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Post by Clive on Sept 2, 2016 9:20:16 GMT
In regards to the volume I read on a forum someone who said the following about the DAC - "One word of warning if you intend to use the DAC, Beresfords although capable budget DACs are about as lousy attenuators as I've ever heard, flat and sucking of any life from the music. Literally every other options I tried was leagues ahead including a 15 year old AVR in direct mode via preouts, do yourself a favour and either get a DAC with well implemented volume or use the DAC as a DAC and get something else to control volume." Hence me wondering if the sound could be improved upon, or the person on the forum had got it wrong. Assuming you are comparing passive pres with the Caiman volume control then it sounds like your setup is in some way unfriendly to some passives (ie a very low impedance power amp or unusual interconnects). It's unlikely there's an inherent issue with the DAC and its pot. Much will depend of the value of the pot being employed and the load it sees. There isn't a universal single right answer where passives are concerned though DACs can usually drive most amps via a passive pre, your result is still surprising so I question what's upstream.
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Post by Clive on Aug 30, 2016 17:36:32 GMT
While I await my Digi+ board I'm pondering my options in case I want a couple more RPis for music around the house. I don't yet know how the RPi 3 will compare with may favoured player (Bug Head) in terms of sound. I'm not expecting it to compete with Bug Head but if it does I'll be over the moon as Bug Head is a PITA to use (but sounds wonderful). If the RPi has a place in my main system then I'll start off using a USB drive for the music library, it seems happy powering a USB drive though much depends on what PS I end up using (linear mains vs battery). I might go with NAS and Ethernet as I suspect this would sound the best and be reliable but getting an ethernet cable to my room will be a pain. Is NAS over Wifi for my main system asking for trouble (ie glitches and SQ not as good)? For other rooms some active speakers and an RPi simply using the onboard jackplug should be fine. For these rooms I expect a NAS ethernet connected to my router and access via Wifi could be the way to go. What's the flavour of the month for a simple NAS? Any other suggestions? Interested in how it develops Clive. Agree around BH a pain to use but good SQ A good few months ago when I went to Martin BH was better than the pi but not up to the modified Ayre. BH has moved on a lot so hard to say where it at now. Yeah John, I'm not expecting BH to be troubled by the Pi for SQ, if it beats Foobar then it'll have a place in my study system. I'm intrigued by it and and fancied a play. If the RPi 3 does match BH that would be wonderful but it's very unlikely to happen though I hope it does!
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Post by Clive on Aug 30, 2016 14:37:46 GMT
I've only run a few tracks via the onboard jack it seemed ok but it was only into my Creative computer speakers. An on board DAC though I suppose is sensible even for these secondary systems.
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Post by Clive on Aug 30, 2016 14:05:46 GMT
While I await my Digi+ board I'm pondering my options in case I want a couple more RPis for music around the house.
I don't yet know how the RPi 3 will compare with may favoured player (Bug Head) in terms of sound. I'm not expecting it to compete with Bug Head but if it does I'll be over the moon as Bug Head is a PITA to use (but sounds wonderful). If the RPi has a place in my main system then I'll start off using a USB drive for the music library, it seems happy powering a USB drive though much depends on what PS I end up using (linear mains vs battery). I might go with NAS and Ethernet as I suspect this would sound the best and be reliable but getting an ethernet cable to my room will be a pain. Is NAS over Wifi for my main system asking for trouble (ie glitches and SQ not as good)?
For other rooms some active speakers and an RPi simply using the onboard jackplug should be fine. For these rooms I expect a NAS ethernet connected to my router and access via Wifi could be the way to go.
What's the flavour of the month for a simple NAS? Any other suggestions?
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Post by Clive on Aug 27, 2016 21:21:09 GMT
Some albums have multiple artist credits? There should be around 900 albums...they seem to be there but it's just the count that's wrong. The number of artists looks right. It's of no matter anyway. All seems to be working.
