Loaner: Pi2AES digital transport (fully assembled and ready to use)

Discussion in 'Closed Loaners' started by loadexfa, Dec 6, 2020.

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  1. elwappo99

    elwappo99 Friend

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    D'oh, SoCal
     
    Last edited: Mar 12, 2021
  2. shotgunshane

    shotgunshane Floridian Falcon

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  3. shotgunshane

    shotgunshane Floridian Falcon

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    @wbass please confirm you have the Pi2AES.
     
  4. wbass

    wbass Friend

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    Sorry, yes, received. Headed to @Ksorota soon.
     
  5. wbass

    wbass Friend

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    Loaner on its way to you @Ksorota !

    Impressions posted in the... Impressions thread.
     
    Last edited: Mar 29, 2021
  6. Woland

    Woland Friend

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    Love to give it a a try. Hong Kong.
     
  7. loadexfa

    loadexfa MOT: rhythmdevils audio

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    You’re in! Due to your location you may get bumped lower down so we can finish off N America before the longer journey to Hong Kong. Also, I’ll probably split shipping or we’ll figure something out.
     
  8. Ksorota

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    The loaner unit arrived today.

    Thanks again for continuing the tour and letting me try this out!

    ____________________________________________Update_______________________________

    One day early I got the Pi2AES packaged up and off to @Imraan up in the great white north.

    I enjoyed the simplicity and quality of sound the unit puts out and will work on a brief write to post this weekend.

    About the best review I can give it here is that I want to be in the first round of buyers of Mercury!!!
     
    Last edited: Apr 7, 2021
  9. Woland

    Woland Friend

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    @elwappo99 (and any other US users before me in the queue) I'm keen to try the Pi2AES with a AES to BNC transformer, as @purr1n advocates. I will order that from Amazon. If you like, I can get it delivered to you to use, and then forward with the loaner.
     
  10. elwappo99

    elwappo99 Friend

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    Can I get removed from this tour? Sorry for the pump fake, but I ended up purchasing one. @loadexfa

    Unit definitely was a step above the Singxer SU-1 I've had.
     
  11. loadexfa

    loadexfa MOT: rhythmdevils audio

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    Done! Glad you’re liking the one you purchased.
     
  12. Imraan

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    Unit received @Ksorota, setup and working great.
    Looking forward to trying it, and posting impressions.
     
  13. Imraan

    Imraan Friend

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    Impressions posted in the correct thread.

    Loaner packed up and will be sent on to @Woland tomorrow am.

    Thanks all!

    ----
    Update: Loaner is on the way.
     
    Last edited: Apr 23, 2021
  14. Woland

    Woland Friend

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    Awesome review, @Imraan , and I'm excited about trying it out.
     
  15. Woland

    Woland Friend

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    While waiting for it to arrive, I've been thinking about how to test and would appreciate any thoughts, especially any guided by experience of the loaner.

    I'm primarily interested in testing the Pi2AES vs my other Pi-based streamers.


    Here are my advance (a priori) expectations:

    * The difference in streamers should be in jitter, and nothing else. Jitter differences should be most observable as differences in 'separation', ie the illusion of localised sound sources.

    * Source jitter shouldn't matter on the Gungnir because of it's reclocking. However, my source changes so far suggest that it does. I'll post a discussion on this together with the review.

    * Source jitter should matter more on the simpler DACs I can access, which don't have the same reclocking circuitry.

    * Jitter should differ by connector. Optical should be worst, with direct BNC better. I've picked up an AES-> BNC transformer and will test the Pi2 with that from its AES output. This should be at least as good as the direct BNC connection.


    With those expectations, I plan to test by using Chesky binaural recordings because they should have clear and clean seperation. I'll switch sources, then connectors, then DACs and keep notes.
     
  16. dllmsch

    dllmsch Friend

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    I am no expert but here are some points which I believe to be true, please correct if I'm wrong.

    • Noise also plays a part in source gear differences, as it can contaminate the DAC.
    • Jitter shouldn't matter in USB transmission, as asynchronous USB audio uses clock within the DAC, but any other types be it SPDIF or I2S actually use the clock on source side, unless it is some rare FIFO buffer design.
    So almost all types of DACs should benefit from a better source, but in reality, even with galvanic isolation and separate clock in unison usb, sources still makes an audible difference.

    Also, I think AES typically have higher jitter compared to BNC? The improvement in sound might be from the noise rejection capability of AES.
     
  17. Michael Kelly

    Michael Kelly MOT: Pi 2 Design

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    BNC is AES, so I assume you mean balanced AES (XLR)? the measured jitter difference between AES coax (BNC) and AES balanced (XLR) was very, very small and well within the margin of error/accuracy of our Audio Precision AP2522.
     
    Last edited: May 4, 2021
  18. loadexfa

    loadexfa MOT: rhythmdevils audio

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    Last call! If there is no further interest, the loaner unit will be put up for sale.
     
  19. loadexfa

    loadexfa MOT: rhythmdevils audio

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    Woland purchased the loaner with a donation to SBAF. Thank you Woland! This loaner is officially closed unless you convince Woland to let you borrow his Pi2AES. :)
     
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