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Post by Slinger on Nov 30, 2020 15:13:09 GMT
This is all I could come up with from Google.
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Post by wannarock2 on Nov 30, 2020 15:31:04 GMT
Allo USBridge Signature I see more caps! The focus of the device is to lower the noise on the USB bus. Allo chose a USB hub IC (TI) and a separated Ethernet to USB Ic (Axis). To lower the noise of the USB, Allo had to lower noise on each rail. In total, USBridge Sig uses more than 30 low-dropout regulators (LDOs). Even the SD card power rail has a dedicated LDO. There are zero switching elements on board.
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Post by MartinT on Nov 30, 2020 15:44:28 GMT
This is all I could come up with from Google. Me too - that's the only image I could find.
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Post by Clive on Nov 30, 2020 16:00:45 GMT
Here's the Lindemann Network Bridge with the Stream810
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Post by julesd68 on Nov 30, 2020 17:47:29 GMT
Such a shame we can't get together to do a good bake-off with streamers and DACs ...
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Post by MartinT on Nov 30, 2020 19:22:07 GMT
It would be a great bake-off idea, Jules.
No analogue, for once!
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Post by julesd68 on Nov 30, 2020 20:57:01 GMT
Let's try and do it next year Martin.
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arie
Rank: Starter
Posts: 4
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Post by arie on Nov 23, 2021 11:26:38 GMT
Hi,
I own a RaspBerry with Volumio mainly for internet radio, Spotify and local FLAC music files. This thread triggered me, mainly in the way of upgrading my listening experience. So here are my thoughts...bare with me, I am a beginner....
I do own a DAC which has a micro-USB input, which RCA ouputs connects to my integrated amplifier through RCA. I want to upgrade to a new thinker Board S with a new Akasa Pi III Alu case (A-RA05-M1B). As for local storage I am thinking of Sandisk Ultra 256 GB microSDXC UHS-I U1 Class 10 memory card with Adapter, up to 120 MB/s to put a lot off local FLAC files on.
If I understand everything correctly I need a USB A to micro USB cable to connect the Thinker Board S to my DAC. Does this mean that I can plug it in in any of the available USB ports in the Thinker Board S? And it will automatically detect my SCHIIT DAC? As a power source I am thinking of the Ifi Ipower X 5v-3A power supply.
Am I in the right direction ?
Regards and happy listening Arie
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Post by julesd68 on Nov 23, 2021 12:01:12 GMT
Hi Arie, the Tinker S makes a fabulous streamer. You can use any of its USB-A outputs to whatever USB input your DAC needs. Once you have installed Volumio and set it up, your DAC should be automatically recognised. Mine have always worked like this. Personally I think ifi products are overpriced and under engineered but that's just my opinion. There is no better value than using a 5v/3A Powerbank which performs superbly with the Tinker. www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B073FJ9X2J/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apan_glt_fabc_NHD8E8AHM2N16MHPC72Z?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
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Post by John on Nov 23, 2021 12:31:35 GMT
I also not really a fan of the IFI power supplies I have tried them in my system but they were always moved on within a few months The standard USB outputs work fine It is a simple build and quite easy to setup.
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arie
Rank: Starter
Posts: 4
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Post by arie on Nov 23, 2021 15:40:58 GMT
I don't realy like a powerbank as a power supply due to the fact that it is playing more than 10 hours a day. If a buy a regular 5v-3a power supply, do I get a worse sound quality? any suggestions on that ?
Regards, and happy listening. Arie
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Post by Slinger on Nov 23, 2021 16:05:02 GMT
There is an alternative route, just to throw a spanner in the works, and that's the route I took. I was running a Tinkerboard, but decided to buy a HiFiBerry Digi2 Pro, which only works with the Pi. So, I bought a Pi 4, slapped them together in a nice metal case (everything was purchased from the Pi Hut) and I've now got a system that uses the I2S sound port that connects directly to the CPU without the need for an additional USB conversion and the choice of TOSLink optical or 75Ω RCA Digital outputs. Apart from powering the Pi, I am now a USB-free zone.
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Post by julesd68 on Nov 23, 2021 16:09:00 GMT
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Post by MartinT on Nov 23, 2021 19:48:39 GMT
Yes, that Chinese LPSU is a good one, I'm running two. Slinger option of Pi4 with Digi2 Pro is also worth considering.
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arie
Rank: Starter
Posts: 4
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Post by arie on Nov 25, 2021 15:41:04 GMT
Well, that makes it kinda interesting.... Besides the power supply, which one overall gives the best audio quality. Is that the USB output from the Tinker Board or the optical from the HiFiBerry Digi2 PRO ? Taken into account, an above average integrated amplifier, an above average SHIIT DAC, which can do USB and optical when it comes to inputs.
Regards, and happy listening. Arie
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Post by julesd68 on Nov 25, 2021 16:29:15 GMT
A good question.
I can't talk about optical but I can tell you that I recently compared my Tinker to an Allo USBridge Signature which is based on an RPI, and there was no comparison - in my system the Tinker murdered it.
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Post by Slinger on Nov 25, 2021 18:35:37 GMT
I can't exactly run a comparison, unfortunately. Although I prefer the... RPI 4 / HiFiBerry Digi2 Pro >> QED Reference Optical Quartz cable setup to my old... Tinkerboard >> WW Starlight 7 >> Oehlbach XXL >> WW Starlight 7 >> Schiit Wyrd >> AQ Carbon My (second) system itself - currently a Vincent DAC into a Primare Amp, but that's fluid as there is an Arcam SA10 amp waiting in the wings to hopefully replace both the amp, and the DAC - is vastly differnt to yours. There's also the fact that I've excisedy a huge hunk of signal chain, which is never a bad thing. The next thing is, I use mine to almost exclusively play files stored on NAS, with a bit of Radio Paradise from timer to time, I don't use it for streaming. I do run Volumio, but with a heavily modified config.txt file. The one obvious downside to the Tinker Board is that there's nothiung like the amount of support that there is for the Pi. Some addon boards for the Pi will work on the Tinke Bboard, some wont. Crucially, for me at least, the HiFiBerry Digi2 Pro doesn't. The other major problem is that using USB you can end up throwing all sorts of reclockers and regenerators and grounding stuff at it. Ask MartinT. It being my second system and existing on a budget, that's not actually relelvant to me. I just want the best sound on my budget, and money IS an object.
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Post by julesd68 on Nov 25, 2021 18:54:37 GMT
Paul, I ditched my Oehlbach XXL and don't miss it at all! My Tinker uses a Powerbank and goes straight to DAC without any 'extras' - sounds great to my ears. Right now I'm more interested in playing around with preamps and DACs.
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Post by brettj on Nov 26, 2021 4:51:33 GMT
I don't understand a lot of things. And don't really do much about some of them. The dual power supply above is of interest. For my modem and wifi router. Their current SMPS both say 12v 2amps. If this dual LPS can be configured at 12v, and the max amp output is 3.5A, am I going to cause problems?
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Post by MartinT on Nov 26, 2021 6:13:12 GMT
If you're going to run two components from it, maybe. Look at the current consumption on the component labels, not the SMPS themselves. Add them together. If more than 3A (giving the LPSU some margin), then use one for each.
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