Pi2 Design Idiot-Proof Ready-To-Go RPi/AES Streamer

Simple: turn on the swap switches (in back next to the I2S HDMI) for SDO and WCK. Let us know if that solves it.

 

'

Did setting your May to ALT1 for I2S also allow you to play DSD (over DoP) via I2S from Mercury?
I have been texting with Tin Connor of Kitsune about the issue and he is puzzled about why there is a problem. He does not have any I2S streamer on-hand at the moment (all Holo Red is sold out) but he thinks his friend is able to do DoP from Red to May over I2S. But Red is a VERY different beast.

 

internally Holo red is always outputting USB then converting to I2S using an FPGA. So the internal computer module does not output on I2S therefore DSD and DoP work.

 

Yes, it is like connecting a DDC to the USB port. I am wondering if this is a software issue which is why I wanted to try DietPi as it has more flexibility than Ropieee.

 

It does not fix the DSD over I2S issue, only the L-R reversing issue.

 

I've recently started using GentooPlayer to see what all the hype is about. To install GentooPlayer on the SD card using Windows, I had to wipe and create 1 partition on the SD card, format using FAT32 (so there are no Windows/Linux issues), and then use Etcher to save the GentooPlayer image on the SD card. Etcher's validation of the image gives an error, but if you insert the SD card into the Mercury, it installs fine.

There is a steep trying/learning curve with GentooPlayer, but the GUI makes it easy to mount the NVME on the Mercury and to create a RAM disk.

GentooPlayer also has "Pi2Design Mercury" from its list of DAC options.

 

Do you know of it supports the external antenna as well? I would love to see them add the power control items too. I have the info on the mercury web page.

 

GentooPlayer does not appear to have the command "dtparam=ant2" in its config.txt, even when I enable WiFi.

In the GentooPlayer GUI, there is a "reboot system" and "shutdown system" executable.

Also not sure if selecting "Pi2Design Mercury" (as opposed to HiFiBerry Digi+ Pro) as the DAC in GentooPlayer does anything.

 

Can you post the config.txt that results when you select mercury?

 

Was told there is no difference between selecting HiFiBerry Digi+ Pro versus Pi2Design Mercury on GentioPlayer.

 

that means it won’t have the USB fix or the external antenna selection.

 

"SuperDad " said :
Did setting your May to ALT1 for I2S also allow you to play DSD (over DoP) via I2S from Mercury?
I have been texting with Tin Connor of Kitsune about the issue and he is puzzled about why there is a problem. He does not have any I2S streamer on-hand at the moment (all Holo Red is sold out) but he thinks his friend is able to do DoP from Red to May over I2S. But Red is a VERY different beast.[/QUOTE]

_____

Correct setting for May/Spring is Alt 2 on Holo. None of the settings will give you DSD . And I stopped the ongoing DSD trouble with Mercury , loaned a SilentAngel Munich (very popular here) and an Ifi Neo stream over the weekend . Both based on Compute 4 (SA and RED) and a comparable Design (iFi) .

SA:
I2S : DSD x64 works

IFi Neo :
I2S : DSD x64 , x128 x256 x 512 (512 with HQPlayer and IFI NAA) works.

Had a phone call /Holo RED:

HoloRed guaranteed.
I2S : DSD x64 , x128 x256 x 512

Liked the IFI and kept it. So Mercury is on sale .

 

_____

Correct setting for May/Spring is Alt 2 on Holo. None of the settings will give you DSD . And I stopped the ongoing DSD trouble with Mercury , loaned a SilentAngel Munich (very popular here) and an Ifi Neo stream over the weekend . Both based on Compute 4 (SA and RED) and a comparable Design (iFi) .

SA:
I2S : DSD x64 works

IFi Neo :
I2S : DSD x64 , x128 x256 x 512 (512 with HQPlayer and IFI NAA) works.

Had a phone call /Holo RED:

HoloRed guaranteed.
I2S : DSD x64 , x128 x256 x 512

Liked the IFI and kept it. So Mercury is on sale .[/QUOTE]

What made you like the iFi most?

 

Mercury V2 Update - 02/10/2023 -

75 Mercury V2 Streamers are now available with ~1 week delivery (we have to do a little assembly work and testing before shipment). After this we don't know when we'll have them again. Our order for 200 CM4 compute modules placed last September has a current ETA of Dec. 21 this year. That was already pushed out from the original of August.

 

I tried the manual update and it seems to be fine. My USB output is still working. I didn’t try wireless as I don’t use it.

 

I notice that the volume from I2S is quite a bit louder than from USB. Is this normal for the Mercury? Or is this because of the Holo Audio May?

 

The compute module inside mercury outputs the same digital level (set by the software player) on its internal I2S interface. This then drives the outputs except for usb.

USB does not use the same path as I2S so it may have a separate volume setting. Or, as you mentioned, the dac itself changes the volume based on input selection.

 

On deeper investigation, it is the same volume when playing FLAC files. It is DSD which is softer (USB) and since DSD has to be converted to PCM over I2S, it is probably why it is louder when compared to native DSD over USB.

 

Has anyone added a touch screen to their Mercury V2?
And if so, what method of connection did you use?
I do have a used Samsung Tab 8 sitting around and wonder if I can connect them via VNC or some other option.
Or maybe a stand-alone monitor

 

Mercury V2 Update - 02/26/2023

A small number of units have had problems with the SD card socket coming loose when the card is pushed in too far. There is a hold down point that we are now beefing up on all units going forward. If your unit starts to have trouble with the SD card, do not try to force the issue. Contact us immediately and we will dispatch a replacement unit. Then we just ask that you send back the misbehaving one. Mail is fine.