Raspberry Pi Klein combo interest

[Jventer 1,611]

Hi Clay

I have been waiting for youto bring out a product like this. I am not in the market for a dac at the moment, but am experimenting with the Pi and digione. It is not that hard to try different things, but is also not that easy.

I think there is a market for a product between the top of the range separates and the diy stuff for pi based products. If you could supply something that just works I think you will be on to another winner.

 

[~Spyne~ 1,012]

Morning Clay, is this something that could be retrofitted into the Konverter?

[Gieseler Audio 2,263]

Possibly - I will look into it.

[Snoopy8 2,880]

On 10/31/2017 at 12:39 PM, Gieseler Audio said:

I better get back to Groß DAC production for now or I will have unhappy customers.

Apologies to all waiting for Clay to hurry up, but this post will distract him again! 

 

I certainly like the idea of simplifying the chain. Taking from the music source using the Pi server and feeding via I2S to a DAC eliminates the usb chain, a source of jitter that has been the focus of much R&D ie better usb cables, usb regen etc.  A Klein π  DAC will provide an incredibly cost effective way for somewhere to enter the DAC world and get very good audio quality, all in 1 unit, no need to buy anything extra like cables, player etc.

 

Would a Groß π DAC have the same attractions?  People in this category looking for a high end DAC will likely have a network player, expensive usb cables, usb regen devices, PSUs  etc. The audio quality must be compelling before they get rid of those expensive components.  And should they upgrade in the future to a standard DAC, will then need to re-purchase them.  People in this category also like to pick and choose and upgrade individual components.  A Groß π will take away that "fun" part of the hobby/obsession!

 

Would I upgrade to Groß π ?  I have a SMS-200, ISO Regen and PSUs which are producing superb audio with the Groß DAC.  If the audio from the Groß π is as good, if not better, then most likely will upgrade.

 

p/s Clay, am expecting royalty payments if you like Klein π  and Groß π   !!! 

[lloyd_borrett 73]

G'day,

 

I'm sure there is going to be a Gieseler DAC from Clay at some point in the not so distant future for delivering up music using Roon on my main music listening system. I've been told Clay has something new in the works and I'm waiting to learn what it is before making a decision.

 

In the meantime I've got two RaspberryPi based DAC solutions on their way to me for other sound systems I have.

 

The first is a Raspberry Pi 3B with HiFiBerry DAC+ Pro, in a steel case, with a 16 GB memory card. It will run RoPieee OS to create a RoonBridge. I'm going to mod it by taking the power straight to the HiFiBerry DAC+ Pro. I'll probably be asking Clay to make me a linear power supply for it.

 

The second seems to be a solution that might not be too far removed from what Clay has been proposing here in this thread. It's an Audiophonics RaspTouch I-Sabre ES9028Q2M KALI. That's a Raspberry Pi 3B with Audiophonics I-Sabre ES9028Q2M DAC, Allo Kali Reclocker I2S FIFO, 7" OLED Touch Screen, Volume control, Steel case, and 16 GB memory card. Again I hope to run RoPieee OS to create a RoonBridge. Again, I'll probably be asking Clay to make me a linear power supply for it.

 

I'd love to see Clay turn what he's been discussing here into his take on this style of unit. I'm sure it would be a world-wide success. There could be two models. One with the touch screen, and one without.

 

Best regards, Lloyd Borrett. 

 

EDIT: Audiophonics contacted me today to say the unit isn't available because a supplier has told them a component will not be available for an indefinite period. Now I have to come up with an alternative solution.

Edited March 4, 2018 by lloyd_borrett

[mattjtaylor2809 385]

I'm also looking (for a friend) for a ethernet based streamer/dac combo that's a ROON endpoint for under $1500.....is this possible Clay with this new product?

 

If so....I think you could sell hundreds of them as from what I can see, the pricing for "one box solutions" are out of reach for most as the cheapest I've found (not looking for too long) is the Aurelic ALTAIR & that's close to $3k.

 

I think people are sick of having to buy renderer + reclocker + LPSU for both & then a DAC....a high SQ on box solution in normal $$ would be a winner! I think having to buy all these multiple box's to better or at least equal CD SQ is off putting for the non-computer audiophile.

 

Good luck

Matt

[bhobba 1,031]

Clay is well aware of all of this and has done some work on it - I will let him talk about its state.   Bear in mind this is cutting edge stuff and if it was easy to do tons would be doing it - it likely isnt - but Clay is the best person to talk abouyt that.

 

The other issue is MQA is hot right now.  You may not be into it, but many are and getting that working in any future products will likely be very non-trivial.  After all look at Roon - they have been promising MQA decoding for I do not know how long - but it never seems to happen.   Audirvana does, and will stream to an endpoint, but it, at the moment is Mac only.  They are promising a Windows version, but heaven knows actually when (its was targeted end of January - that's well and truly passed - maybe this year sometime - but IMHO likely will be well into 2019 before release - yes I am pessimistic about these things - but its from long experience).  It's probably like Roon - everyone wants it but it will happen when it happens.

