Computer Audio Asylum

Music servers and other computer based digital audio technologies.

Return to Computer Audio Asylum


Message Sort: Post Order or Asylum Reverse Threaded

Raspberrry Pi HiFi Berry vs. uRendu...

198.27.242.3

Posted on March 17, 2017 at 08:01:45
Ivan303
Audiophile

Posts: 48887
Location: Cadiere d'azur FRANCE - Santa Fe, NM
Joined: February 26, 2001
because we haven't discussed this issue NEARLY enough...

It seems the uRendu has Gigabit Ethernet input while the Raspberry Ri is 10/100?

Guessing the Raspberry Pi HiFi Berry edition may not support 512 DSD either but I really don't care.

I think a far better comparison regards the value of the Raspberry Pi HiFi Berry combo would be to compare it to a SBT, which it clearly replaces and isn't that what everyone who loves the SBT has been hoping for?

As far as sound quality, I see no real way of an 'apples vs. apples' comparison as the uRendu is USB and the HiFi Berry output is S/PDIF - TOSLINK. At least from my perspective, I'd be comparing two different inputs to my DAC, one of which would be going through the USB > I2S circuitry the other not?

But again, it's something we certainly have NOT discussed in NEARLY enough detail. ;-)






First they came for the dumb-asses
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a dumb-ass

 

Hide full thread outline!
    ...
RE: Raspberrry Pi HiFi Berry vs. uRendu..., posted on March 22, 2017 at 06:59:04
soundchekk
Audiophile

Posts: 2424
Joined: July 11, 2007

You might checkout what network capacity a stupid audiostream requires to be able to judge the impact of 100MBit/s vs. 1GB/s.

Than you need to know if a device or a network is even able to process 1GB/s properly. That's not always the case!

I hooked up a $10 GBIT dongle to a USB port of the PI. This brought me
300MBIT/s. But. Is that the key issue?
Just in case you bulkload files for RAM playback, it'll give you a slight advantage.

The dongle has certain other advantages though.
1. You'll get the networking HW away from the PI
2. Even those $10 dongles are often better build then the PI internal networking part
3. You could power it externally
4. What I did, I hooked up a Jitterbug filter that was sitting idle between dongle an DAC to clean up the air.


BTW. The PI is very much comparable to a uRendu. The USB ports
can be used as audio output the same way you do on the uRendu.
BUT. For sure the USB output quality of a PI is worse then
a uRendu. That's why I said you'd need to add one of the known
USB gadgets to your bill to be able to get to a uRendu USB performance
level.







-----------------------------------------------------------------

blog latest >> The Audio Streaming Series - tuning kit pCP

 

HiFi Berry can also output I2S, posted on March 17, 2017 at 08:14:09
Bas Horneman
Audiophile

Posts: 4081
Joined: March 28, 2001
I just converted my dac input from WaveIO USB->I2S to HifiBerry DIGI+ Pro which is essentially Network to I2S.

No looking back.

 

RE: HiFi Berry can also output I2S, posted on March 17, 2017 at 13:07:03
I'd like to see that.

If you are going to to I2S you really don't need the Digi...unless you are only using it for the clocks.

Either way, I'd like to see this thing...granted pro audio is fast going to digital via Ethernet...lots of rave reviews esp with the RedNet by Focusrite.

https://us.focusrite.com/ethernet-audio-interfaces/rednet-3

Still like anything else, it all depends on the implementation

 

RE: HiFi Berry can also output I2S, posted on March 22, 2017 at 08:42:33
Bas Horneman
Audiophile

Posts: 4081
Joined: March 28, 2001



You said you would like to see that.

 

The HifiBerryDigi+ Pro reclocks the I2S, posted on March 22, 2017 at 08:24:48
Bas Horneman
Audiophile

Posts: 4081
Joined: March 28, 2001
...VERY happy with the result. I'm sure it could be improved...but at the moment I can't be bothered.

 

PS. I have the 1.2 version which uses a seperate 3,3v regulator, posted on March 23, 2017 at 05:32:12
Bas Horneman
Audiophile

Posts: 4081
Joined: March 28, 2001
so the 3,3v is not supplied via the GPIO of the Rpi anymore.

