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ALLO.com
11-08-2016, 13:20
Hello to all.
We are, I guess, the new kid on the block and glad to be here!
Like I was telling Marco, its always tricky to keep things ethical on a forum with manufacturers looking to sell their products.
We are not different, but I think we can do it while sharing our common passion for MUZIC!
All I can say is that we are very much interested in the opinion of the members of this forum about our products, engage in discussions and God knows... maybe even come up with new ideas that we can materialize.

Quick overview... ALLO, has been designing, developing and manufacturing telecom hardware (IPphones, PBX systems, Gateways, Interface cards...) for the past 8 years, our R&D and SMT factory are based in Bangalore India. About 2 years ago, we focused all our resources into Single Board Computers and their add on boards (shields).
SPARKY, our SBC was born and along with it a wide range of shields, with audio being the main focus.
A lot of blood, sweat and tears as well as research and testing has gone into the design s of our DACs, AMPs and complete system overall...We even came out with our own power supply.

So...with all that being said, here are our babies (loading may be a little slow):


http://www.allo.com/marketing/brochures/allo-piano-dac-1-1-brochure.pdf
http://www.allo.com/marketing/brochures/allo-piano-dac-2-1-brochure.pdf
http://www.allo.com/marketing/brochures/allo-volt-amp-brochure.pdf
http://www.allo.com/marketing/brochures/allo-volt-plus-brochure.pdf
http://www.allo.com/marketing/brochures/allo-cheapo-dac-brochure.pdf
http://www.allo.com/marketing/brochures/allo-kali-brochure.pdf
http://www.allo.com/marketing/brochures/allo-capacitance-multiplier-brochure.pdf


these boards can be used with our SPARKY SBC (will send brochure soon) and they also have RPI connector.

See att for a picture of the complete system.

We are thinking of making a few complete VANA (Sanskrit for music) systems available for testing among the members.

Now I will sit like a priest in Church waiting to hear what you all have to say :)

Cheers!

Puffin
11-08-2016, 21:19
So is this a sort of Raspberry Pi?

ALLO.com
12-08-2016, 06:44
So is this a sort of Raspberry Pi?

Hello Puffin,
the main board single board computer yes...
http://www.allo.com/marketing/brochures/allo-sparky-brochure.pdf

But the main attraction are the audio add on boards which can be also used with the Raspberry PI and turn it into a "Sonos" like player...

We took great care to design products that deliver the highest sound quality possible.
What is your opinion on the specs and details?

thanks

Marco
12-08-2016, 07:23
Unless I've missed it, Andre, folks also need to know the prices :)

Marco.

ALLO.com
12-08-2016, 07:51
Unless I've missed it, Andre, folks also need to know the prices :)

Marco.

My dear Marco, not all is about money :) hehe

here is the price list:

Sparky 35$
Piano 27$
Piano 2.1 45$
Cheapo 18$
Volt 27$
Volt+ 39$
CM 15$
LLC PSU +CM 59$
Kali 69$

All of these will be up on the site and ready for sale by next week. ( I will inform you).

Glad to answer your questions and to hear your comments!

Ali Tait
12-08-2016, 09:03
Prices look good.

YNWaN
12-08-2016, 09:39
Is the Allo website working - it's ridiculously slow to load?


100% Analogue

ALLO.com
12-08-2016, 09:58
Is the Allo website working - it's ridiculously slow to load?


100% Analogue

the new site , with the audio hardware, will be launched next week...
about load time...i will ask IT .

ALLO.com
12-08-2016, 09:59
good to know!
and products?

YNWaN
12-08-2016, 10:09
Well, the links don't really load at all - so I don't really know anything about the products. I can see from the picture that it is a Rasperberyy Pii type mother board with a small external power supply and a number of extra boards stacked on top - but that's it!


100% Analogue

ALLO.com
12-08-2016, 10:31
See here more details:

PIANO 2.1 DAC:

