Here's my initial thoughts/feelings about this system/components.
Andre (Audio Hdwr) offered that I could test/review the following:
Piano Hi-Fi DAC 2.1
Volt AMP
KALI Reclocker
Not a full-blown VANA system but since I already have a spare Raspberry Pi 2 Model B with an IQaudIO DAC+ installed it would be an interesting comparison.
So using that as a base I removed the IQaudIO DAC+ and installed the Piano Hi-Fi DAC 2.1. Dead simple - fits onto the Raspberry PI as per the IQaudIO DAC+ and so good to go - fingers crossed.
I have been using Squeezebox Server and a Squeezebox Classic for years now so that is the environment I am testing in – I don’t stream from the internet so won’t be looking at that side of things.
The Raspberry PI is running Max2Play v2.37 – I’ve been using that for about a year or so now since it offers a good web interface to control the PI and it’s installed software (Squeezebox Server and SqueezePlug) plus it has specific extensions/packages for the IQaudIO DAC.
After rebooting the PI I checked the IQaudIO settings in Max2Play to specify the DAC I’m using – well since the Piano Hi-Fi DAC 2.1 isn’t actually an IQaudIO product I guessed/crossed fingers that the setting of IQaudio Pi-DAC+ would work.
And it did
Fired up the system, switched on the amp and selected the Raspberry Pi as the input – went to the iPad and started iPeng (SqueezeBox control app) to browse some music on the Raspberry Pi. I’ve got a playlist that I use to test whenever I change something in the system and chose that. No problem – all worked as expected, DAC recognised and working as expected.
Initial impressions are very good – usually everything goes through an Audiocom modified Squeezebox Classic into an M2Tech Young DAC. Using the Pi/Piano Hi-Fi DAC 2.1 the bass has less impact and the soundstage is not quite so wide but for something that costs significantly less than my usual system it does not disgrace itself. If I was just beginning to get into the world of digital/streaming music, then I would have been more than satisfied with what I was hearing and very happy with my system.
One thing I noticed is that the RCA binding posts and not quite as robust as those used on the IQaudIO DAC. The Piano Hi-Fi DAC 2.1 uses a single post for each cable whilst the IQaudIO DAC uses a double unit. When I was taking the connects off the Piano DAC I noticed that there was a degree of movement/flex as I pulled the connect off – maybe I’m a bit ‘rough’ with the connect but might be worth bearing in mind when changing cables/connecting the system.
The next stage is to install the KALI Reclocker to see what impact that has on the system – but I need a suitable power supply for the KALI and am waiting for Andre to get back to see if the power supplies I have lying around are suitable.