 

What got me about Roon is they said it will be in version 3 - it was all over the internet - MQA coming to Roon in version 3.   They did nothing to clarify.  Version 3 released - no MQA.   Me and tons of others complained - their response - we didn't say which release of version 3 it would be in - and instead touted all the great features their new version 3 had.  Deceptive marketing comes to mind here - but from their point of view - who cares - if people buy their product then that's just fine by them.  BTW having dealt with the company after buying Roon  just before version 3 was released, they did cheerfully refund my money and offered a free trial again once its released.

 

IMHO, while everyone, including me, wants this, whats required to do it properly is not quite there right now - maybe in a year or two.

 

Thanks

Bill

Edited March 3, 2018 by bhobba

[Gieseler Audio 2,263]

Matt

I was delighted with the sound quality & simple “one box” solution of my DAC/Pi combo but it does have a few limitations.

1. No DSD - the Kali reclocker will not pass DSD unfortunately & I would need to go to a much more complex hardware setup to achieve that.

2. No ability to play Tidal Master/MQA tracks at > 96k rez. This gets quite complex as Bill has pointed out.

 

In comparison both my Auralic streamers ( mini & big Aries) will play DSD all the way up to DSD512 native & also Tidal MQA up to 192k. This is all controlled with a lovely slick app called Lightning DS. 

It is a fairly simple setup too. Aries > DAC > Poweramp. The Aries USB out is very good & I actually found putting isolatorers/reclockers between it & my Gross DAC made the sound worse. The Amanero USB in on the Gross is powered by ultra low noise regulators so this helps as well.

Unfortunately the Auralic Aries are discontinued now & the new models are much more expensive.

However I haven’t totally abandoned the DAC/streamer combo concept as product & when I get time will definately have another look at it.

[Snoopy8 2,880]

If it goes ahead, I would rather see the effort go to the DAC/Pi combo rather than get distracted by MQA/Roon.  Clay,  your talent is putting together hardware with firmware tweaks to make superb sounding products.  But MQA and Roon are both software,  and unless it is "plug & play" (and I doubt it),  software development will be required. 

 

[mattjtaylor2809 385]

Thanks Clay....I appreciate the time taken to highlight the current limitations as I agree that if you were to produce something like this, it would need DSD, MQA & possibly act as a Roon endpoint. It’s clearly not as simple as just bolting together all these parts into a single box.
I’m interested in your comments about the Aries as I did think this was an option for my mate as he does have a REGA DAC (albeit a few years old) so maybe a 2nd hand Aries would do the trick?
Cheers
Matt

[Gieseler Audio 2,263]

Hi Guys,

thanks for the input & yes Snoopy you are spot on - my expertise’s are hardware with some basic firmware control.

I’m certainly in no position to do the required software development needed for those other features. 

In light of that I think it is best to purchase separately the front end streaming device that ticks all your boxes & connect it to a good DAC - like my Gross haha

 

Matt - yes a second hand Aries is a great idea. The Lightning DS app now has a Spotify option as well which is a big bonus.

A recent Gross DAC buyer just went through all this & ended up with a s/h full Aries & is absolutely delighted with the resulting combination. He is a SNA member so maybe he may comment. 

Edited March 3, 2018 by Gieseler Audio

[Guest scumbag]

Allo usb bridge might be a good candidate? https://www.allo.com/sparky-eu/usbridge.html

Edited March 3, 2018 by scumbag

[lloyd_borrett 73]

So I've just setup two Audiophonics RaspTouch I-Sabre ES9028Q2M network and DAC drives with volume / source controllers and touch displays. See https://www.audiophonics.fr/en/rasptouch/rasptouch-i-sabre-es9028-streamer-touch-with-volume-control-p-12181.html

 

They use a Raspberry Pi 3B with Audiophonics I-Sabre ES9028Q2M DAC, 7" OLED Touch Screen, Volume control, Steel case, and 8 GB memory card running RoPieee OS to create a RoonBridge.

 

If Clay ever produces an audiophile quality unit with this sort of functionality, I'd love one for my main listening system. The extra functionality and guest friendliness of the touch screen and display is awesome.

 

In the meantime, I'll wait and see what Clay has in the works for his next product before deciding what to put on my main listening system.

[Gieseler Audio 2,263]

Hi Loyd,

hey the Audiophonics RaspTouch unit looks very nice - how do they sound?

It looks like an excellent concept that they have put together too. 

I particually like the way they extended the Pi’s micro SD port to a external rear socket.

Now I wonder where I can find one of those leads?

Hopefully in the not too distant future I can incorporate a Pi style renderer into my Gross DAC.

 

Edited March 23, 2018 by Gieseler Audio

[lloyd_borrett 73]

59 minutes ago, Gieseler Audio said:

hey the Audiophonics RaspTouch unit looks very nice - how do they sound?

 

I haven't had a chance to do any critical listening yet. Hopefully that will happen tonight.

 

Plus, right now to get it working with RoPieee, I have to use the Raspberry Pi DAC drivers, not the Audiophonics ES9028Q2M ones.

 

And of course, if I wanted the best sound the unit could make, I'd be needing one of your linear low noise DC power supplies. Even better a solution where your power supply could feed the RPi and the DAC separately, rather than just via the RPi.

