Plays nicely, sounds very good with Volumio. I'll test it in the main system next.Quote:
Originally Posted by jonners
I discovered that pins 1 and 17 were already joined on the DAC, so I just connected the 3v3 to pin 1.
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Plays nicely, sounds very good with Volumio. I'll test it in the main system next.Quote:
Originally Posted by jonners
I discovered that pins 1 and 17 were already joined on the DAC, so I just connected the 3v3 to pin 1.
I have a rpi2 and I'm very interested in the Piano 2.1 and Kali combi.
Is it possible to feed power to the pi with a different powersupply then the Piano 2.1 + Kali?
Or is it going to backpower?
I power my pi now with Battery supply (as an UPS) and would like to feed the Piano+Kali combi with a linear power supply.
Is that possible?
Also, does someone have experience with shipping costs to Asia (Bangkok to be precise) ?
There should be no problem using a linear supply into the Kali for the DAC and Pi.
If you want to power the Pi separately then you will need to ensure there is no power connections between it and the DAC/Kali but I can see no real benefit of such an approach.
The Allo products are primarily shipped from India (see their main site - allo.com ) so you will need to work out your shipping and taxes via that site.
Mel
Thanks for your reply. The benefit would be that a linear PSU will have a cleaner, and thus better sounding, supply.Quote:
Originally Posted by Cycleallday
Because a clean supply is a good basis for DAC and Kali, I would like to feed it with linear power supply.
It unfortunately will give me problems when we have a power cut (which happens quite often here).
That's why I would like to supply the pi itself with the little bit more noisier, but powersafe, battery-supply (UPS).
Best of both worlds I would like to think. You think that's possible?
Ok I will check the site again, thank you Mel
It's certainly possible to power the Pi separately. You just have to remove the jumper that's near one of the corners of the Kali, next to the pwr led. That will stop the Kali supplying power to the Pi.Quote:
Originally Posted by Maikel
I find it usually takes around half an hour to get used to a new setup, and then everything seems to snap into focus. Thus, first impressions can be misleading, need a bit of time. :)Quote:
Originally Posted by Starterman
Perfect, thanks a lotQuote:
Originally Posted by jonners
Are there any sonic advantages in powering the Pi rather than powering it via the KALI? The only problem I have with the Pi's power is the crappy micro USB plug.
No, there's probably a slight sonic disadvantage I would think.Quote:
Originally Posted by The Black Adder
Having been using my original HiFiBerry DAC for a few years I have decided that the time has come for a change this has been prompted by a couple of things:
-Since I became a born again vinyl listener I find the 'old' HiFi Berrry quite difficult to listen to.
-There seems to have been a lot of improvement in this area particularly in the area of master clocks and reclocking (Kali and Audiophonics V2 & V3)
Because of the nature of these things I will have to take a punt on one or other based on online reviews I have decided to go for the Kali+Piano option over the Audiophonics, although I do regret the Piano DAC RCA connectors not having securing nuts like the Audiphonics as this would make fitting either a pre-made or home-made case easier. I am always slightly afraid of straining the connections on the PCB when I fit my interconnects!
The advantages, as I see it, of the Kali set up are:
-I can try different DACs without a complete upgrade
-I don’t have to do anything about switching and it has a power supply ‘clean-up’ built in
-There is room for upgrade; I could potentially have 3 separate linear power supplies (Pi, Kali & DAC)
I currently have a 5V/3A SMPS but am waiting on The Hans Beekhuyzen Channel for his review on linear power supplies!
Question for Audiohdwr and that is whether there is still a discount available for forum members? I know I am not a big contributor to the forum but I would like to write a review comparing this to the original HiFi Berry and my turntable and if I can persuade my friend with a rather more upmarket set up to compare it to a Linn Klimax DS!
Thanks to everyone here for their feedback on this setup which has been of great help.
I think it has sonic disadvantages to power the pi through USB because you use the regulators on board.Quote:
Originally Posted by The Black Adder
When you power the pi through GPIO pins it skips these regulators, which should sound better, BUT it doesn't have protection for higher or lower voltages anymore!
Could you explain why, please. I'm interested to know.Quote:
Originally Posted by jonners
Nice plans, please keep us posted. Thanks for the link, I'll check it out later.Quote:
Originally Posted by Lunicycle
I would like to know that too Audiohdwr; I sent you an email a few days ago, did you receive that? Thank you in advance.Quote:
Originally Posted by Lunicycle
yes i will make a discount available to all ArtofSound members.
here are 3 codes, for 30% off available for 1 time use only
30% 22D39DSHF34
30% VFW394DHF82
30% MM359DGSJP3
Thanks very much 1st code now used.
Excellent deals, Andre. :)
Just as Richard has done, if you guys could please let people know when the codes are used that would be great.
Thanks Andre, I've used a code. Had a bit of trouble getting the system to accept it, so I may have used either the second or the third one.Quote:
Originally Posted by The Black Adder
All the code is used :(
Thanks Andre, just used the third code.
