In Reply to: Further thoughts on RPi player posted by E-Stat on March 9, 2017 at 15:52:50:
Just using the Pi as digital transport leaves certain great opportunities untouched.
The todays HAT modules are that well done, that there's IMO no real need for external DACs anymore. (And the evolution is still on its way!)
These devices even support up 2 384kHz -- for those hunting after large figures.
Since you go straight I2S you just skip all these messy audio interfaces (SPDIF, USB, asf.) and related very costly tweaks.
You might consider the Allo Kali I2S HAT reclocker. It gets the jitter down to audiophile levels.
Using the iFi iPower gets the power noise down to quite low levels.
There are numerous DACs IMO sounding quite good. Many of them sounding better with the Kali.
However. E.g. Allo has just launched the "Boss" DAC.
That DAC doesn't even require the Kali reclocker anymore. It IMO sounds really nice.
At 150$ - PI+Boss+iPower + free distro of choice - you'll end up with a great audio piece.
You don't need great technical skills to put it together.
It's probably easier then building you favorite Lego gadget.
There are still people around who spent/d thousands of $ on similar (sounding) solutions. IMO that's just waste of money.
Stuff like MicroRendu - just a stupid USB interface - are IMO
overrated, overexpensive and extremely inflexible.
Meanwhile you'll find quite some so called High-End gear with Raspberry
Pi inside. It can't be that bad - even though some audiophiles
claim otherwise.
One main aspect is the PI software support. It's mainly free and quickly evolving.
Small and medium size audio companies just can not afford to develop fancy custom software and provide long term support - unless they make you pay for it.
And that's IMO a killer argument against these devices.
Yep. And there are still people out there using even PCs.
Enjoy.
PS: I agree that Logitech was years ahead of the competition. Almost a decade later not that many companies can offer a similar HW/SW solution.
The SB Touch had quite some tweak potential during those years I've been running it (I put together and made available a Touch Toolbox during those days).
As a matter of fact your mentioned low end weakness benefited from it.
At 300$ it was twice as much as above PI solution. Which was more then fair
during those days. Nothing in the world would make me stepping back though.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
blog latest >> The Audio Streaming Series - tuning kit pCP
This post is made possible by the generous support of people like you and our sponsors:
Follow Ups
- RE: Further thoughts on RPi player - soundchekk 00:39:03 03/10/17 (17)
- RE: Further thoughts on RPi player - E-Stat 05:44:18 03/10/17 (16)
- RE: Further thoughts on RPi player - soundchekk 05:45:12 03/11/17 (1)
- RE: Further thoughts on RPi player - E-Stat 08:16:58 03/11/17 (0)
- RE: Further thoughts on RPi player - Dynobot 06:13:09 03/10/17 (13)
- Iffy iFi - AbeCollins 06:36:09 03/10/17 (12)
- RE: Iffy iFi - Dynobot 06:44:02 03/10/17 (11)
- Iffy buyers - fmak 08:37:39 03/11/17 (1)
- Buyers = The Shameless Exploitation of Headfi'ers - Dynobot 18:02:26 03/11/17 (0)
- I use the following iFi products: - oldmkvi 10:51:47 03/10/17 (8)
- RE: I use the following iFi products: - Dynobot 11:23:59 03/10/17 (5)
- Sorry, no can do! No DIY here... nt - oldmkvi 11:43:10 03/10/17 (4)
- Just 4 screws. whats the matter, you chicken?... nt - Dynobot 11:47:42 03/10/17 (3)
- Let me summon my Best Don Knotts voice... - oldmkvi 14:12:08 03/10/17 (2)
- LOL.....well at least your'e honest....nt - Dynobot 14:14:11 03/10/17 (1)
- RE: LOL.....well at least your'e honest....nt - E-Stat 14:36:08 03/10/17 (0)
- RE: I use the following iFi products: - AbeCollins 11:05:59 03/10/17 (1)
- Right, things happen. Luckily - oldmkvi 11:09:11 03/10/17 (0)