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Post by MikeMusic on May 2, 2017 13:45:38 GMT
Goodbye P10
Tony took the Audio Magic box away for some mods to internal wiring and sockets.
Converted my UK spec plugs to Schuko and plugged in.
Sounds very good indeed and I have been playing and enjoying multiple CDs since
Has been too long for my memory to be able to compare to how it was a few days ago. My guess is that it is better than when it went away for fettling.
The detailed sound, space around instruments and width of the soundstage, solid mid range and bass.
P10 to Audio Magic almost like comparing mono to stereo
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Post by MikeMusic on May 16, 2017 18:33:19 GMT
Audio Magic box settled in nicely.
Now playing albums I know well that were on the system before the Audio Magic came along....
Bruce Hornsby - Spirit Trail
Hard to believe my own ears. The extra information I can now hear made me stop in my tracks (pun intended)
The huge width of the soundstage still takes some grasping.
All this from an accessory
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Post by MikeMusic on Aug 21, 2017 16:19:37 GMT
Surprising step up today, I think, unless I wasn't paying attention.
Molom Soundtrack sounded so much better. Up with the volume, better still. Not heard it sound that good before.
Gentle Giant - Octopus. Much the same. So much detail and music.
But I didn't do anything ... ?
Thinks
Spent too long yesterday sorting the CDs now I have enough racks for them all. Making space for those still elsewhere. Most shelves are 2 thirds full.
I put one Ikea tall CD rack in the RH corner almost behind one of the speakers.
Shuffled CDs all over the place but little different apart from that.
Will take that CD rack out of the corner and listen again.
If not then both albums are wonderfully well made
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Post by MartinT on Oct 25, 2017 17:28:01 GMT
A good session at Mike's today, we built and setup his Raspberry Pi 3 and got it going with the latest Volumio build and YouTube plug-in. He just needs a Spotify Premium account now. The USB feed into his Rega Isis was mighty fine. We compared with running the Pi from battery and there's no contest.
I brought my Pi along so that he could hear Spotify hi-bitrate for himself.
How was it for you, Mike?
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Post by ChrisB on Oct 25, 2017 18:21:47 GMT
Well done, we got him!!
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Post by MikeMusic on Oct 26, 2017 8:24:02 GMT
Thanks very much for your time Martin.
Saved me a lot of time you doing the install and set up. I have nowhere near the expertise you have in such things, nor the confidence.
Still evaluating the session in my head. What went on as this is a big step. A lot of the LPs and CDs I have can be accessed on the interweb !
Volumio is incredible software and I will be investigating that.
The total price for the whole set up is tiny compared to what we expect hifi to be.
Very good result for me that I will think on and talk more about when thoughts are clearer.
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Post by MartinT on Oct 26, 2017 10:09:41 GMT
While the Pi bits and software are very inexpensive, remember it's the rest of the system that's getting the best from it. The DAC is critical and you had a freebie in the ISIS that works very well.
Using Volumio and having access to a vast repertoire of music from Spotify and YouTube takes getting your head around.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 26, 2017 11:17:17 GMT
I'd be interested how the Beresford Caiman or SEG DAC's compares to the internal Isis DAC. I know you did a similar comparison with your Ayre CD Player, Martin.
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Post by MartinT on Oct 26, 2017 11:29:14 GMT
Not quite, Paul, the Ayre has no direct input into its DAC. I can only compare CDs from the Ayre with CDs using the Ayre as a transport through the SEG. As I've said before, the SEG is a superb DAC but the Ayre (with the MP Minimum Phase upgrade and Coherent power supply upgrades) is world class and sounds better still.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 26, 2017 11:59:03 GMT
Oh yes, I remember you explaining it that way as opposed to comparing it using the internal Ayre DAC.
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Post by ChrisB on Oct 26, 2017 13:50:20 GMT
It is getting a little better nowadays but the number of players with digital inputs is very limited. It was one of the functions that so attracted me to my Accuphase CD player and at the time, as far as I could tell, only they and Levinson were doing it.
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Post by MikeMusic on Oct 28, 2017 14:44:58 GMT
Been thinking about the setup and decided to do some testing.
Laptop direct into Isis DAC sounded ok.
Laptop into Raspberry Pi then Isis DAC sounded significantly better. Supplied mains power.
I'm puzzled but happy as the idea is to have the laptop on my lap, controlling the Pi.
Laptop into Raspberry Pi then Isis DAC with battery power.
Another big step up reinforcing the result we had with Martin's battery.
More detail, width, bass, clarity
Music tested
Still understanding the implications of on demand music v's hard copy LP and CD
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Post by Stratmangler on Oct 28, 2017 15:08:50 GMT
Which distro did Martin stick on the Pi, Mike?
The bit about Laptop to Pi to DAC has raised an eyebrow here.
I suspect that you're driving the Pi from a webpage interface on your laptop, and the Pi is fetching the files itself.
If you shut the laptop down whatever it is will continue playing until it's finished.
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Post by ChrisB on Oct 28, 2017 15:20:11 GMT
No offence to Mike but I expect you lost him completely on the second word of your post, Chris!
Volumio.
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Post by Stratmangler on Oct 28, 2017 15:28:23 GMT
Fair point Chris.
Is it Volumio that you use?
If so, is my supposition correct?
Can you set the Pi to do its thing and then shut the laptop down?
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Post by MikeMusic on Oct 28, 2017 15:30:16 GMT
A test I wanted to carry out.
Laptop being shut down now......
later
Music continued
Laptop back on
This is clever
Tech *working*
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Post by Stratmangler on Oct 28, 2017 15:38:57 GMT
I suspected that might be the case, Mike. Welcome to the world of headless working  |
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Post by MikeMusic on Oct 28, 2017 15:51:34 GMT
Headless working eh ? Sounds just right for me Looking around Volumio there are so many settings. Can't see one for picture. Can I run an HDMI cable from the Pi into the back of my TV ? |
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Post by Stratmangler on Oct 28, 2017 16:06:46 GMT
I don't know if Volumio does video, Mike.
If you want to access Youtube video content then a Chromecast unit does the job superbly well.
I have one of those hanging out of the back of the TV, and I can summon up BBC iPlayer and Youtube video content from my Smartphone.
The Chromecast goes and pulls the content in itself - the Smartphone is just used as a control device.
If I want to play video content from my phone it does that too, but it streams from the phone to the Chromecast.
I think Amazon video works in a similar fashion - you need to view the content using the Google Chrome web browser, and point the stream at the Chromecast, which means you need keep your laptop active.
You should be able to continue the stream by closing the lid, but you'll need to adjust a few settings in Windoze first.
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Post by MartinT on Oct 28, 2017 16:13:43 GMT
Hi Mike
You're running the latest distro of Volumio, version 2.296.
Yes, it's headless as in your laptop or iPad just controls the Pi, it's the Pi that fetches the music.
The improvement on battery power doesn't surprise me, it's happened every time for me.
From memory, you can change the background from Settings/Theme.
No you cannot drive the TV from HDMI, all you'd see is the Linux boot sequence. Volumio is an audio streamer only.
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