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Post by MartinT on Sept 26, 2017 18:18:33 GMT
Your version of the Mancini, John, sounds stupendous now. Spotify is much happier now that I've got some more bandwidth.
I'm going to trying getting that on CD.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 26, 2017 18:21:10 GMT
How doe the Pi and Beresford compare with the Ayre, Martin?
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Post by MartinT on Sept 26, 2017 18:33:35 GMT
The next level down. In other words, very good indeed but doesn't have quite the explosive dynamics or depth of the Ayre. Nevertheless, I could very happily listen to this all day (playing Rare Bird through Spotify as I type and it sounds magnificent).
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Post by John on Sept 26, 2017 18:48:56 GMT
Very well recorded on the ayre should be stunning
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Post by Deleted on Sept 26, 2017 19:50:27 GMT
Nice, so if you didn't have the Ayre, you'd be able to live with the Pi combo?
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Post by ChrisB on Sept 26, 2017 20:02:07 GMT
It really is interesting to compare the performance of the Pi with other things. I play the one in my main system through the DAC of my Accuphase CD player and it really narrows the gap between the two. The Pi loses out in terms of body and fullness to the sound and perhaps a little in resolution. This is comparing CDs played conventionally to the same ripped CDs stored on an external hard drive. Who knows whether the difference is in the transports, or the ways the files/ tracks are handled? My main reason for getting my Pis, however, was to be able to play Spotify as well as reasonably achievable for a lowish budget. I reckon on that score, I have won!
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Post by MartinT on Sept 26, 2017 20:53:12 GMT
Me too, Chris. Spotify can sustain playing of new material and even general entertainment for me. The Pi/HiFiBerry Digi+/Caiman SEG are an outstanding combination. However, CDs and SACDs on the Ayre are still the best source I have, closely followed by records.
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Post by MartinT on Sept 28, 2017 5:33:15 GMT
 Initial impressions last night, using the Caiman SEG in Mode 3 (four LED blinks), were very good indeed. There is further detail and spacial cues to be heard and a tremendously coherent and non-harsh presentation. This is using my Pi in Spotify Connect mode with high bitrate streams. Having done much further listening, I believe that a lead-acid battery is by far the best way to power the Caiman SEG, over and above the mobile-type battery I was using before. I gave it a full charge last night. The sound quality, listening to hi-bitrate Spotify streams, is really very good indeed with a proper listen-inside soundstage, spacial cues and insight. |
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Post by MartinT on Oct 3, 2017 5:22:04 GMT
Last night I installed a BT Whole Home Wi-Fi system, using three discs in a mesh to fill the main barn. I then reset my TP Link repeater in the music room to repeat the main SSID (there is only one for the BT system, beautiful in the way it hands over the client from one AP to the next) to a different SSID. What this has done is to improve the poor Wi-Fi link speed test results from 3Mbps to around 12Mbps. Much better!
I got no dropouts on Spotify in hi-bitrate mode throughout the entire evening. Relief! What's interesting, though, is I swear the sound quality is better now that the buffer is kept full. The Pi seems to perform overall better with a decent signal and throughput.
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Post by MartinT on Oct 7, 2017 16:49:17 GMT
I've been having a discussion with John and Jules about what is my best source now. I think I shocked Jules by saying that it's my Ayre SACD player, not the turntable. John understands but then he heard the Ayre recently in my system.
It's not that my turntable has gone backwards, it still plays very well indeed with little surface noise and a very dynamic presentation as is typical of the Technics. I even swapped back to my AT-33PTG cartridge for a while just for the change. It's just that my disc player has moved on.
The power supply upgrades performed on the Ayre by Tony of Coherent, the careful siting with Black Ravioli footers, the granite placemat atop, the improvements in power with my dedicated radial and other small changes have given the Ayre the edge for sheer resolution, dynamics, soundstage and slam. Many CDs sound stunning and SACDs are a further step up, too. There are still cases where the LP outperforms the CD, such as Yello - Flag and Supertramp - Crime of the Century, but overall I am playing the Ayre more than any other source component.
Coming up rapidly behind the turntable is the Raspberry Pi / Caiman SEG combination, especially on Spotify hi-bitrate. There need be no more apologies for streaming, it has definitely come of age. The convenience factor with the Spotify Connect plug-in for Volumio is significant, too.
