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

Thanks for that info. It's not that I prefer Unison, I just remembered reading that people thought Unison sounded better than Eitr and so wasn't sure whether that meant there was no advantage in going spdif from a Rpi source. But it sounds like there is.

 

Read the last page of this topic: https://www.superbestaudiofriends.org/index.php?threads/pi2aes-impressions-only-thread.10262/page-2

 

I just made more NoiseNukes than I need with a very kind fellow SBAFer and could loan you one to try with your Pi2AES if to want. I think it makes it sound a little better in addition to helping with noise. I’ve got a cable too. All set to go.

 

Hi RD, that is quite kind...I actually got the noise to stop so I am doing okay at the moment!

 

For those of you waiting for Tidal Connect integration on Volumio, it looks like your wait is almost over. Here's what a rep from Volumio just posted yesterday:

"Good news. The TIDAL Connect integration in Volumio is completed and it works beautifully.

Before releasing it, we are required to have it certified by TIDAL. So, next Monday we will send a unit to TIDAL to have it certified.

We hope this last step goes quick so we can release it soon and enjoy it"​

As a Tidal user, I have been waiting on this announcement before jumping on the pi2aes bandwagon. I look forward to hearing some feedback from you guys once it's officially supported in the near future.

 

I was excited about this but bubbleupnp on an Android phone is just as good. Except for having to use a bloody android phone which is god awful.


Anyone know how battery life will be affected using Tidal connect? The cool thing about an app like bubbleupnp is that the Pi2AES is doing all the work so it uses hardly any battery on the phone/iPod/whatever

 

I've just installed pi2aes on rPi4 with piCore player.
It is fully supported chosing "alo digione as dac" (most of digi device seems to work) for squeezelite.
If some need to play DSD the best is to use soundcheck kit to install custom squeezelite with dsd suport and src to have best dsd2pcm conversion.

https://soundcheck-audio.blogspot.com/p/the-skit-pcp.html

All is working great with gustard x20, soncosz sgd1, soekris 1541 and 2541... biggest difference is with the sabre dac where sound is ritcher an seems more natural than with usb (picore).
With soekris the difference between usb and aes is to my old ears not that big. This subtil difference make me feel aes a bit more detailed and dynamic than with usb.

 

It would be like Spotify Connect or Chromecast. Pi2AES would do all the work when using Tidal Connect. Run the standard Tidal app on PC/Mac/Android/iOS as the UI interface, but it will only operate as a remote control.

 

hmmm well Airplay uses significantly more battery power than apps like mConnect or bubbleupnp so I’m still not sure as I’m unfamiliar with Spotify Connect and Chromecast.

 

Airplay ‘casts’ the stream from your phone/tablet to the other device I believe. The ‘Connect’ apps is just a remote, but the stream is actually being sent directly to the device, not through your phone. Same idea with BubbleUPNP and Mconnect.

 

Cool! Maybe I jumped the gun buying this android phone I thought it was a year out.

 

Just out - Pi2AES reviewed in this YouTube video along with other DDCs (digital-to-digital converters):

Michael Kelly may need to bump up his production by a notch or two!

 

I like this guy’s YouTube channel. He’s like the anti-Zeos and actually seems to know WTF he’s taking about (even before this video) and describes things in a way that you can understand the character and pluses and minuses of equipment, rather than Zeos’s it’s “amazing” or “incredible” or “oh my god”, etc

 

Go @Michael Kelly !

 

Oh hey that's me
Glad you enjoyed the vid.

I found it frustrating that there wasn't really a particularly accessible video/article anywhere that explained in a fairly simple manner why these devices made a difference. And there are of course misconceptions abound.
So I figured i'd do my best to rectify that.

Pi2AES is really crazy good. I don't know what @Michael Kelly has done but when something that affordable is that good it always makes me smile.
Really looking forward to the AiO version!

 

Just in case anyone wants the measurements themselves without having to watch the whole vid.
To be clear, this was not super scientifically rigorous. I made sure to use the same cables and change nothing other than the device itself, but my ADC's input sensitivity is in 6dB adjustments so there was some headroom on the input signal. Still, more than enough performance to demonstrate the differences between the devices.

Super TLDR:
- Pi2AES is fantastic
- May PLL is also fantastic

 

Thank you for the excellent review and I was very pleased with the even-handed approach. I'd like to think most of the folks here know that my position has always been it is what it is. I'm very happy when people are pleased with the product, but I understand that it may not be for everyone.

Hopefully the all-in-one will have the same performance but in a more convenient and a little more feature filled package.

There are five being assembled at my contract manufacturer this week and hopefully I will have something in my hand the following week. Nothing ever goes as fast as I would like!

 

No problem! Thanks for making such a fantastic product at this price!

That's good to hear that some are being done so quick!
Any idea when the AiO version might be available for purchase?

 

If if, and that's a big if, the prototypes go okay, then we're looking at middle to end of May to have small production run of 50 to 100.

We have been going through some changes with our internal assembly and that has forced us to use some outside resources for now and for the next couple of months. but once we get to Summer that should all be squared away and will be back to doing most of our production on our own equipment. Gives us a lot more control over our timing and resources.

one thing to note is that we won't be able to hit the same price point of $150! I am personally shooting for $399, but it might end up having to go to $499 in the beginning to cover the development costs. I've started another thread that you could look at to get an idea of what it will encompass unless you already have.

https://www.superbestaudiofriends.o...iot-proof-ready-to-go-rpi-aes-streamer.10471/

 

Of all the outputs other than I2S which one has the best jitter measure? @GoldenOne what are you using for a power supply?