Mel
Now that it is winging its way from France can any existing owners tell me what size standoffs I need between each layer? Any preference nylon or brass for any reason whether it be SQ or just practical. Thanks Richard
Can't answer your question but based on some recent experience of buying standoffs from different sources you may also want to know what thread size to use M2.5 or M3
All codes used then... great stuff. They didn't last long :)
Richard it looks like the boards are supplied with standoffs. Look at the Allo site and find the manuals for the boards you bought and they say what is supplied. I bought a bundle too and have just been looking on their site for technical details and links are provided just to the right of the description section.Quote:
Originally Posted by Lunicycle
Mel
Hi Richard.
Yes, the kit is supplied with standoffs (see my pics on post #01) so no need to buy any. They are plastic ones.
I shall see what turns up in the package then 😀Unfortunately I will have to wait until Christmas to try it out properly as it is one my presents!
Despite reading the Allo sites description of this item and their manual I just cannot understand what it does - can anybody explain its purpose in plain English for me.
With all the components assembled (inc. the Volt amplifier) it looks like the package needs 2 power supplies, a 5v one for the Kali/DAC/Pi and another 19v one for the Volt. However, while Allo sells a 5v supply they don't do a 19v one so what type of 19v suply is needed - just an ex laptop unit?
Or does the CAPACITANCE MULTILPIER take a feed from the 5v supply and somehow modify it for the Volt amp?
Mel
It's the power supply for the VOLT amplifier. :)
I just used a laptop PSU at 19v and the Volt takes its power from the capacitance thingy via jumper lead.
I will need to do something with all the spare bits I have as I'm only using the DAC the Reclocker and the wallwart ( need to source another linear PSU as my HDPlex only outputs 2a and the Allo kit needs 3a ).
I think you will be able to run RPi+Kali+Dac off a 2A supply. No harm in trying anyway.Quote:
Originally Posted by mikeyb
it works but made the HD-Plex PSU run hot so no good, so just using the wallwart it came with in meantime.Quote:
Originally Posted by jonners
Thanks Mike, so I assume the odd board is doing some sort of clean up on the amp switched power supply. With that in place do you still need the 5v supply when using the Volt?
No the wallwart isn't needed if you use a 19v supply as it powers everything.Quote:
Originally Posted by Cycleallday
I didn't order the wallwart but it came with one anyway which was handy as I ended up not using the Volt or the Capacitance device.
we are getting metal ones in stock by Jan.Quote:
Originally Posted by The Black Adder
Hi All,
I received a Kali + Piano 2.1 DAC just this morning. Initially, I used Moode 3.0 which worked quite well but AFAIKS it doesn't yet have a setting to run the two chips on the Piano DAC. So I reluctantly installed Volumio 2 on a micro SD card and powered the system up.
I'm comparing it directly (using an A/B switch) to an Audiophonics V1 es9023 DAC board with the XO clock option running on a Pi2B
Music material currently is Daniel Lanois / Acadie streamed from a NAS and from various 320kbs Spotify files.
My initial impressions where a little disappointing in that both DACs sounded pretty much the same. I rechecked everything and noticed that I had a power supply on the KALI - AND - on the Pi which is a no-no. (I hadn't read the instructions :doh: the good news is that the Pi survived the over powering or maybe it has some sort of protection... anyways, don't do that, only power the KALI with a good 5V/3A PSU which will in turn supply clean power to the Pi.). I had to restart the Pi several times before Volumio would load. I think that also caused some confusion on my part. Somehow, I thought that the Pi wasn't getting any power :mental:...
I'm not sure that this mistake made much of a SQ difference. With the proper power configuration it was still pretty close to the Audiophonics combo. So, I'll just let some more music through it for some hours hoping it would "warm up" a little....
And indeed, several hours later, it's becoming quite evident that the sound stage on the KALI / Piano2.1 combo has something going. It seems to be much better defined with a very "spacial" feeling to it. I'm not sure it's because of the settle in period or because I'm just getting used to the new sound(stage) ? but it is quite easy to make out.
More to come ...
Greetings
Ru
Cool :)Quote:
Originally Posted by Audiohdwr
Sounds positive, Rupert. :)Quote:
Originally Posted by r100
Arrgh! - lol, glad it survive but next time 'read the manual'.... lol
The stage is the thing that is seemingly expanding in my case. No loss of anything, everything is snappy and clear and the bass is bonkers sometimes. lol - Makes me grin, even when I'm doing my ironing. lol which is always good :)
Hi to all.Quote:
Originally Posted by mikeyb
Funny nick names that our Capacitance Multiplier board is getting :)
odd board ; capacitance thingy hehe
yes, the CM board filters the noise and ripple generated by the 19V power supply for the VOLT amp to negligible levels.
i just wanted to clarify that the 19V power supply feeds only the AMP... you still need a 5V PSU for the KALI.
Quote:
Originally Posted by The Black Adder
great feedback Rupert!
