on my Chromecast Audio.
I got the Lan converter and DIY 5v linear supplied it..
I also gave my routers linear juice on Martin's advice. Every little helps.
Short of trying to change a surface mounted chip or other components in the Chromecast Audio (not gonna happen), that's as far as I can go. I might visit the Lan converter board to see if any caps could be swapped..
It sounds as good as my PC, Jriver / USB FLAC streamer tbh.
That was using Tidal.
Spotify is still good and after a while you do forget about that tiny extra Tidal FLAC cleaness.
Spotify gives a lot with the mods.
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Post by MartinT on Jan 2, 2019 16:44:32 GMT
Nice result, Steve. I take it this is for the auxiliary speakers around the house, or have you got it working with the Najda?
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Post by speedysteve on Jan 2, 2019 21:46:46 GMT
Nice result, Steve. I take it this is for the auxiliary speakers around the house, or have you got it working with the Najda? Only ever used CCA on Najda
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Post by MartinT on Jan 3, 2019 5:52:56 GMT
I must have missed that part. How is it connected?
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Post by speedysteve on Jan 3, 2019 8:27:58 GMT
Optical cable - 3.5mm from CCA to usual optical plug in the DAC etc. It's full 24/96 capable then.
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Post by Chris on Jan 3, 2019 16:03:07 GMT
What's the power supply you use?
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Post by speedysteve on Jan 3, 2019 17:11:04 GMT
I've tried battery but prefer the Chinese linear 5V you can get on eBay. Nice big transformer and good enough components. I've got one on my Slave router (12v) and have ordered another for the master router..
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Post by Chris on Jan 5, 2019 4:54:06 GMT
Could you link me please mate,no idea where to even start!!
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Post by speedysteve on Jan 5, 2019 8:22:39 GMT
Could you link me please mate,no idea where to even start!! Linear 5V etc PSUI first got a 5V one for WaveIO board I was using and then used it on CCA. Now I'm using both outputs - one on RPi and One on the Kali reclocker board that sits ontop of RPi. I then got another but 12V to power the router. They arrive with a nice moulded DV plug that you will have to either modify - cut off and solder to a USB cable, or perhaps ebay has inline DC socket to USB plug Yes, here they are, but check the DC plug size as I have not tried these link
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