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

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

  1. Tom R

    Tom R Acquaintance

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    You guys realize that the output of your linear power supply, fancy or not, high dollar or cheapie, goes directly into a SWITCHER on the Pi2AES board, right?

    And it’s a damn fine switcher at that, with a very low output impedance that will actually reduce the Pi board’s USB +5V noise output as compared to most linear or aftermarket Pi power supplies.

    I’ve used an sBooster, a decent switcher as sold by MK, and a cheap liner supply. They all sound the same in my system. Zero difference.
     
  2. rlow

    rlow A happy woofer

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    That’s cool, you save money. For those that do hear a difference (myself included), we appreciate the improvements with a better supply. The differences are certainly not night and day however and the stock switcher is good.
     
  3. Ksaurav402

    Ksaurav402 Friend

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    If you power pi and Pi2AES separately after removing jumper, is the switcher still in path ?

    I guess one benefit of new Mercury has something to do with the removal switcher in path.
     
  4. Tom R

    Tom R Acquaintance

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    If you remove the jumper then the pi board is powered by whatever supply you hook it up to. The Pi2AES hat is still powered by its excellent internal switcher.
     
  5. Michael Kelly

    Michael Kelly MOT: Pi 2 Design

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    remember that the critical clock section and the AES transmitter are powered from their own LT3042 ultra-low noise regulators. They have over 70dB of noise suppression. This is why you don’t get as much benefit of a linear, but there is still some.

    we all have a different sound chain that terminated in our own ears. You can’t really compare the experience between folks directly.
     
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  6. crenca

    crenca Friend

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    My Google skills are failing me. I thought somewhere in this thread was an explanation how to set up Roon > HQPlayer > Pi2AES via TCP/IP network. Notice I don't need how to set up Roon > HQPlayer > USB (DAC), or how to setup/run HQPlayer on the PI Raspberry board itself, but rather how to get HQPlayer seeing and streaming to the Pi2AES itself on the network...I think @earnmyturns or maybe @Ksaurav402 has this scenario set up...
     
  7. Metro

    Metro Friend

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    Maybe this in the HQPlayer thread?
     
  8. crenca

    crenca Friend

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    Yes, I think my route is to somehow I need to get Pi2AES running RopieeeXL to show up in HQPlayer as a "NetworkAudioAdapter" (i.e. "NAA"). RopieeeXL has a HQPlayer NAA configuration with a single option on or off and of course I turned it on...wait, maybe all I need to do is reboot the RopieeeXL...will get back...

    Yep, the old "have you tried rebooting it?" did the trick. Now my signal path is:

    Roon > HQPlayer (performing upsampling) > Pi2AES over TCP/IP > I2S to Holo Spring 3 KTE > Saga OG > DNA Starlett > Utopia :confused:

    whew, that's complicated...no doubt about it Audiophiles are just plain weird... ;)

    I'm going to have to get me one of these Holo's dammit...:punk:
     
    Last edited: Mar 27, 2022
  9. Woland

    Woland Friend

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    With that chain, it might be simpler/better to run HQPlayer on the Pi2AES box if you're doing upsampling to PCM ( I'm not sure about DSD). PI2AES output is limited to 192kHz PCM, and the Pi4 is quite capable of upsampling to that.

    What's the benefit? Mostly:

    (1) you get HQPlayer off your PC and onto a bit of dedicated hardware where it can do its magic
    (2) you keep that horrible HQPlayer interface away from your desktop
    (3) you're sending 44.1kHz/44kHz over the network rather than 192.8/196kHz - less potential for disruption to signal, and less disruption to other network users.
     
  10. Ksaurav402

    Ksaurav402 Friend

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    Ya the reason I’m using it with NAA is because I already have desktop license and looks like we have to buy separate license for embedded one? Otherwise one box solution is neat. But I do use HQPlayer with dongle DACs so need it in my laptop as well . I wish there was an option to get both license at some discount.
     
  11. Dandou

    Dandou Acquaintance

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    Hello guys,
    I'm waiting for the Pi2AES that I ordered.
    Can you tell me from your experience if it would sound better with a RBi3 or a with a RBi4?
    Thanks

    Hi @Michael Kelly ,
    I ordered Pi2AES on February 1st, and shipments were expected for mid-March.
    You announced on this thread that there will be a delay, because the team that assembles the Pi2AES got Covid.
    Is there a new prevision for the shipment of the devices?
    Thanks
     
  12. Michael Kelly

    Michael Kelly MOT: Pi 2 Design

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    See the PI2AES page of our website for updated status. We are expecting the connectors to show up this week because we were told they are shipping this week, possibly as soon as tomorrow. But honestly until I have at least an estimate from the shipping company when I will get them have not been willing to provide an estimate of how quickly we can turn production back on. Then of course it will take us some time to get through the orders.
     
  13. Ksaurav402

    Ksaurav402 Friend

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    If you don’t plan to run HQPlayer and plan to run wired Ethernet over Wi-Fi then go for 3B+ as it runs cooler, takes less current but doesn’t have stable Wi-Fi IMO. If you plan to run Wi-Fi or HQPlayer or take USB digital out then take Pi4
     
  14. Dandou

    Dandou Acquaintance

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    Thank you, @Michael Kelly , for your reply.
    I posted my question on this thread, because I could not find the information on your Website.
    I will wait patiently. There's no hurry. :)
     
  15. Dandou

    Dandou Acquaintance

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    Thank you for the feedback.
    I run only wired Ethernet, and won't need HQPlayer.

    I have already an Allo USBridge Sig that has a RBi3 inside. I'm happy with it, and I'm planning to keep it for my DSD albums. I'll use the Pi2AES for my PCM albums.

    I have also a RBi4 with 8 GB RAM. But its sound does not match the sound quality of the Allo USBridge. That's why I wanted to have an opinion about this question from experienced Pi2AES users.
     
    Last edited: Mar 28, 2022
  16. Ksaurav402

    Ksaurav402 Friend

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    Allo USBridge was developed at time when we didn’t have Pi4. Pi4 came with very clean USB as it doesn’t share the bus with Ethernet like Pi3. If you run Pi4 board with LPS then it is very competent USB source and noise level is very low for less intensive CPU task like running Roon bridge or running it as NAA for HQPlayer but since you already have USBridge so no worries.
     
  17. Michael Kelly

    Michael Kelly MOT: Pi 2 Design

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    Update on Mercury Streamer

    We are now taking orders for a limited number of Mercury Streamer, 4GB SBAF edition at $499. Production versions will have 8GB and will be priced at $599. If you order please include your SBAF user name in the notes section.

    https://www.pi2design.com/store/p25/Mercury_Streamer.html
     
  18. uncola

    uncola Friend

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    edit: wrong thread, doh
     
    Last edited: Apr 4, 2022
  19. crenca

    crenca Friend

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    I forget the relative numbers, but 5G does not have the inherent range of 2.4G. From the same router I run audio (and video) in my house over 2.4G because 5G is only marginal in the back bedrooms, whereas 2.4G just works.
     
  20. Michael Kelly

    Michael Kelly MOT: Pi 2 Design

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    for the final we are shipping the official Raspberry pi antenna kit. I can send you one. That should solve it.
     

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