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Initial impressions RPi vs uRendu
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Posted on March 11, 2017 at 12:50:51 | ||
Posts: 37607
Joined: May 12, 2000 Contributor Since: April 5, 2002 |
I am comparing they two streamers upstairs in the main system as following: Pi 3B with HifiBerry Digi+ Jameco 1A 5V linear PS via DH Labs optical to ARC DAC8 I could have used the coax out on the RPi and an RCA to BNC connector, but the above arranement allowed for only swapping the Ethernet cable. I'll cut to the chase - the RPI is a phenomenally good bargain and doesn't miss that much as compared with the more expensive uRendu setup. And, it could be that I'm hearing mostly power supply differences. Perhaps I'll need to reconfigure the HDPlex for 5V operation as another variable. What I'm hearing for the most part is more dynamic impact and emotion with the uRendu. I'm listening to the opening tracks from the soundtrack to Fanstastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. There's great bass drum slam with a very realistic sense of its air wafting through the hall. Fine percussion is ever so slightly better delineated with the uRendu along with a greater sense of sustain from the harmonics with upper percussion like the triangle. It seems I'm always a bit late to the party, but I can positively say that now I get it about this cute little box. FWIW, I did take Soundchekk's suggestion and configured the buffers for 20k and 600k which means it's pretty much playing from memory as opposed to streaming. Wifey's out of town this weekend, so I'm gonna do lots of comparative listening. I want to compare voice, piano and complex synth content to get a full measure of other character differences. Stay tuned! |
RE: Ok, posted on March 17, 2017 at 05:10:04 | |
Maybe my Dac is not considered Hi-End...:-( http://www.audio-gd.com/Master/Master-7_384/M7384EN.htm |
CDP?, posted on March 17, 2017 at 05:14:00 | |
Would you consider Audio Research Hi-End? |
RE: Ok, posted on March 17, 2017 at 05:20:01 | |
Posts: 209
Location: Thailand Joined: February 28, 2011 |
I guess it's not as not as highend as Esoteric ones. |
RE: Ok, posted on March 17, 2017 at 05:20:52 | |
What about Phono Stages would they benefit more from Toroidal too? |
RE: Ok, posted on March 17, 2017 at 05:24:47 | |
Posts: 209
Location: Thailand Joined: February 28, 2011 |
Is that digital equipment? |
RE: CDP?, posted on March 17, 2017 at 05:25:13 | |
Audio Research makes the full range of audio gear from Dac to CDP to Phono stage, Preamp, Amps etc. |
RE: Ok, posted on March 17, 2017 at 05:32:42 | |
Maybe in all the excitement you missed my question. "What about Phono Stages would they benefit more from Toroidal too?" |
RE: CDP?, posted on March 17, 2017 at 05:45:02 | |
Posts: 209
Location: Thailand Joined: February 28, 2011 |
Since this isn't in my field to talk about, I'll end our discussion here. |
LOL.....Looks like you're not so Condident after all....nt, posted on March 17, 2017 at 05:47:10 | |
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RE: LOL.....Looks like you're not so Condident after all....nt, posted on March 17, 2017 at 05:49:43 | |
Posts: 209
Location: Thailand Joined: February 28, 2011 |
It's "Confident". |
RE: LOL.....Looks like you're not so Condident after all....nt, posted on March 17, 2017 at 05:51:38 | |
LOL.... I got too excited... The prospect of winning a $20k digital front end and all.... :-) |
RE: LOL.....Looks like you're not so Condident after all....nt, posted on March 17, 2017 at 06:00:02 | |
Have a great Friday and a wonderful weekend. Let me go try to calm down. |
Looks nice!, posted on March 17, 2017 at 06:09:22 | |
Posts: 37607
Joined: May 12, 2000 Contributor Since: April 5, 2002 |
Just a bummer they need recharging. :) |
RE: Mr. X, You're Funny!!!, posted on March 17, 2017 at 06:16:44 | |
Posts: 209
Location: Thailand Joined: February 28, 2011 |
It sounds better of course. I didn't put ketchup on Kobe beef. I don't know. |
Ok, posted on March 17, 2017 at 06:37:21 | |
Posts: 37607
Joined: May 12, 2000 Contributor Since: April 5, 2002 |
R-Core transformer is often used in analog equipment for high current output with more power in compact size. Actually, Audio Research implements them in low current line level devices like the REF 2 Phono and DAC9 for audio stages while using conventional transformers for relays, display and microprocessor controls. Both my older DAC8 and SP20 use them as well. While you frequently see power amps using toroidals, I can't recall ever seeing one using an R-core. FWIW, the HDPlex unit recommended by Sonore uses but one transformer in its design. I find it ironic that others seem to disagree with this statement of yours: "When you use 1A, you should have transformer capable of sending 2A at least for optimal performance." I was castigated by one inmate for using a 2A power supply for the uRendu: "It is not 'optimal' for powering a device needing only a fraction of the current." |
As for me, posted on March 17, 2017 at 07:02:42 | |
Posts: 37607
Joined: May 12, 2000 Contributor Since: April 5, 2002 |
I had two dedicated 20A lines installed in my listening room. |
There you go!, posted on March 17, 2017 at 08:53:31 | |
Posts: 37607
Joined: May 12, 2000 Contributor Since: April 5, 2002 |
You could mount figures of your favorite super heroes on top. :) |
RE: You smoking too much wacky tobacky ?, posted on March 17, 2017 at 09:16:56 | |
No not funny or whacky. Really! But then I think crystals with too |
RE: You smoking too much wacky tobacky ?, posted on March 17, 2017 at 09:48:04 | |
Yes very micro vibrations. I use these little things you stick in the outlets for a pretty good Improvement. |
RE: Someone does, posted on March 17, 2017 at 10:58:16 | |