PIANO HI-FI DAC (VERSION 2.1)
We are using 2 DAC ics PCM5142 with integrated DSP. The PurePath
software from TI is available for download (registration required) and can
be used to create specific filters and other audio functions.
The board will come pre-programed as a 2.1 output (but you can create your
own custom design and load it the board and can access the xover
frequency directly from linux (we made a small app).
Hardware wise, we have split the digital and analog side with LDOs and we
feed the analog side using an extremely capable (low noise ultrahigh psrr)
LT3042. Basically each board has 4 LDO (2 for each DAC ic) (note that
digital side uses cheaper LDOs).
Of course, on the analog side we used only thin film resistors and poly caps
in audiopath.
Key Features
Dedicated Two no’s of 384 kHz/32bit high-quality DAC PCM5142 for best sound
quality
Available with different output connectors: 4 x RCA
DAC SNR is 112dB
DAC THD+N @ - 1dBFS are –93dB
Full Scale Output of DAC is 2.1Vrms
Dynamic Range of DAC is 112dB
Sampling Frequency ranges from 8 kHz to 384 kHz
Ultra-low-noise voltage regulators for optimal audio performance
Integrated EEPROM for automatic configuration (with write-protection)
Technical Specifications
Operating Temperature Range is -25C to 85C
The Piano 2.1 board size: LWH = 68.7mm* 65 mm*22.2mm


VOLT + AMP :

VOLT+ AMP
The TPA3116/18 class D amplifier IC is a leap in terms of audio quality.
Our board is a high quality implementation of the stock design.
Ÿ Using TPA3118 (better grounding of main IC)
Ÿ Anti-Pop circuit
Ÿ Bootstrap snubber mod
Ÿ Brand name components as per picture
Ÿ Radio avoidance switch (to reduce interference)
Ÿ PCB with extra copper (since on transient’s current can spike to 5A)
Note that PCB comes in 2 flavors:
1. Volt is a shield and beneath it has connector that will plug into our DACs
(Piano 1.1 and Piano 2.1). It has no RCA inputs. (Capacitance Multiplier can
be added as a standalone board).
2. Volt+ is a standalone amplifier with RCA IN (stereo). In addition to
everything that the Volt has, we have added a circuit in the power supply
that will reject spikes and noise to about 60db. The name of the circuit is
"Capacitance Multiplier". Please note that Class D amplifier needs a quiet
PSU.
Volt+ can be used with our DACs through the RCA input, as a standalone
board.rrect crystal (there are 2), fixing the problems outlined in the
beginning.

Key Features
This class D amplifier goes up to 2 x 50W max
The components used are specifically designed for high end audio devices (Worth
Inductor, TI chipset, film capacitors and ± 1% thin film resistors)
VOLT AMP boasts 4 output filters, 4 EMI Snubbers, 4 bootstrap capacitors and
gain setting components
We are using CM filter circuits in power section to reduce maximum ripples in
power
We are using 10K logarithmic Potentiometer for Volume control. Available with
different Input connectors: 2 x RCA
Comes in two flavors
Technical Specifications
Chipset: TPA3118D2
Output: 2 x 30W into a 4 to 8-Ω BTL Load
Class D Operation: 90% POWER EFFICIENCY
SNR: 102dB
Supply Voltage: UP TO 24V DC
Board Size: LWH = 82.83mm* 125.5mm * 40.2mm
Temp Range: -40°C to 85°C Ambient

KALI reclocker:

