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Post by MartinT on Jun 9, 2018 21:15:20 GMT
But what amp are you using with this system? My normal system components, Jules. |
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Post by MartinT on Jun 9, 2018 21:19:27 GMT
Martin, out of interest how much better do you think the Pi and digione is compared to a the squeezebox Touch? And what happened to the battery and DC-DC converter? The Pi/DigiOne are an order of magnitude better than the Touch, Simon. It was good with all the optimisations but the DigiOne is in another league. Battery and DC-DC converter have been usurped. Such is life. |
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Post by MikeMusic on Jun 10, 2018 11:28:10 GMT
The game is given away by the time you spend listening  £1500 for a front end that good.... |
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Post by MartinT on Jun 14, 2018 9:28:47 GMT
I've had great success with the MeiCord Opal ethernet cable between my router and Pi. This is my kind of upgrade - good performance improvement at a very reasonable price. I bought it because the sound I'm getting from my system is so very satisfying, which may seem counter-intuitive to some but not to me. I've been similarly looking for a good quality S/PDIF co-ax cable, knowing how much better the Coherent sounded over the Belden 1694A I'm using but not being able to stretch to that with my limited funds at the moment. After a lot of research, I've gone for a Black Cat Silverstar which was being sold used on eBay. It has all the indications of greatness at less than £100, so we'll see what it brings to the party. It means I'll be able to use the (best) BNC connector at the DigiOne end while sticking with phono at the Caiman SEG end. |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 14, 2018 10:51:11 GMT
You'll have to let us know how much difference it makes, Martin. I can confirm that when I tried out the Coherent myself, it made a massively audible difference, but like you the outlay at the moment is a bit too much for me.
I currently use a Beresford optical cable which was a lot better than the Chord Coac and Optical cables I used previously.
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Post by MikeMusic on Jun 14, 2018 14:16:10 GMT
Assume I can't use a MeiCord or similar as our router is in the next room - or have you put in another router just in your room ?
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Post by Deleted on Jun 14, 2018 17:02:23 GMT
You could get a range extender, like I have, don’t think that’ll cause the same issues as the Ethernet over power lines, but Strat or Martin might be able to confirm.
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Post by MartinT on Jun 14, 2018 19:32:26 GMT
Assume I can't use a MeiCord or similar as our router is in the next room - or have you put in another router just in your room ? You're getting forgetful, Mike. I've put a 4G router in the music room and you were asking me questions about it. 3m MeiCord from new router to Pi is doing the business. |
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Post by MikeMusic on Jun 14, 2018 19:35:23 GMT
Not into the tech. or that bright
I think of my one and only router - if that is what its called !
I also confess to getting the minimum amount of tech wherever I can
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Post by MartinT on Jun 14, 2018 19:39:23 GMT
Each service uses one router. My BT Infinity router (Smart Hub) now services the main barn, TP-Link 4G router services the music room.
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Post by MikeMusic on Jun 14, 2018 19:53:05 GMT
I had understood that before then lost it - hung up on a house having *one* router only. A two router household ! |
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Post by MartinT on Jun 15, 2018 13:08:07 GMT
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Post by John on Jun 15, 2018 13:20:20 GMT
I think you right in pushing the boat out with what you have Martin
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Post by MartinT on Jun 18, 2018 14:29:36 GMT
Ok, the Black Cat cable needed some 48 hours on it to come on song - it's possible it was used in reverse to my direction or it was hardly used at all. Nevertheless, it's burned in now and the sound has taken on a new level of detail and nuance to backing vocals and other areas where a previously slight homogeneity has now resolved into separate voices or sounds. For the price I paid (£90), I am well pleased with a distinct uplift in sound quality for little money.
I have a couple more tweaks to do to the SEG and then my streaming front end is done. Once Tidal and Qobuz are supported in Volumio I shall try them on a trial basis, although I still find Spotify highly musical and satisfying. I am discovering so much new music that I am loving the ability to delve and explore.
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Post by MartinT on Jun 20, 2018 21:35:42 GMT
SEG upgrades now finished. Volumio up to the latest version. Pi underclock/undervolt mods done. Apart from the new Darth Vader Allo case, there's nothing left to do.
Spent the evening listening to a whole load of classical and rock music. Everything sounds superb with more insight than I've ever heard on many familiar songs. Now chasing rabbits down holes, as Mike likes to say, following musicians and conductors along their careers.
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Post by MikeMusic on Jun 21, 2018 14:18:54 GMT
SEG upgrades now finished. Volumio up to the latest version. Pi underclock/undervolt mods done. Apart from the new Darth Vader Allo case, there's nothing left to do. I'm sure you will find something A great evening. I have discovered some of my best music following rabbits. As well as a load of dead ends and embarrassing (for them) output |
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Post by MartinT on Jun 21, 2018 14:45:43 GMT
Ah yes, I call it the Mason+Fenn syndrome (a remarkably crap album that Nick Mason made on the side).
Perhaps I should listen to it again, it might be better than I remember.
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Post by MikeMusic on Jun 21, 2018 15:15:06 GMT
I too often find one of my favourite albums doesn't sound too good when revealed by upgrades.
Counterbalanced by surprises
EG Mott the Hoople 1st and Country Joe both 1969
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Post by MartinT on Jun 22, 2018 9:48:32 GMT
I've now ordered a WD My Cloud NAS drive so that I can play files (RIPs of CDs I have which are not on Spotify) and also some hi-res files that I have. Hopefully doing it this way (via ethernet to the router) and not by using the USB interface in the Pi, should give me the same excellent quality playback that I'm now achieving. We shall see.
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Post by Slinger on Jun 22, 2018 11:51:50 GMT
That's the way I've got things set up, with both the Pi and my Synology NAS hooked up to the router via Cat7.
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