Hmmmmmmm Interesting!! I might just have to jump on the uRu train. |
RE: Ok, posted on March 17, 2017 at 11:08:22 | |
Posts: 37607
Joined: May 12, 2000 Contributor Since: April 5, 2002 |
There's no such thing as drawing too much current from over supplied source... Sure there can be when a component like a uRendu is also powering an attached USB device the sum of which may exceed its design criteria. That's the faulty in design not having too large transformer...on PSU alone with two transformers large enough to build power amp instead. ...Sounds awesome to my ears and very live with full sound performance. This is what I have been saying. Why don't you buy Rasberry PI instead? It has more features than microRendu and cheaper too. I own both and find the sound quality of the uRendu superior out of the box. You asked for knowledge about power supply There are no questions to be found in my post where you began the conversation. And yes, your blinding flash of the obvious about the HDPlex: "They may use 100VA transformer and regulate 7V output with 2A for current limit. That's one possibility." is correct. :) |
RE: Ok, posted on March 17, 2017 at 11:53:37 | |
Posts: 37607
Joined: May 12, 2000 Contributor Since: April 5, 2002 |
I mean increasing transformer output power can't make device drawing too much current No, the attached device would be the villain in this case drawing more current than its host can digest. That's not related to increasing transformer output power at all, right? Certainly not. While I find having some added current capability is desirable, having six to twelve times the needed value as you find with the Nikola or the Sonore Signature sure seems like overkill. It's not safe to use LPS-1 with microRendu. Do you realize the same engineer (John Swenson) designed both - with the LPS-1 intended to power the rendu? While the nominal current requirement for the rendu supply is 1A, the device itself draws about half that. That's why I stepped in to correct your misunderstandings before you actually buy it. We still seem to face a translation challenge here. Here's my observation once again: Philosophically, I'm in the Ultracap camp given its clever approach. That clever approach being of using low impedance capacitors to drive the device sourced by an "energizing source". And I may be wrong, but somehow I think that Mr. Swenson has a much deeper understanding of how his products work together than do you. And that using them together is most certainly not "dangerous". :) edit: perhaps you might want to read his design goals and explanation of how the unit works by clicking here. |
RE: Ok, posted on March 17, 2017 at 12:37:06 | |
Posts: 37607
Joined: May 12, 2000 Contributor Since: April 5, 2002 |
The more reason you should increase output on power supply host to prevent such issue from happening. Somehow I'm thinking that deliberately overheating a device beyond its design criteria is not a good idea. However, with LPS-1 having 1.1A current limit, I don't feel safe to power device requiring 1A continuous current even if developer said it's OK. Given it has 60 farads of storage, I don't share you concern. it can't even power JCAT USB Card with a single USB hard drive from Seagate I think you'll find it was never intended to do that. If you return to my previous link, the intended uses don't include spinning rust drives. SSDs, yes. I interpreted this as using overkill power supply can make uRendu shutting down because it draws too much current. Perhaps I wasn't clear. Just to suggest such is unnecessary. We had a side topic going on about the possibility of at attached USB device drawing more current than the rendu is comfortable with, i.e. not burn itself up. Also, universal energized power supply is switching AC>DC using low impedance capacitor for additional $15. If you're familiar with two-step regulation, you can use Nikola for the first step and LPS-1 for the second step. I'm thinking you don't understand how the two interact. The clever approach to which I previously referred is that the quality of energizer itself doesn't affect the resulting noise output by the supercaps feeding the device. Sure, you could throw money away, but that would not be my choice.
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RE: Someone does, posted on March 17, 2017 at 12:54:05 | |
Hmmmmmmm Interesting!! I might just have to jump on the uRu train. |
RE: Ok, posted on March 17, 2017 at 13:02:57 | |
Posts: 37607
Joined: May 12, 2000 Contributor Since: April 5, 2002 |
If device doesn't take more than 1A at all, that's OK. Perhaps you didn't note where I previously observed that while the nominal requirement is 1A, the device itself consumes about half that. It goes back to your incomplete understanding about the device and its maker's year long vision working together with the uRendu. Sure it's better than cheap switching PSU and if believing that will not get any better with LPS-1 can give your peace of mind, OK. You're welcome to argue the merits of your claim with John Swenson since that is his assertion. I hope you'll be happy with uRendu and LPS-1. At the expense of confusing the issue with facts, I don't have one nor have a ready plan to sell the HDPlex and replace it with the LPS-1. Which returns to exactly where we started. I remain curious as to Steve's observations as to how the two compare. Good day - I'm ready to listen to some music!
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These things, posted on March 17, 2017 at 13:42:25 | |
I use these in my audio room and other rooms with empty outlets. |
Ohmmmm... -nt, posted on March 17, 2017 at 19:39:10 | |
Posts: 37607
Joined: May 12, 2000 Contributor Since: April 5, 2002 |
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