 

it all depends on the implementation , posted on March 18, 2017 at 01:10:53
fmak
Audiophile

Posts: 13158
Location: Kent
Joined: June 1, 2002
Correct, the quality of the I2S lines count and they need relocking too!
So it is not the case that anything that transfers via i2S is best. Clock quality into the dac matters a lot and there is no el cheapo implementation.

 

RE: HiFi Berry can also output I2S, posted on March 17, 2017 at 15:59:23
slapa
Audiophile

Posts: 1
Joined: February 7, 2012
Rednet = 600 $ minimum entry ticket for a digital transport. Had its fan club on Head Fi, supposedly sounding great connected to a 1000 $ Mutec reclocker and some high end DAC. The guy who started those threads ultimately went back to a USB setup he claimed sounded much better.

 

RE: HiFi Berry can also output I2S, posted on March 17, 2017 at 16:27:16
Headfi is a market bait web site.

Manufacturers get someone to post a review and claim XYZ, then everyone buys the product.

Audiogd and Schiit Audio to name a few owe their success to Headfi.

 

RE: HiFi Berry can also output I2S, posted on March 18, 2017 at 03:17:03
soundchekk
Audiophile

Posts: 2424
Joined: July 11, 2007
It's not just HeadFi.

You can't take any site out of the list.

Just think about it.

E.g.
What does this forum stand for?
I'm pretty sure we'd find a common view on that one.

-----------------------------------------------------------------

blog latest >> The Audio Streaming Series - tuning kit pCP

 

RE: HiFi Berry can also output I2S, posted on March 18, 2017 at 16:37:13
Yeah, I'm just still bitter from being Banned for LIFE at Headfi.

 

RE: HiFi Berry can also output I2S, posted on March 18, 2017 at 01:12:15
fmak
Audiophile

Posts: 13158
Location: Kent
Joined: June 1, 2002
Is Audiostream? Instant Greatest Bit award by one guy.

 

RE: "market bait web site...", posted on March 17, 2017 at 16:30:59
Ivan303
Audiophile

Posts: 48887
Location: Cadiere d'azur FRANCE - Santa Fe, NM
Joined: February 26, 2001
So is this place, but hey...

Lots of happy Audio-GD users on HEadfi.

Here too, it seems.




First they came for the dumb-asses
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a dumb-ass

 

I have two DACs with I2S input..., posted on March 17, 2017 at 08:28:56
Ivan303
Audiophile

Posts: 48887
Location: Cadiere d'azur FRANCE - Santa Fe, NM
Joined: February 26, 2001
one is HDMI the other RJ45.

Guessing the the I2S on the HiFi Berry card feeds the S/PDIF converter?

How did you make the direct connection?

THAT would be great for me as my DACs (Audio-GD Master 7 and Master 11) are reported to sound best with a direct I2S input.




First they came for the dumb-asses
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a dumb-ass

 

RE: I have two DACs with I2S input..., posted on March 17, 2017 at 17:16:21
The HiFiBerry gets I2S directly from the GPIO pins of the RPi and converts it to SPDIF. The board also has pin outs to make a I2S connection as well as pin outs for BNC.

I have one that I soldered a BNC out too and will be soldering a I2S out of the other once I get the parts from Audiogd.

 photo 2017-02-11 18.26.25_zpsprtcr8yx.jpg

 

What parts are you getting from King-Wa?, posted on March 17, 2017 at 17:43:52
Ivan303
Audiophile

Posts: 48887
Location: Cadiere d'azur FRANCE - Santa Fe, NM
Joined: February 26, 2001
Is your Audio-GD DAC RJ-45 or HDMI?

My first interest is to use the HiFi Berry with the Master 11 which I mostly use downstairs from the listening room with headphone. Ethernet outlet is a few feet away so I wouldn't need a laptop to stream music. From what I understand the LMS user community has a share-ware plugin for streaming both TIDAL and QOBUZ.

I've also been led to understand that the I2S input is the preferred input to the Audio-GD DACs but I have not gone that route as it means converting the USB output of a laptop computer through an additional 'third box' which seems to defeat the purpose of a direct I2S connection.

Please keep up posted!




First they came for the dumb-asses
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a dumb-ass

 

RE: What parts are you getting from King-Wa?, posted on March 18, 2017 at 17:43:18
These parts, he has kits that can be used for I2S.

http://www.audio-gd.com/Pro/diy/I2Skits/I2SEN.htm

 

Page processed in 0.026 seconds.