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SantanaCorreia
31-12-2016, 15:27
Hello Guys,

I am willing to try a RBPi based system but I cannot make my mind completely.

I donīt know if it would be better to use my old laptop+external USB DAC other that the RBPi+IS2 DAC.

The ideia of the dedicated small computer as a dedicated source and plus the headless software makes sense.

Soundwise, if I invest 250 euro on a DAC or the same 250 euros on RBPi+IS2DAC, were should I get the best results?
struth
31-12-2016, 15:49
Good question. Doubt you will spend 250 on a pi unless its a fancy one. Depends on box but probably half that. Same can be said potentially of dac of course. Much depends on what you want. One i just bought was 120Ģ. My rpi is very good and in my main system with an external hdd. The dac i am using with my headphones from pc running jriver, which costs but is a nice package and can be run with their remote app.
Inclined to say, it depends on how pc geeky you are, as rpi/moode takes a bit more knowledge to set up, while jriver/dac is pretty much plug n play to a point.

Personally i like this new dac and if i continue to, my rpi will become redundant
Cycleallday
31-12-2016, 16:41
My personal option would be a pi with PI/DAC using player software such as Moode.

Use a good quality DAC from a recognised supplier (rather than ebay) and you should have little problem with setting up. Moode is really a PI operating system dedicated to music playing. With a PI 3 you can connect by ethernet or wirless to a NAS or else plug in a USB device to hold your music on board. The player uses a web based access portal so any iphone/smart phone/pc can control your playing choice and volume.

I have a number of pi/DACs and consider them equal to my Mac/Audirvana/Meridian Explorer 2 DAC setup.

Mel
SantanaCorreia
31-12-2016, 18:17
I am not that much of a geek and donīt enjoy playing with computers very much but I have someone who can help me so I donīt consider that a problem.

What DAC are you talking about?

Many Thanks.
SantanaCorreia
31-12-2016, 18:18
My personal option would be a pi with PI/DAC using player software such as Moode.

Use a good quality DAC from a recognised supplier (rather than ebay) and you should have little problem with setting up. Moode is really a PI operating system dedicated to music playing. With a PI 3 you can connect by ethernet or wirless to a NAS or else plug in a USB device to hold your music on board. The player uses a web based access portal so any iphone/smart phone/pc can control your playing choice and volume.

I have a number of pi/DACs and consider them equal to my Mac/Audirvana/Meridian Explorer 2 DAC setup.

Mel


I see... What kind of Pi DACs should I look for?
struth
31-12-2016, 18:46
I am not that much of a geek and donīt enjoy playing with computers very much but I have someone who can help me so I donīt consider that a problem.

What DAC are you talking about?

Many Thanks.

Thats good if you know someone to get you started. Its fairly easy once someone has showed you, but a bit daunting by self if you dont know what your doing. A lot of folk go off rpi because of this. I usa an audiophonics dac in my rpi which is just a 2b version rpi.
The standalone dac i recently bought was a smsl m6 minidac. very good for the money in my opinion. sound via headphones is superb, and it does high sample rates too . I find jriver a good program tbh and it has a lot going for it with the remote app. (both paid for though) Got a feeling my pi might be getting sold soon lol.
This is how my pi looks with a fancy box. quite pretty, and sounds very good too.. Something like this wouldnt cost too much although more than I paid for the mini dac, plus you need cables and a hdd

http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/320x240q90/908/ilSEDI.jpg
jonners
31-12-2016, 18:50
I see... What kind of Pi DACs should I look for?

I think the I2S 'HAT' Dacs are the way to go. The IQaudio Pi-Dac+ gets a lot of positive comments. Also a newcomer, the Allo Piano Dac, which I like a lot, particularly when paired with the Allo Kali reclocker.
WAD62
01-01-2017, 13:55
I think the I2S 'HAT' Dacs are the way to go. The IQaudio Pi-Dac+ gets a lot of positive comments. Also a newcomer, the Allo Piano Dac, which I like a lot, particularly when paired with the Allo Kali reclocker.

I've got a couple of pi2s with HAT DAC boards, an IQaudio DAC+, and an Audiophonics V2...

http://www.audiophonics.fr/en/kits-modules-diy-dac/audiophonics-i-sabre-dac-es9023-v2-tcxo-raspberry-pi-20-a-b-i2s-p-10176.html

...both represent fantastic VFM, however in terms of absolute SQ the Audiophonics is noticeably better to my ears.