 

Clay, make that a Pi style renderer with touch screen in a Gross DAC, and you'll have another customer. :-)

And no doubt your unit would power the RPi and Gross DAC in a more appropriate way.

Edited March 23, 2018 by lloyd_borrett

[matth 134]

Guys,

I would combine an Allo USBridge with an USB only Gieseler Groß DAC:

 

https://www.allo.com/sparky/usbridge.html

 

I do no think you will get better sound with a RPi inside a Gieseler DAC.

 

Matt

[Gieseler Audio 2,263]

Hi Matt,

I checked that out & it looks really good so I might give one a whirl.

Extreamly low noise levels which is great.

For OS they are suggesting Volumio & DietPi.

I’ve tried Volumino - very basic app control say compared to iPeng so I’d give that a miss.

Have not tried DietPi - have you?

I love the iPeng app for control so I think I will go with Picoreplayer.

I think it has good DSD compatibility  & a Tidal plug-in as well.

At the end of the day as a source it will probably sound similar to a microRendu or SMS-200 at about one third the price!

Edited April 8, 2018 by Gieseler Audio

[lloyd_borrett 73]

G'day Clay,

 

I'm using Ropieee for the software on my RPi based DAC solutions as I'm only using Roon. I have no idea as to what the differences between the other software setups you mention would be.

 

I'd been considering the use of an Allo USBridge instead of an ultraRendu for use with one of your Giesler DACs.

 

The only concern I have is the quality of the power supply. Most of these RaspberryPi based solutions just come with a standard wall wart. Some people use a linear power supply instead, which is supposed to make a difference. But as the power is going via the RPi to the add-on board, it tends to get noisy again. So some of the add-on boards can take power direct and then supply the RPi. Some even make it possible for the RPi and the add-on board to be powered separately by suitable linear power supplies. But I've not seen any off-the-shelf power supply solutions doing this for the likes of myself. These optimal power supply solutions tend to be done by those prepared to make mods to cases and boards.

 

Thus if an Allo USBridge based solution were to be used with say a Giesler Groß DAC, you may want to consider providing an option for an optimal power supply solution able to be implemented by those of us who don't want to start making mods to cases and firing up a soldering iron.

 

My reading of what you've been trying with your own RPi combined with Giesler DAC solution suggests you fully understand the importance of achieving the right power supply solution. Which is why someone like me, looking for an off the shelf solution, would be interested in a unit along the lines of the direction you were heading. I suspect using a wall wart powered Allo USBridge with a Giesler DAC would be a SQ compromise.

 

(I hope some of the above makes sense.)

 

[Gieseler Audio 2,263]

Hi Loyd,

 

absolutely spot on!

I agree the best way to do it would be to provide the Sparky & the USB bridge both with independent ultra low noise power supplies. Rather than try & build it all into the Gross chassis I think it would be better if I came up with a dual output (5v + 5v)

external low noise PSU. That way anyone could use the Sparky/USB bridge combo with their own USB DAC. I think the Sparky & USB bridge can be powered seperately if you leave a jumper open on the USB bridge.

 

[huxmut 657]

I'm confused by why you would convert from to I2S to USB only to go back to I2S i to the DAC chip ?

I thought the strength of the rPi is the short circuit length that isnt molestered on its trip to the dac.

Wouldn't the better solution be to engineer a solution somewhat like the kali reclocker feeding your best dac implementation ?

 

[Gieseler Audio 2,263]

Yes I agree the double process does not seem logical but it has the advantage of retaining DSD compatibility which a lot of people want. Using the Sparky/USB bridge the USB signal is reclocked & has very low noise so it should work really well with the huge amount of USB DAC’s that are out there.

I have tried Kali with good results but no DSD unfortunately.

 

 

[huxmut 657]

Thanks Gieseler, Im a bit of a 44.1/16 guy so DSD wasnt part of my thoughts :/

[matth 134]

There are reports from the Roon and Computeraudiophile forum that the Allo USBridge is on par with the Sonore microRendu even when the mR has a better PS.

It is the best to power the Sparky and USBridge separately.

The Gieseler PSs are certainly very good, for lovers of SMPS Allo will launch in two months a 5V Super SMPS, named Nirvana.

 

Matt

[Gieseler Audio 2,263]

The feedback on the USBridge is excellent.

I have just ordered one with  DietPi as OS.

Now I have this radical idea about a bigger case for the Gross DAC & installing the USBridge inside. 

Then I could add two more low noise PSU’s - one for the Sparky & one for the USBridge board.

Anyway one thing at a time so as soon as the USBridge arrives I will give it a thorough workout with the Gross DAC & post the results.

Thanks Matt for alerting me about this. 

[matth 134]

34 minutes ago, Gieseler Audio said:

Now I have this radical idea about a bigger case for the Gross DAC & installing the USBridge inside. 

Clay,

sorry, but I see no gain to put the USBridge inside.

You would have USB out/in inside the case, it does not make sense.

And you would need something like an OEM contract with Allo to do this.

Anyway, I like to get your feedback about the USBridge.

Thanks

 

Matt