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Post by Stratmangler on Sept 9, 2018 11:58:49 GMT
The differences you heard are probably down to the mastering. The album I'm playing came out this year, and is highly unlikely to register on any record chart any time soon. The master sent to Spotify will be one and same as what I'm listening to right now.
Here it is. Koch Marshall Tio - Toby Arrives
The Spotify sounds very good, but the MP3 download has a dimension that the Spotify stream lacks. Which means I'll have to purchase the CD, because it will be an improvement over the MP3 files.
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Post by MartinT on Sept 9, 2018 12:08:02 GMT
I hear what you say, but I have yet to hear an mp3 beat Spotify for SQ, either downloaded or encoded myself with LAME.
I think it tells me that your equipment is better with files than streaming.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 9, 2018 12:38:48 GMT
Or it could be that the bit perfect rip that Strat produced was maybe more bit perfect than another lol
In a even environment I gave yet to hear any streamed material match an equivalent red book file, some get close but still not enough
Interestingly a downloaded redbook file should be exactly the same as a streamed file (insert can of worms here) yet it does not equate to the same playback performance
Bit perfect rips maybe bit perfect but the ripping software, the pic you make the copy on and the amount of electrical noise present all have an impact imho
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Post by Stratmangler on Sept 9, 2018 12:47:11 GMT
Since my last post I've been digging around my server settings, found some sox settings relating to OGG Vorbis that were enabled but unnecessary, and disabled them. The Spotify stream now sounds identical to the MP3, which is a satisfactory result. The info I get for the Spotify stream is incorrect, as it's indicating the the kbps is 705kbps CBR for everything, but I can live with that.
CD rips still sound better, but the difference is narrowed somewhat. Spotify has gone up in my opinion, from being a good source of streaming material, to being a very good source of streaming material.
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Post by MartinT on Sept 9, 2018 12:59:44 GMT
I'm hoping my file replay quality will improve a little once I receive the linear PSU for my NAS. It should improve both files and streaming, too, as it will also power my router. Every little helps but I'm never going to be building a large file library.
However, I can't wait to receive the Poco CD and rip it.
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Post by speedysteve on Sept 9, 2018 14:29:56 GMT
Was going to say, this is getting stranger and stranger. But the playing field got levelled by settings. The MP3 we played was 128Kbs and was def killed by streamed 320Kbs spotify. We did not test 320 v 320 - too much to hear and too little time to hear it. Anyway, yesterday it was all about Martin's RPi v my Flac file Laptop solution.
I'm in a quandary. Really I'd like to move forward and upward and perhaps RPi to I2S Najda is that way? Removes the Digione Spdif conversion so might be even better - who knows. It's not very expensive (in hifi terms) to try and just a bit of soldering iron faff to do.
I will send an email to the WaveIO chap and see if I can put the RPi into WaveIO transparently - that would be the best of all worlds..
Another option is to try to slay the boggo lappy and stay with FLAC, ripping and download faff! Spotify is very appealing as an alternative to this! Or stay with the lappy, upgrade to SSD, power supply or batteries etc..
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Post by MartinT on Sept 9, 2018 14:42:20 GMT
Many different ways to achieve it, Steve. Keep us informed about RPi I2S direct to the Najda.
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Post by speedysteve on Sept 9, 2018 14:52:12 GMT
Yes, here's a pic of Pic to Najda, note the few pins used - but how long are those cables!! I love lash ups like this - proving the potential..
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Post by Stratmangler on Sept 9, 2018 19:53:02 GMT
The MP3 we played was 128Kbs and was def killed by streamed 320Kbs spotify I'm not surprised.
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Post by speedysteve on Sept 11, 2018 8:16:48 GMT
A quick update: first readings show that early RPi's had poor clocks when feeding IS2 signals. Either need external clocks or avoid! I've not read up on the later versions yet to see if this has been addressed. I've seen pics of what look like dedicated pins out for I2S on some RPi pics but I could be mistaken by camera angle / other pinout wires confusing. More investigation needed.
I'm guessing the RPi experts here might know the answer?
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Post by MartinT on Sept 11, 2018 9:20:37 GMT
All the add-on boards (like the DigiOne I use) take I 2S from the GPIO multiway connector, so yes it has dedicated outputs. Also see here (old article but still relevant).
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Post by Deleted on Sept 11, 2018 9:20:57 GMT
Steve
Can you take some more in depth images of the dac for me.
Putting the circuit boards in a box and applying some shielding in the right places will also help a great deal Steve
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Post by speedysteve on Sept 11, 2018 10:30:01 GMT
All the add-on boards (like the DigiOne I use) take I 2S from the GPIO multiway connector, so yes it has dedicated outputs. Also see here (old article but still relevant). Thanks Martin, The clock issue was of concern - perhaps that is no more? Connector wise, I think it was just photo angles and wires coming out here and there that confused me.
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Post by speedysteve on Sept 11, 2018 10:40:57 GMT
Steve Can you take some more in depth images of the dac for me. Putting the circuit boards in a box and applying some shielding in the right places will also help a great deal Steve Yes indeed - that lash up is not mine Mine is all boxed and uses OFC copper pin to pin of less than 4cm from WaveIO to Najda. I would do the same with RPi to Najda. Here is a close of the new Najda board - the difference with it and my older one I2S wise is that the pinouts are helpfully marked on the board now. Here is a WaveIO to Najda pin to pin diagram which may also be of help.
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Post by speedysteve on Sept 15, 2018 14:31:45 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Sept 15, 2018 16:08:29 GMT
Steve
If you can keep the signal transmission cable length below 120mm then use I2S
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Post by speedysteve on Sept 15, 2018 18:16:34 GMT
Thanks Tony, I understood from WaveIO Lucian that 40mm was max. That's what I have now, so no problem there.
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Post by speedysteve on Sept 15, 2018 19:08:20 GMT
Been doing some RPi identification and pinout learning (I'm a complete RPi newbie). The pic of a RPi connected to a Najda is the old RPi 2x13 pin connector it seems. Getting I2S out of that was somewhat more involved I've read. The 40 pin GPIO connector it's as per the above webpage pins 18, 19, 20, 21. Here's connections Time to go back on this webpage and read what I need and order up
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Post by MartinT on Sept 15, 2018 19:38:42 GMT
Great stuff, Steve. Lead the way on Pi/Najda collaboration!
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Post by speedysteve on Sept 16, 2018 14:33:44 GMT
Yes, will need to pick your brains about a shopping list now Just to check one thing, can Volumio / RPi can see and play my FLAC files stored on the network, as in my networked laptop or PC? I remember you looked for my laptop on the network but can't remember why it could not be found? Presumably the RPi could be hooked up to a better than my current Laptop HDD should I get one later on?
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