All three give me great listening pleasure. I remain relatively platform agnostic - it's the music that counts!
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Post by John on Oct 7, 2017 18:31:07 GMT
I agree aabout remaining a platform agnostic. Both can be stunning. I still keeo my turntable even though it is a few years since I used it
The Ayre is a fantastic bit of kit.
Also goes to show how much mastering plays a part.
I agree with streaming and using Spotify connect my only issue throw something complex on it and it still does not quite cut it for me. So mainly use it to discover music.
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Post by julesd68 on Oct 8, 2017 16:26:42 GMT
I've been having a discussion with John and Jules about what is my best source now. I think I shocked Jules by saying that it's my Ayre SACD player, not the turntable. John understands but then he heard the Ayre recently in my system. Nah I wasn't shocked old boy - you've yet to upgrade your TT to a belt-drive!   |
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Post by MartinT on Oct 27, 2017 10:31:42 GMT
A looming dilemma arises. I've said elsewhere that I upgraded my Raspberry Pi 2 with a HiFiBerry Digi+ Pro card and the sound quality is truly amazing. I'm probably getting most of what can be had from the Pro by feeding it directly with very clean 5V battery power straight into the card, which is then supplying the Pi (not using the Pi's power socket) with a large supercap soldered across the DC.
I'm now wondering if I can push the sound quality further up by going for an Allo DigiOne card? If I do, it might make sense to go for a Pi 3 since that has built-in Wi-Fi which doesn't use the Pi's USB, possibly a further good thing. That then needs a different case so I'd just be replacing all the hardware.
However, this isn't like replacing one of my system components which would cost a fortune. For little outlay, I could get even better quality Spotify and YouTube sound. The question is: would the DigiOne beat my optimised Pro and would my Caiman SEG DAC notice since it's already doing advanced reclocking in Mode 3?
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Post by John on Oct 27, 2017 16:25:33 GMT
Its hard to say I know Clive really rates it. I suggest hold on a few weeks as I decided to give it a try and can bring it up to you
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Post by ChrisB on Oct 27, 2017 17:08:34 GMT
Right from the first Pi I put together, I promised myself that I would take each change I make slowly and enjoy effect before moving on to the next step of the evolution. So, for example, I used the Pi without a piggy back board and into a USB DAC for weeks before getting a Digi+, then again before moving to the Accuphase from the more basic Beresford. I have kept to this principle and it has proved very satisfying, allowing me to properly understand the capabilities and constraints of each configuration and how it relates to the rest of the system.
I have read quite a bit about the Allo from several users and it will probably be my next step, but for now, I am enjoying the fruits of the Digi+ Pro, which for £32 are considerable. Though still cheap, in my mind, the DigiOne moves the Pi device into a different price class and therefore, somewhat away from its original ethos.
As I say, I will be trying one, but I'm not ready yet.
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seanm
Rank: Trio
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Post by seanm on Oct 27, 2017 17:37:54 GMT
Martin,
I have been wondering about this very subject.... This may help
Cheers
Sean
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Post by MartinT on Oct 27, 2017 19:38:08 GMT
ChrisB I agree and I'm not rushing it at all. In fact, I've just got my original Pi with IQAudIO DAC as a headphone player upgraded with the new wi-fi dongle and latest Volumio and it sounds terrific with my Superlux phones. Meanwhile, my Pi 2 on the big rig still sounds excellent. I'm even contemplating going with 3.3V battery power for the Pro to get even more out of it. seanm thanks for that. How's Cyprus?
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Post by John on Oct 27, 2017 19:48:28 GMT
At some point I get a SOTM 200 ultra For me thats the way to go
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Post by Clive on Oct 27, 2017 20:28:42 GMT
As it happens I'm mid-review for the online mag I write for. The DigiOne is being compared with a USB DAC & fanless PC which also has GI, reclocking and serious power management. I'm finding a strong correlation between GI, reclocking and refined power as being more important than the DAC itself. Power - I'm used to the difference this brings, it's the GI and probably most important the reclocking which bring precision and musicality. I can't totally isolate all the variables but the upshot is that the DigiOne for me is a breakthrough with the RPi; that said I've not compared with Digi+ Pro with juiced up power.
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Post by MartinT on Oct 27, 2017 20:51:37 GMT
I'm interested in your findings, Clive. Keep it coming!
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