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

Discussion in 'Digital: DACs, USB converters, decrapifiers' started by Michael Kelly, Jan 16, 2021.

  1. Smody

    Smody New

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    Even I agree, hats off to their customer service. Actually I was that lucky guy who was shipped with 24V instead of 12V PSU, upon bringing it to Mike’s notice, not only he immediately shipped 12v but also refused me to return 24V.
     
  2. dasman66

    dasman66 Self proclaimed lazy ass - friend

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    Just a thought... the corruption is presumably occurring because the OS is writing to the SD card when the power disappears... wouldn't the same corruption occur if using the M.2 drive if the power goes out when it is writing to the M.2 drive?

    FWIW, my SOP is to have a cloned SD card standing by if the original gets corrupted. Not sure how I would deal with the problem if the M.2 drive go corrupted...
     
  3. Zachik

    Zachik MOT XMEMS

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    Do you have a utility in mind for creating the closed microSD card?
    I was thinking about just having an image saved for "in case of emergency"...
     
  4. Zachik

    Zachik MOT XMEMS

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    @Michael Kelly - while waiting for the Mercury V2 PCBs, and other bits and pieces, are you making any progress on the DAC/Amp and/or LPS?
    ANY update on those would be greatly appreciated... ;)
     
  5. Aklegal

    Aklegal Friend

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    It's certainly possible but a lot less likely. SD cards degrade with use alot faster too.
     
    Last edited: Sep 8, 2022
  6. Zachik

    Zachik MOT XMEMS

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  7. Ksaurav402

    Ksaurav402 Friend

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    That switch to change voltage shouldn’t be this accessible IMO. One can just flip it by mistake.
     
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  8. Zachik

    Zachik MOT XMEMS

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    Agreed, but I think I recall the Mercury has a 20% tolerance (@Michael Kelly can you confirm?).
    So, 15V might be safe enough to cause NO real damage, at least not if realized within a few seconds?
     
  9. lordearl

    lordearl New

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    Thanks @Metro, good thinking - sorry, it took me a few days to set up two other systems to undertake A-B testing.

    System #1 - an old laptop running Volumio O/S via wireless networking, USB->DAC, streams bit perfect Qobuz high resolution no problems.

    System #2 - Qobuz via web interface through USB output to DAC, also wireless, and tested via wired connection, no issues with high resolution via either connection.

    System #3 - Mercury via coaxial or toslink to DAC, tested via wired and wireless, still getting dropouts but only on high resolution.

    Not really sure where to head from here - any other suggestions?
     
  10. Aklegal

    Aklegal Friend

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    Have you tried usb from the Mercury?
     
  11. Ksaurav402

    Ksaurav402 Friend

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    try to increase the Audio buffer size in Volumio inside General Playback Options. I have never changed the value but worth trying out. Start with small increment to see and you may have to restart.
     
  12. Michael Kelly

    Michael Kelly MOT: Pi 2 Design

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    The current revision will tolerate voltages up to 18V. However, that is the extreme limit and we are concerned about power dissipation in the 5V linear that feeds the digital audio circuitry. The V2 revision will limit that to approximately 13.5V. Or 12 V +/- 10%.
     
  13. Michael Kelly

    Michael Kelly MOT: Pi 2 Design

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    It appears that you have not been able to test COAX or Toslink from another source however. So we still have a mystery. All our ports are now tested at 192Khz, but that is into an audio analyzer (expect I2S into a Topping DX7).
     
  14. lordearl

    lordearl New

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    I did try connecting the USB port to the DAC but there was no signal, how is it activated for audio output?
     
  15. Michael Kelly

    Michael Kelly MOT: Pi 2 Design

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    that would require changing the configuration. It might be best if we got the unit back to either fix or replace.
     
  16. wric01

    wric01 New

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    Mercury best sound so far came from using foobar2000 with Upnp plug in. (To play files add files to upnp controll playback queue , then use view pnp controller-use this to control playback and pick your volumio on device list.). Using files from USB drive onto mercury doesn't sound as good as ethernet. Those that complain about dsd can use usb plug on mercury to dac but i find the volumio dsd to pcm sound way better via i2s(Not native dsd but 384k pcm).
     
  17. Michael Kelly

    Michael Kelly MOT: Pi 2 Design

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    Mercury V2 update - 9/10/2022

    Due to Compute Module supply issues, Mercury will be delivered with either 4 or 8GB based on availability at the time of shipment. Please contact us with any questions or if you wish to cancel your order. This does not affect the price.

    [edit] Any order placed up to today will get 8GB.
     
    Last edited: Sep 10, 2022
  18. uncola

    uncola Friend

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    Finally tested an AES cable with my mercury beta unit, no issues with my Rockna wavelight!


     
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  19. Michael Kelly

    Michael Kelly MOT: Pi 2 Design

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    Update on Mercury V2 - 9/17/2022

    PCB design for V2 is done and blank boards have been ordered. In addition parts ordering is complete with no parts issues, other than paying 2x - 3x for some parts! The assembly house order will be submitted next week and once in place we will get an estimated delivery date. We have also secured an additional 100 compute modules (4GB). As noted in the store, units will be delivered with 4GB or 8GB based on stock at time of order. As a streaming platform there is no performance or sound quality (SQ) difference between the modules.
     
  20. Aklegal

    Aklegal Friend

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    For those folks who already have a mercury with a M.2 drive and are using Volumio, picoreplayer or Moode, how are you loading music onto it? Do any of the OSes have the functionality to say move files from a USB drive to an internal drive?

    This will be easy enough for me since I am running pi OS with Jriver. But a friend of mine is interested in the mercury and would be using volumio or moode.
     

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