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Post by MartinT on Jun 15, 2020 20:06:43 GMT
Audiophonics only support the PS Audio standard, not Gustard.
I went down the I2S rabbit hole, convinced it was the best way of transferring the digital signal. There is an immediacy to it but it's fraught with pitfalls, not least with timing between the I2S signals.
Invest in a reclocker, you will get more sound quality improvement than going I2S. Just my findings after living with it for about a year.
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Post by John on Jun 15, 2020 20:09:42 GMT
They were willing to supply me with a Gustard board when I asked. Maybe it has changed. You can get a bit more out of your reclocker if you get a good power supply
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Post by MartinT on Jun 15, 2020 20:11:19 GMT
Ah, maybe they have changed now.
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Post by speedysteve on Jun 16, 2020 17:49:48 GMT
Audiophonics only support the PS Audio standard, not Gustard. I went down the I2S rabbit hole, convinced it was the best way of transferring the digital signal. There is an immediacy to it but it's fraught with pitfalls, not least with timing between the I2S signals. Invest in a reclocker, you will get more sound quality improvement than going I2S. Just my findings after living with it for about a year. I guess that depends on your architecture 🙂
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Post by MartinT on Jun 16, 2020 18:09:39 GMT
Yes indeed, Steve. My DAC didn't handle I2S as well as I had hoped. I'm still surprised at how much better AES works for me.
I2S works really well for you.
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alp
Rank: Trio
Posts: 161
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Post by alp on Jun 16, 2020 19:23:24 GMT
Thanks all. I am already using a battery with my reclocker so upgrading e.g. to a LPSU will likely have little further benefit. I could upgrade the USB cables to AQ Carbon for around £300 or give the I2S a try for less than £200. The D90 seems to support several different I2S wiring configurations which are somehow selectable from the remote. Since I bought it from Audiophonics, they can perhaps advise on compatible HATS, HDMI cable and settings to use.
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Post by julesd68 on Jun 16, 2020 19:29:58 GMT
How come the AQ carbon is so expensive - do you need long runs?
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Post by MartinT on Jun 16, 2020 19:35:10 GMT
Since USB is serial whereas I2S is parallel lines, I would say that USB should easily stand the longer length and sound better.
Just my opinion.
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alp
Rank: Trio
Posts: 161
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Post by alp on Jun 16, 2020 20:47:46 GMT
How come the AQ carbon is so expensive - do you need long runs? I admit did exagerate. But even for the shortest 0.75m ones they are £119 each on Amazon, so £238 for a pair. Maybe cheaper on e-bay as and when they come up. I have asked the questions to Audiophonics to see what they say.
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alp
Rank: Trio
Posts: 161
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Post by alp on Jun 16, 2020 21:03:23 GMT
Since USB is serial whereas I2S is parallel lines, I would say that USB should easily stand the longer length and sound better. Just my opinion. I have read I2S cables do need to be very short. The length of an HDMI cable to my DAC could be less than 0.25m. This is not an immediate project just investigating alternative options. The D90 has AES inputs so a reclocker with AES outputs as you have done could also be another.
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Post by speedysteve on Jun 16, 2020 21:07:01 GMT
Wisdom on the Diyaudio forum RPi to Najda and the WaveIO board creator, says no greater than 4cm long for I2S connectors!
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simon
Rank: Duo
Posts: 71
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Post by simon on Jun 16, 2020 21:24:17 GMT
There's a difference between the i2s standard for internal cabling which as Steve says need to be very short and just designed for linking internal circuits/modules. My understanding is that i2s over hdmi or cat5 uses a line driver within the circuit to allow it to be used over longer external interconnects.
I'm sure Martin can add more detail.
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Post by MartinT on Jun 16, 2020 21:50:59 GMT
You're right, Simon. For internal connection, I2S should be just a few cm. Over HDMI with line drivers, PS Audio still recommend only 1m or so, shorter if possible.
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