Loaner: Pi2 Design Mercury Streamer (US & EU & Canada)

Loaner: Pi2 Design Mercury Streamer (US & EU & Canada)


Loaner courtesy of @Michael Kelly of Pi2 Design

Link to technical specs

Link to technical measurements by @GoldenOne

Spoiler: Details about Mercury Streamer

Technical reasons for Mercury (not in any order of merit):

1. Moving the sensitive clock and AES transmitter away from the Pi. Placing them on the same carrier as the module reduces the noise coupling that inevitably occurs when two boards are located one over the other.

2. The larger physical space allowed us to separate the power chain for the CM4 and SSD (using switchers), from the power chain for the clocks, AES transmission and AES balanced driver (using low noise linears).

3. Changing the 5V and 3.3V for CM4 and SSD to lower voltage switchers that run reliably at 12V. This was also needed due to the long term shortage of the original TPS54560 we used on the PI2AES.

4. The change to 12V, along with fully linear regulator power chain for the clock and AES means an external 12V linear can now benefit the overall noise and jitter. No switchers in those paths. Also made doing our own linear PSU viable.

5. Locating all connectors on the back makes for a cleaner case design and easier cable management for the user.

6. Taking advantage of the CM4 PCIe port to add internal high-speed storage.

Business reasons (also not in any order of merit):

1. The main PI2AES power supply chip, TPS54560/540 was becoming, and still is, very hard to get. Quoted lead time from TI is 12/19/2022!

2. Many of you (so, so many) want to use a linear that it became a business necessity to do our own and make it simpler to use someone else's. Or at least actually make a bigger difference in the sound quality. No need to hack the 5V anymore!

3. Providing a buttoned up, non-DIY solution is clearly a good opportunity for more customers.

4. Higher overall price, thus Increasing our margin by offering more value and less effort by the customer.

5. Increasing business with a better looking device, not withstanding some complaints about too much text!

As you can see, Mercury is the base unit of a series of products that will allow us to grow the business and keep Pi 2 Design viable for the next 10 years (that's when I hope my son finally realizes he wont get a better job offer than running Pi 2 Design).

There will be 2 units on the tour, one for the US and then Canada and one separate unit just for the EU. I can fill out an ATA Carnet so shipping in EU and to Canada and back is easer.

Standard rules.

• Open to ALL friends and contributors on case by case basis but do not be shy to ask
• 6 days per person
• Insure for 300$
• FedEx UPS only
• Impressions required in a new impressions thread that the first person on the list will create (I’ll help)
• Post with your location if interested

US tour

Canada tour

EU tour

 

please include me on this one, Massachusetts

 

Yes please!

 

Yes please
New Hampshire

 

Include me in the Canada tour please - Nova Scotia.

 

I'd like to try please

PA

 

I'm interested! Maryland.

 

Love to try this.

San Francisco, CA

 

I would love to try out the Mercury in Canada, if possible. I have a pi2aes to compare it to with a Yggdrasil LIM.

 

A Carnet won't be worthwhile for this because of cost: $235 + security deposit of 40% of the item value (details).

If it's sent to my WA mailbox, I can hand-carry it across the line with temporary-import documentation in case it's required - but at $300 declared value, it might not be - and send it on to the next Canadian from here.

Timing should be ok if you put me after all the other US participants - I'll be out of circulation until early or mid July (heading back to NZ again on Friday).

 

I think it'll be important to include @Michael Kelly's new linear supply with this for consistent (and best) results... was this considered?

 

is only gone to preliminary test and is not gone through certification yet. I jumped the gun a bit on it.

 

Happy to test against PI2AES to Yiggy LIM!

New Richmond, WI

 

I'll give it a whirl against USB on my Holo3 kte. Florida

 

Hi Whitney
Is it still possible to get in on this loaner? Some how I missed it and would love to try this out. If this is difficult to use then I will bow out.
best,
Josh

 

Hi want to get in on this as I own 4 pi2aes units and will eventually upgrade to this. Or can I buy one @Michael Kelly

 

It's never too late to join a loaner tour until I send the unit back. Please join! I'm waiting to have them shipped out until more people join the tour.

cheers

 

Of course you can buy one!

 

Hi Whitney or Michael
thank you, my only concern is that I am a computer noob, how hard is it to ser it up? have you solved the hard parts, Michael?

 

Don't add me to loaner, I bought one.