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Post by John on Oct 25, 2019 15:52:31 GMT
Good you see the upside
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Post by Slinger on Oct 26, 2019 12:51:57 GMT
There's not much choice really, John, is there? AQ Carbon marked as posted, and I've just stuck a rocket up the Chinese vendor of the USB isolator informing them that "Dearest customer" would not "please to wait 2 or 3 days". I then told them to read their own feedback as it was full of complaints similar to mine. As I said, I'm not bothered as eBay has my money covered so I'll get it back or get the goods at the end of the day.
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Post by MartinT on Oct 26, 2019 16:34:12 GMT
I'm now in a position to properly judge the Asus Tinker Board S as I have my Coherent QP-1 supercap power supply back with its uprated 5V current capability to power the Asus. I also have my Mutec MC-3+ USB (in silver, natch) modified for 5V DC power from the second independent outlet of the QP-1. This completes my streamer front end and feeds the LKS DAC via AES/EBU. AudioQuest Carbon USB and AES cables feed the signal paths and JuiceBitz USB and Coherent DC cables feed the power. There is some more burn-in to come with the Asus side of the power supply and the brand new Mutec, so I'll hold off on a full description for now. What I will say is that the Asus beats the Pi 3 hands down for USB output quality and noise, as well as for better bandwidth handling at high sample rates. Meanwhile, the Mutec is a staggeringly good USB reclocker and standards converter to AES (the best of the available outputs to DAC and the best input on the LKS, bettering I 2S). Music is fluid, coherent, vibrant and very exciting to listen to irrespective of genre. Noise floor is vanishingly low, dynamics remain as good as the LKS has ever provided (its strong point) and the soundstage air, space, width and height are all better than I've ever reached with my system. Resolution and fine detail are immense. My objective of building a better quality streamer than the Pi while retaining Volumio, my preferred interface, has been achieved without question.
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Post by John on Oct 26, 2019 16:42:44 GMT
Great news Martin
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Post by Deleted on Oct 27, 2019 10:46:11 GMT
The whole package has come together very nicely Martin, again with the old adage striking true here with decent clean tightly regulated power supplies making a quantifiable difference.
Really a most pleasing result for Martin I felt after yesterday's visit.
One interesting matter we did discuss the ability of the streaming services to sound quite difference with the 'same' tracks!
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Post by MartinT on Oct 27, 2019 11:12:46 GMT
Oh yes, Deep Purple - Stormbringer being a case in point. While most of my listening is done using Qobuz, when we put that album on it sounded 'hot' to the point of being edge enhanced. Not nice at all. We switched to Spotify and it sounded far better balanced and just nicer.
There is no doubt that Qobuz and Spotify do different things with some albums and Tidal, from what I've heard, sounds different again.
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Post by John on Oct 27, 2019 16:09:23 GMT
When I am in Volumio it is giving me 2 HDMI selections 1 SPDIF and 1 audio jack but no USB selection it also gave me I2s option but gone for no in that option I did download the Tinkerboard link
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Post by MartinT on Oct 27, 2019 16:18:06 GMT
Make sure something USB is connected to the Asus, then restart Volumio. It should recognise the reclocker or DAC and give you that option.
Mine comes up with the Mutec to select.
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Post by John on Oct 27, 2019 16:22:35 GMT
Cheers After moving back to the laptop I realised that I didn't have the USB reclocker plugged in 😧 I try again later as enjoying music
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Post by John on Oct 27, 2019 17:37:43 GMT
I just got Tinkerboard up and running using a battery I will upgrade my PSU sometime after Christmas Early minutes yet but showing good potential
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Post by John on Oct 27, 2019 20:47:11 GMT
Here is a summary of my build Asus Tinker Board S Akasa A-RA03-M1B aluminium case Volumio for Tinkerboard on a 16gb microSD card 12v Battery with 5v converter Will update in future Footers (I use Black Ravioli Pads x 2) USB cable a JuiceBitz USB going to reclocker with IFi USB silencers Will upgrade cable in future OEHLBACH 13904 XXL MasterClock Jitter Cleaner High-End USB Oylide USB Cable to DAC Easily beats my Laptop but so it should I will update how it compares to the Limetree as to many system changes to compare Very clean dynamic sound It is a lot easier to build than a pi as has no hat to add on and very simple to put in the case. I even found the burning the SD card really easy using etcher My biggest issue was powering it I had to go back to Battery But will get Tony to upgrade the PSU in the new year
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Post by MartinT on Oct 27, 2019 21:31:28 GMT
Very glad you got it all going, John, and are able to give it a good listen now.
