Dummies Guide to Pi2AES! Throw away your PC or laptop.

Discussion in 'Digital: DACs, USB converters, decrapifiers' started by purr1n, Jan 29, 2020.

  1. Aklegal

    Aklegal Friend

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    @Michael Kelly - I just got mine today and I don't have much to say other than that this thing is fantastic and congratulations. It is superior to every transport I have ever used.
     
  2. Cakecake

    Cakecake Guest

    I just got this setup, music playing on my volumio, but no sound. Any common mistake that I might have made? There is green light on the pi too https://imgur.com/a/sVdLt4h
     
  3. Michael Kelly

    Michael Kelly MOT: Pi 2 Design

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  4. Cakecake

    Cakecake Guest

    I only see Audio Jack, HDMI out, snd_allo_digitone
     
  5. Cakecake

    Cakecake Guest

    setting output device to hifidigipro+ worked and not allo digone
     
  6. Cakecake

    Cakecake Guest

    Why is the light sometimes yellow or red?
     
  7. earnmyturns

    earnmyturns Smartest friend

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    From the Pi2AES reference manual (you read manuals, right ;)):
    A triple stack LED is used to provide visual indication of: Power On (Green), Audio Data Rate of 48/96/192Khz (Yellow) and Audio Data Rate of 44.1/88.2/176.4Khz (Red).
     
  8. tommytakis

    tommytakis MOT: E.T.A Headphones

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    Wow this thing sounds fantastic! Thank you @Michael Kelly for creating such a wonderful product!
    12761E39-B3A3-49DF-8A48-DB83D8228984.jpeg
    Listening chain: pi2AES (coax to BNC)> Bifrost 2 > SW51 | Black Widow > JAR600
    - the setup was super easy even for a technologically -challenged dummy like me (Thanks @purr1n !!) Currently I’m using it to stream Spotify, but eventually I want to be able to stream all the FLAC files I have stored in my gaming PC. I’m too sleep deprived right now so maybe another time haha
    - I basically followed all the same steps using my macbook pro and it was EZPZ. Oh and I can confirm that both Etcher and Fling worked perfectly on my mac/iphone.
    - Volumio works fine for me, but one issue I found was that I have a playlist of all the “liked” songs on spotify that has over 2000+ Songs only shows the first 50 ish songs?? Not a huge deal breaker tho!
    - this is just first impressions but I immediately noticed an increased in clarity. One of the nitpicks I had with the Black Widow was that it rounds the transients a bit much, but through the pi2AES it sounds very lively and pristine. Music is rendered beautifully with very good instrument separation and precise placement. Bass and dynamics improved as well, but I think I need to listen more to say more about it. I’ll still use USB/Unison for convenience factor but pi2AES will be my “serious” listening tool from now on :)
     
  9. Baten

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    Love how everything aligns perfectly. That's a beautiful audio stack!
     
  10. Boops

    Boops Friend

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    Got this all set up and working last night. It was easy. Sound is great.

    One wrinkle: you need to have a standard power cord to connect the Pi2AESs power supply to your wall outlet. I didn’t realize I’d need that and luckily had an extra laying around.
     
  11. Michael Kelly

    Michael Kelly MOT: Pi 2 Design

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    We do mention that on the store page for the power supply, but I apologize if it was not clear.

    Michael
     
  12. Boops

    Boops Friend

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    No apologies necessary. Just a heads up for other dummies like me who don’t read and just try to follow the guide here at SBAF.
     
  13. mtavares

    mtavares Acquaintance

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    Hi,

    Please, I would like to know what is the length of the PI2AES standoffs?

    QJA

    Marcos
     
  14. Michael Kelly

    Michael Kelly MOT: Pi 2 Design

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    18mm
     
  15. Cakecake

    Cakecake Guest

    Ok think i got moOde working, any sound setting i should be aware that i should change to have best sound quality? I feel like MDF config Volume control should Disabled?
     
  16. kris2014

    kris2014 Acquaintance

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    I envy you! I still have no idea when mine would come :(
    You can try changing CPU governor to "Performance".
     
  17. HudsonsBay

    HudsonsBay New

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    Right, disable the volume control. And I have found better overall sound and performance with running moOde in 64-bit mode.
     
  18. kris2014

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    I am still waiting for my copy to verify PSU performance. I am not into pricey linear PSU. Among medical switching supplies I have tested with my amps, SL Power ME20 and Cincon TR36M perform better than Meanwell GSM, and would be a little cheaper. I prefer ME20 to TR36M on amps but they trade blows IMO.
     
    Last edited: Feb 8, 2020
  19. Koth Ganesh

    Koth Ganesh Friend

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    Joined the list of kewl people. At the outset, I like to thank @purr1n profusely for the guide. Saved me lots of agonizing moments. Heck, I'm a finance professional; derivatives are easier than IP addresses. Anyway, got the hardware part done in about 15 minutes; the software portion was less than 30 minutes.

    I am currently listening to the PI2AES connected via AES to the Convert 2 with the Black Widow v1. The improved clarity is instantly recognizable. There is a touch more heft at the bottom end and as @tommytakis noted, transients are sharpened up a bit more. I need to listen a lot more but very happy with actually using current technology and getting improved SQ. Big shout out to @Michael Kelly for making this all happen.

    Add: I'm using Volumio
     

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  20. Cakecake

    Cakecake Guest

    Any pointers on how to connect Deezer or Amazon HD streamer service with moOde? What should I be googling?
     

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