Rupert, make sure you check the alsamixer settings by SSH into the Pi and turn the analogue outputs up to max and make sure you have the digital output at your preferred setting too. Mine is set at 0db currently. But I have previously run it at -3db.
If these are set right then you'll find a decent jump in output quality.
+1
Hi Mike,Quote:
Originally Posted by mikeyb
Where do I do that ? I get these values with the amixer command. Do I have to edit a file ?
thanks
rupert
volumio@volumio:~$ amixer -c 0 contents
numid=3,iface=MIXER,name='PCM Playback Route'
; type=INTEGER,access=rw------,values=1,min=0,max=2,step=0
: values=1
numid=2,iface=MIXER,name='PCM Playback Switch'
; type=BOOLEAN,access=rw------,values=1
: values=on
numid=1,iface=MIXER,name='PCM Playback Volume'
; type=INTEGER,access=rw---R--,values=1,min=-10239,max=400,step=0
: values=-2000
| dBscale-min=-102.39dB,step=0.01dB,mute=1
numid=5,iface=PCM,name='IEC958 Playback Con Mask'
; type=IEC958,access=r-------,values=1
: values=[AES0=0x02 AES1=0x00 AES2=0x00 AES3=0x00]
numid=4,iface=PCM,name='IEC958 Playback Default'
; type=IEC958,access=rw------,values=1
: values=[AES0=0x00 AES1=0x00 AES2=0x00 AES3=0x00]
Ah, don't use Volumio so I'm not sure, sorry
Hi Rupert.
You have the wrong command. It's not amixer, it's alsamixer
So Volumio works same way when you do alsamixer settingsQuote:
Originally Posted by The Black Adder
oki, yes, that's why I switched to Volumio for this board as it has a specific setting for the Piano2.1DAC...Quote:
Originally Posted by mikeyb
Continuing some more listening...
I did an amp swap (from a class-D LJM L15D with two beefy transformers) to my trusted Dada Quad 306 and also found a way to simultaneously stream high res files from iTunes over Airplay to both DAC's in order to be able to switch from one DAC to the other without any delay ...
First off, the Quad has made the sound a little more cosy, which is hard to get used to after having tasted the precision and slam of the class-D amp combined with these DAC's.
But, even in this configuration, I hold on to my first impressions. The sound of the two DACs is very similar, both have clocks but the Kali+Piano2.1 still seems to have an edge in terms of imaging. YMMV. I must stress that I am comparing a first gen. (V1) audiophonics DAC with the clock option. I had falsely stated that it was a V2. From what I understand the big difference between V1 and V2 is the layout of the boards and a more precise clock (2x) in the newer version.
Also, maybe my system is not resolving enough to get every little drop out of the two PCM5142 chips on the Kali / Piano2.1 combo (LJM L15D, Quad Dada 306, SC LDR pre, KEF LS50, Q Acoustics 2020i, NVA and Klotz cables). Volumio seems to have the optimal settings for the Piano2.1. AFAIKS, Moode 3.0 still needs some tweaking at the time of writing to properly drive the Piano2.1. I have a feeling that much can be done on the tweaking / software side to get the most out of these devices but that possibility also opens a door to an large, almost infinite number of options which could influence the sound in some subtle way. I don't think I want to go through it. The sound is already great to my ears ;-) and I could easily settle for it. Maybe some larger speakers one day ?
On the build side, I prefer the Audiophonics DAC. It has RCA's which can be bolted to a chassis, thus relieving the board from any stress from un / plugging cables. The Piano's RCA's would probably break off after a while if used in a chassis. But it would be easy to de-solder them and route some wires to chassis mounted RCA plugs.
Back to some tunes ;-)
Great stuff, Rupert. :)
I asked Tim of Moode about a driver for the Allo, he said it's on his to-do list :) - Hopefully it won't be long.
Rupert,Quote:
Originally Posted by r100
thanks for the great feedback.
we will soon release something new that will take care of that issue.
hope he has a short list :)Quote:
Originally Posted by The Black Adder
exciting none the less.
several new releases in the upcoming months...
Piano 2.1 with no sub connected and PI3 + Moode 3.1 with DAC set as IQ pi Dac+ (no other default changes applied)
I have just got the Allo items and intend to compare to the Audiophonics V3 DAC shortly. However, initially I notice a lack of lower bass registers. On another forum I noted what seemed like an Allo employee saying the 2.1 default setup has a an 80hz cut off on the main RCA output as this is where the configuration cuts over to the sub DAC and this could account for what I hear. Does anybody know if this is the case and how can it be changed? It appears there is an app and some pre set configurations which can be used has anybody come across these? (it seemed this was not the TI software used for the filter set up)
Mel
Does that mean a custom case?Quote:
Originally Posted by Audiohdwr
You could try the setting on Moode for the IQAudio Pi-Dac Pro. Or move to Volumio, which has the Piano 2.1 settings.Quote:
Originally Posted by Cycleallday
yes... best option for now.