That makes three of us running the Tinker Board S. Looks like it's getting the thumbs-up.
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Post by Slinger on Oct 27, 2019 22:58:35 GMT
Very glad you got it all going, John, and are able to give it a good listen now. That makes three of us running the Tinker Board S. Looks like it's getting the thumbs-up. Yes indeed, a definite thumbs-up. My system is nowhere near as complex, or as high-end, as yours but I can still hear that the ATB (Asus Tinker Board) is a step up from the Pi. I've upped my cable game too, and started using a power-bank instead of a Chinese LPSU, so that probably adds to the improvement, but I'm certain that a lot of it is still down to the little ATB. I'm really looking forward to slotting in and running in the AQ Carbon USB lead now although I do believe that the Oyaide has finally begun performing as it should. I know it's corny, but I'm hearing things I hadn't noticed before. Unfortunately, tonight, what I heard was Glenn-bloody-Gould humming as he played Bach.
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Post by MartinT on Oct 28, 2019 4:49:21 GMT
Never! But Glenn Gould does hum rather loudly throughout the Goldberg Variations.
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Post by John on Oct 28, 2019 4:50:08 GMT
Very glad you got it all going, John, and are able to give it a good listen now. That makes three of us running the Tinker Board S. Looks like it's getting the thumbs-up. I know it's corny, but I'm hearing things I hadn't noticed before. Unfortunately, tonight, what I heard was Glenn-bloody-Gould humming as he played Bach. Maybe you can have too much information!
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Post by MartinT on Oct 28, 2019 8:46:00 GMT
I've upped my cable game too, and started using a power-bank instead of a Chinese LPSU, so that probably adds to the improvement, but I'm certain that a lot of it is still down to the little ATB. I'm really looking forward to slotting in and running in the AQ Carbon USB lead now although I do believe that the Oyaide has finally begun performing as it should. I know it's corny, but I'm hearing things I hadn't noticed before. Give it time, mine is still improving by small increments. The AQ Carbon USB and AES cables are remarkably good, I'm really impressed. I also spotted another ifi USB iSilencer going cheap on eBay so have ordered it. You can never have too much noise reduction.
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Post by John on Oct 28, 2019 8:54:25 GMT
They work well together Martin I am glad I hung onto mine as nearly sold them
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Post by MartinT on Oct 28, 2019 11:24:54 GMT
ONE-TIME OFFER
I have some unused spares so the next person who undertakes the building of a Volumio USB network streamer using the Asus Tinker Board S, and promises to add to this thread with their findings, can claim the following:
- Metal case - JuiceBitz microUSB power cable - JuiceBitz USB signal cable - microSD card with Volumio Tinker Board edition preinstalled
PM me if you'd like to claim the items and I'll ship them off to you. Only if you're serious, please, and have a USB DAC to go with it.
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Post by Slinger on Oct 28, 2019 12:29:19 GMT
My "Nordost" lead has turned up from AliExpress. All I can tell you so far is that it appears well made, not that that's any real surprise, and it's a lot stiffer than I was expecting for some reason. I'll plumb it in for a couple of days to see how it sounds, but it definitely looks the part. I should also probably say that it has no external markings to identify it as anything other than a generic lead, ao not an "actual" fake.
[EDIT] Ebay have just refunded me for the USB isolator.
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Post by MartinT on Oct 28, 2019 12:42:08 GMT
You'd have thought that AliExpress would take a dim view of such claims as 'Nordost' in the item listing.
However, as I've already said, I do hope that it sounds better than the typical Nordost sound I've heard.
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