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

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

  1. fraggler

    fraggler A Happy & Busy Life

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    You posted the 502DAC svg a while ago with the 3 cases on a single sheet. I rearranged that to a single case that I can share in various formats. If you post the Pi4 pieces, I can make 2 layouts for people if they want to cut their own cases.
     
  2. shabta

    shabta Facebook Friend

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    I had no problem getting powerline to work. And I agree that electrical noise shouldn't be an issue for the pi AES. But... several of my amps around the house had varying degrees of audible hum when I used a powerline adapter.
     
  3. earnmyturns

    earnmyturns Smartest friend

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    Hum and other noise on analog gear, sure. But digital transmission over Ethernet is pretty much immune to anything but extreme noise, which will cause packet drop and service hiccups, not analog noise on the Pi2AES.
     
  4. kris2014

    kris2014 Acquaintance

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    I jumped on board after testing driving a Pi 4 driving DAC via USB. Now waiting for the Pi2AES to come in a few weeks.

    BTW, do you guys prefer moode or Volumio?

    I tried both. I found Volumio sounds closer to PC w/ Jriver and FB2K. However Moode makes some background details more obvious and enjoyable. PC actually stay in between but closer to Vol. So I probably will stay with Moode.
     
  5. YMO

    YMO Chief Fun Officer

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    I'm dumb, but does anyone attempt to use this setup to convert DSD to straight PCM towards their DAC? So the Pi 4 does the conversation.

    Only reason I ask is that there are some DSD releases that I have that I prefer the mastering on that release. But I don't think it is worth it to play them straight DSD because IMO they sounded better due to the mastering than the format (mastering is #1). The more I was thinking about it, the more I was like I think I might be ok if I just use DSD to straight PCM if I get the Bifrost 2.

    I really want to get the Bifrost 2 and get the Pi2AES just for Coax out to Biforst 2 with the benefit of up to 24/192. If Pi 4 is powerful enough to do DSD to PCM, then I'll be all set.
     
    Last edited: Feb 5, 2020
  6. bilboda

    bilboda Florida boomer

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    Picorelayer has settings to convert dsd to pcm. I use ropieee on pi with Roon on Win10 ad Roon does this. I have DSD files, just not a whole lot of them. I have 2 solutions, the Pi2AES, pcm, and HQplayer to dac with DSD. I am still comparing them but really enjoy the Pi2AES. I am upgrading my dac to one that does not do DSD. I'll have a shootout (and shoutout) but fully expect the Pi2AES to compete and remain in use. So yeah, get the Bifrost, and compare to your current DSD dac, if you have one.
     
  7. shabta

    shabta Facebook Friend

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    I am in the same boat. There are a few DSD files I have that I prefer the mastering on, I ripped them from the source moons ago. I also don't want to buy them again. I use picoreplayer. And there is a magical incantation I had to put in the advanced squeezelite settings page-> Various options: -c pcm,flac,mp3,dsd -r 44100,48000,88200,96000,176400,192000

    Voila! DSD works
     
  8. YMO

    YMO Chief Fun Officer

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    Good to know. I was wondering how good is picoreplayer as a uPnP/DNLA render? I still want to keep my collection on my laptop but have it stream in the network to the Pi box.
     
  9. jlucas

    jlucas Acquaintance

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    Anybody found a 90 deg adapter for this DC input size adapter? It would help greatly with cord management.

    [​IMG]
    (not my picture)
     
  10. Michael Kelly

    Michael Kelly MOT: Pi 2 Design

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  11. earnmyturns

    earnmyturns Smartest friend

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    My work Pi2AES has the elbow connector @Michael Kelly recommends. Come to think of it, I must have another one somewhere on my messy work area that I should have used for the Pi2AES in that pic -- they come in 2s from Amazon :oops:
     
  12. Aiibo

    Aiibo New

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    Interesting thread. I'm currently using Pi 3 connected to my Burson DAC via USB. I tried several OS/players and settled for Pi MusicBox as it worked best with UPnP (I use it to stream Tidal from my phone). This setup sounds quite a bit cleaner and richer to my ears than PC with Windows 10 and any player (+Fidilizer +Minority Clean + Schiit Wyrd). There's no going back to PC for me anymore.
     
  13. kris2014

    kris2014 Acquaintance

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    I don't know about Pi 3 but I found Pi 4's USB a bit weak and impacts sound quality. I have iFi isilencer and it improves SQ by a good margin on a Centrance Micport Pro 2.
     
  14. famish99

    famish99 Friend

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    I'm pretty sure y'all both missed the point of this thread.
     
  15. Michael Kelly

    Michael Kelly MOT: Pi 2 Design

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    Well, they can always buy a PI2AES and come over from the darkside! This thread is definite proof that there is a bunch of really great folks ready and willing to help you see the light.

    Michael
     
  16. Aiibo

    Aiibo New

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    I get this is about Pi2AES. I wrote my post to share that Pi is a much better starting point than PC even for those of us stuck with USB only. Thought that small spin-off info couldn't hurt. Apologizing for disrupting AES/SPDIF flow. :)

    I am actually looking into better ways... that's why reading this topic anyway.
     
  17. kris2014

    kris2014 Acquaintance

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    As mentioned above, I bought one and just waiting for it to hit my door.

    However I had to prove in advance that this is going to work, so I test drove the Pi in advance.
     
  18. kris2014

    kris2014 Acquaintance

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    Hifiberry has a usb interface (usb2i2s) that can be used in the place of Pi itself. It might allows you to use the Pi2AES with usb input from you PC.
     
  19. earnmyturns

    earnmyturns Smartest friend

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    If USB is a must for you, this has got positive responses. I have their earlier USBridge which was (with an LPS) one of the best sources I had used before the Pi2AES. Fortunately both my DACs take AES, so the choice was clear for me :D
     
  20. exocer

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    Terrific thread!

    Happy to report that I have ordered my Pi2AES HAT, case and stock PSU. Currently breaking in my new Yggdrasil via USB (new model with stock Unison USB) from my laptop and looking forward to comparing AES to Unison USB.

    Cheers
     

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