Kali The Goddess of Time
Every SBC has a crystal that it used to send digital signals to your DACs.
The accuracy of this crystal is very important in how well the DAC will
transform the digital signal into analog sounds. Simply put: a better crystal
means a better sound! Most SBCs use a very cheap crystal with lots of jitter
in order to save costs.
Furthermore, there are 2 kinds of frequencies for digital files: 44.1Khz (wave
files) and 48khz (streamed music). Some SBCs (like RPIs) can output only
48Khz, so imagine the degradation of the sound that was recorded at a
different frequency.
Kali Will Solve Both of Those Problems
First, it has a very low jitter NDK crystal feed by LDOs in series for ultra quiet
power supply. Second, the FPGA will read the incoming stream, will buffer
the DATA 0.7s while discarding the incoming clocks. Using the NDKs it will
reclock the buffered data OUTSIDE the fpga (since fpgas introduce about
200ps of jitter) and provide a MCLK/BCLK that is direct from crystal,
providing a jitter-free (almost) to your DAC.
Meanwhile, it will clock the file using the correct crystal (there are 2), fixing
the problems outlined in the beginning.
The Million Dollar Question (actually $69):
How Does it Sound?
Well, the music will "open up". The stage will sound bigger, more tridimensional.
You will hear sounds, words, instruments that were drowned
before in a sea of digital mud.
Is it Worth it?
Do you enjoy a better wine/microbrewery beer, or anything will do? Do you
have some medium/good speakers or you are using the cheapest PC
speakers? Do you love music or just want to hear some beats?
We can’t answer the question for you. It’s your choice.
Kali Comes in 2 Flavors
The difference between the two is that RPI version will always buffer the
DATA at 0.7s. It will work with any SBC's including SPARKY.
Key Features
The basic design includes FPGA based FIFO board, Clock generation board and
additional board for connecting other types of inputs like SPDIF and USB along
with I2S streams of audio
I2S input: 44.1 KHz, 48 KHz, 88.2 KHz, 96 KHz, 176.4 KHz, 192 KHz - 16bit, 24bit or
32bit
I2S output: 44.1 KHz, 48 KHz, 88.2 KHz, 96 KHz, 176.4 KHz, 192 KHz - 16bit, 24bit
or 32bit
FIFO Memory: 4MB SRAM
Can be use with external Crystal Oscillators for MCLK or upgraded to a higher
quality, multi-frequency clock that comes with automatic Fs switching and better
performance
LED indicators (Power, Full, Lock, Empty, Sample Rate, Mclk)
DC power supply: (5V/3A) with Filter circuits
Multi-frequency output capability to support the full I2S working range from 44.1
KHz to 196 K
Automatically switching frequencies according to the input I2S signals
Extremely fast and very low propagation delay Flip-Flops are added on I2s signals
output from FPGA, for synchronization with MCLK before sending to DAC
Ultra-low-noise voltage regulators for optimal audio performance
Integrated EEPROM for automatic configuration (with write-protection)
Tech Specs
LED indicators (Power, Full, Lock, Empty, Sample Rate, Mclk)
DC power supply: (5V/3A) with Filter circuits
Operating Temperature Range is -25C to 85C
The Kali board size: LWH = 58mm * 77.54mm * 23.8mm

CM board:

Capacitance Multiplier (Stand Alone)
A Capacitance Multiplier is designed to make a small capacitor function like
a capacitor that is much, much larger.
This design reduces the output ripple/noise of any PSU to almost negligible
levels (less than 5mV up to 1Mhz).
Note this this is not a voltage regulator. The output voltage will track the
input voltage (- dropout voltage).
This circuit is very suitable for class A and class D amplifiers or even to feed
clean power to your SBCs.

Key Features
Designed to make a small capacitor function like a capacitor that is much, much
larger
Reduces the output ripple/noise of any PSU to almost negligible levels (less than
5mV up to 1Mhz)
The output voltage will track the input voltage (- dropout voltage)
Suitable for class A and class D amplifiers
Suitable to feed clean power to your SBCs
Dropout voltage is trim pot selectable

ALLO.com
12-08-2016, 10:40
so i've done a copy past of the text... now you're missing the pictures... but I can assure you, they look as good in real life as on paper (specs).

ALLO.com
16-08-2016, 10:43
Hi guys,
I wonder if some of you have questions about our hardware, since its not a traditional sound system.
i just want to let you know that I am available to answer any questions and hope that more of you sign up for the hardware pass around so we can get it started.
thanks
Andre

337alant
03-12-2016, 15:18
It looks great Anrey think I will have a dabble with that :eyebrows:

Alan

ALLO.com
07-12-2016, 08:54
It looks great Anrey think I will have a dabble with that :eyebrows:

Alan

you can take a look at our site and read more about the products.
i also offer a discount for ArtOfSound members!
so just PM me

tkr001
09-12-2016, 23:33
@Audiohdwr I have purchased and assembled a Vana but cannot find where to download any images for the Sparky. Can you help?

ALLO.com
22-12-2016, 12:45
hi there.
what image are you looking for?
have you contacted our support team ?
thanks
Andre

tkr001
25-12-2016, 03:52
I am looking for a version of linux to install roon bridge on. On my RPis I use diet-Pi. I tried to contact the support team re using the Piano 2.1 dac as a 2 channel dac and was told someone would contact me but they haven't.

I have given up on the sparky for the time being and added the rest of the bundle to a RPi. Kit seems fine but documentation and support are lacking.

Thanks for responding.

ALLO.com
29-12-2016, 08:55
I am looking for a version of linux to install roon bridge on. On my RPis I use diet-Pi. I tried to contact the support team re using the Piano 2.1 dac as a 2 channel dac and was told someone would contact me but they haven't.

I have given up on the sparky for the time being and added the rest of the bundle to a RPi. Kit seems fine but documentation and support are lacking.

Thanks for responding.

hi
we only started looking at ROON a few days ago.
we hope to release something soon for Diet PI.
please stay tuned.
thanks

ALLO.com
30-12-2016, 16:57
All the best to all for 2017!