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Post by Clive on Aug 27, 2016 19:30:43 GMT
The RPi setup with Volumio 2 has been really easy. I await the Digi+. The only foible which is inconsequential is that my music reports more artists than albums (326). The number of tracks looks about right at 9k. I've rescaned to no avail. All the music and structure looks to be there so it really doesn't matter. Powering my usb drive is fine too with a 2A ps. I'll try battery when I have the Digi+.
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Post by Clive on Aug 27, 2016 13:03:15 GMT
Thanks Sean....that's a monster battery!
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Post by Clive on Aug 26, 2016 17:12:00 GMT
I have a suitable battery I can try, a 5200mAh 5V/2A. I'm getting a pukka mains PS to use whilst I set the thing up. Pi, PS, microSD, Digi+ and case are all ordered. The pi, PS and mSD should arrive over the weekend. Presumably if I load Volumio 2 without the Digi+ I won't be making my life hard...I'll just need to set Volumio 2 to see the Digi+ when I install it? I'll be using a USB drive with it's own PS to store music, I don't suppose the pi will ideal for powering my WD Passport drive.
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Post by Clive on Aug 26, 2016 9:50:50 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. Hi Martin, are you therefore using a 5V reg between your battery and Pi? For some reason some of the power supplies are quoted at 5.1V....
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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+
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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?
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Post by Clive on Aug 14, 2016 7:45:07 GMT
Super tweeters are by no means excluded. The FAST term is not one I like, I'd rather say full range speakers including a wideband driver but there's no natty acronym for that. Yes I too have run speakers like this for years.
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Post by Clive on Aug 13, 2016 18:35:44 GMT
FAST stands for Full-range Assisted Subwoofer Technology. It's a rather contrived term. Essentially it's a full range driver or at least Wideband supported by (often) active bass.
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Post by Clive on Aug 12, 2016 21:34:29 GMT
The OBs and baffless measure flat to 25hz with good extension below that. With cancellation effects the sheer movement of air with the baffless in particular is quite something to experience. The two 15" drivers per channel are running an 800W amp hard.
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Post by Clive on Aug 12, 2016 20:38:33 GMT
John's experience and our joint friend I know is that rooms mode issues are reduced with FAST baffless vs OB. In my case I have more severe room modes due to an almost square room with a low ceiling; in my case I need use the same DSP settings for box, OB and FAST baffless. Baffles get in the way, the sound is so clean without them.
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Post by Clive on Aug 8, 2016 13:45:02 GMT
Yes, I suppose what I consider recording 'faults' are being exaggerated. Two examples are studio acoustic guitar performances where the stage or a dias is amplifying a boom from the heel tapping of the player, and not in a good way. The recording is otherwise superb so I assume the engineer would hate the idea that this was on there at all. Yes I agree, a good example of that which many will be familiar with is Clapton Unplugged. Before I used DSP I had a crazy level of foot tapping in my room.
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Post by Clive on Aug 8, 2016 12:46:04 GMT
Unless a recording has been monitored with a sub, sounds that were not intended to be there can be uncovered and do nothing positive for the listening experience. You could however substitute full range speakers for subwoofer and still have the same issue. Unless you have a subwoofer setup for wham-bam theatre effects what's happening with your REL is that it's uncovering room resonances that are not revealed by less extended speakers. I find active bass with DSP works really well but this in my situation where my room is all but square with the ceiling height measuring half the wall length - a really bad combination! Peaks and dips can be up to 15db which is rather severe. By way of illustration here are dimensions and their primary resonant frequency (they the double and keep on going but halving amplitude each time) 8ft 70Hz 12ft 47Hz 15ft 37Hz A bit room mode reinfornacement at 47Hz can sound good and is sort of UK house sound that most of us grew up with. A lot a speakers will have much reduced output at 37Hz but fuller rangers and subwoofers won't so this is where the problem often starts to kick in.
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