I was considering the 'Allo' option, but I use piCorePlayer as my preferred software (runs from RAM), and I'm not sure the Allo is currently supported
Cycleallday
01-01-2017, 17:16
I have an Audiophonics v3 DAC along with several other brands and would agree the sound, to my ears, is much nicer and is my favourite. This is one of the few Pi DACS which is using the ESS Sabre DAC and has a very good build quality. Audiophonics are also very helpful and fast in dealing with any queries.

Mel
jonners
01-01-2017, 20:02
I was considering the 'Allo' option, but I use piCorePlayer as my preferred software (runs from RAM), and I'm not sure the Allo is currently supported

The Allo Piano will run in Moode under the 'IQAudio Pi Dac+' setting.
SantanaCorreia
02-01-2017, 23:18
Many thanks for all the inputs.

I will be going for the audio phonics or IQ audio Dacs. The recklocker + Piano combo is too expensive and in that case I might as well be better with an external usb dac.
ALLO.com
03-01-2017, 08:41
Many thanks for all the inputs.

I will be going for the audio phonics or IQ audio Dacs. The recklocker + Piano combo is too expensive and in that case I might as well be better with an external usb dac.

hi
we do offer a 10% off to all members of this forum...
so you'd be paying 90$ USD fot the PIANO 2.1 DAC and KALI.
mikeyb
03-01-2017, 08:57
hi
we do offer a 10% off to all members of this forum...
so you'd be paying 90$ USD fot the PIANO 2.1 DAC and KALI.
Well worth it if you can stretch the budget, I find the Piano/Kali combo better than the IQAudio, haven't tried the Audiophonics one.
jonners
03-01-2017, 10:00
Many thanks for all the inputs.

I will be going for the audio phonics or IQ audio Dacs. The recklocker + Piano combo is too expensive and in that case I might as well be better with an external usb dac.

Get the Piano, save up and add the Kali later? There's supposed to be a new version of Kali coing out, so might be worth waiting for.
ALLO.com
03-01-2017, 11:38
well this turns out to be an interesting topic.
pricing...
99$ for PIANO 2.1 and KALI 44/48Mhz reclocker is expensive?
SantanaCorreia
03-01-2017, 15:39
well this turns out to be an interesting topic.
pricing...
99$ for PIANO 2.1 and KALI 44/48Mhz reclocker is expensive?
For me is not a question of 'expensiveness'. It is about having the best results and save as much as possible. In audio as in many things in life what is better for me may not be for somebody else.

For me, for example, the iqaudio has a very good advantage that is the headphone jack. The piano lacks it.

For 100 euros we get the iqaudio, the Pi, a box and the power transformer. For the same money we get a Dac and the reclocker. How much better does it sound, if it sounds, no one knows.

I have read many comments and reviews and I am prone to buy the iqaudio.

I also think that around 200 euros I can get a nice second hand Dac, that came from one of those guys that suffer from upgraditis, probably in a goood condition.
ALLO.com
03-01-2017, 15:46
For me is not a question of 'expensiveness'. It is about having the best results and save as much as possible. In audio as in many things in life what is better for me may not be for somebody else.

For me, for example, the iqaudio has a very good advantage that is the headphone jack. The piano lacks it.

For 100 euros we get the iqaudio, the Pi, a box and the power transformer. For the same money we get a Dac and the reclocker. How much better does it sound, if it sounds, no one knows.

I have read many comments and reviews and I am prone to buy the iqaudio.

I also think that around 200 euros I can get a nice second hand Dac, that came from one of those guys that suffer from upgraditis, probably in a goood condition.

true true...
we also have the PIANO... that has a headphone jack.
PIANO + KALI
https://www.allo.com/sparky/bundle-kali-piano.html
thats 86$ USD - 10%

we always push the PIANO 2.1 because of the subwoofer out feature, its unique.
SantanaCorreia
03-01-2017, 16:24
The piano and piano 2.1 differ in sq?
ALLO.com
04-01-2017, 09:39
The piano and piano 2.1 differ in sq?

KALI will be the one sealing the deal on the SQ...
so if you use PIANO or PIANO 2.1 as long as you use it will use it with KALI, it will bring you to the proper SQ height you want.