The ALLO Audio music steamer - Pic heavy review

[Lunicycle]

I have been playing both the Kali/2.1 and Kali/1.1 combinations today and switching between sample tracks, mainly alac cd rips but some high res DSD and FLAC also, but have heard no clicks. I also run from a NAS via a switch (actually 2 switches are between source and player). I am using Pi3 and Moode3.1 and controlling it via the mode app.

Mel

Thanks for info Mel, a couple of questions though:

• are you setting up your NAS as a source in Moode or accessing it through a upnp service such as Twonky or Asset?
• was mode a typo and you meant to put Moode app, either way I haven't come across that app on android perhaps given your mention of ALAC you are using iOS?

I am planning to swap out my Pi 2 for a Pi 3 and try out Moode again because SQ seemed better listening to upsampled Suzanne Vega's Cracking through headphones but my wife can't understand why I visibly flinch when it skips! Is it just me or do others have a physical reaction to things like that? Sorry I digress!

I will also try attaching a USB drive to the Pi/Kali/Piano set up to see if it makes any difference - eliminate the variables one at a time 😀

[Cycleallday]

Thanks for info Mel, a couple of questions though:

• are you setting up your NAS as a source in Moode or accessing it through a upnp service such as Twonky or Asset?
• was mode a typo and you meant to put Moode app, either way I haven't come across that app on android perhaps given your mention of ALAC you are using iOS?

I am planning to swap out my Pi 2 for a Pi 3 and try out Moode again because SQ seemed better listening to upsampled Suzanne Vega's Cracking through headphones but my wife can't understand why I visibly flinch when it skips! Is it just me or do others have a physical reaction to things like that? Sorry I digress!

I will also try attaching a USB drive to the Pi/Kali/Piano set up to see if it makes any difference - eliminate the variables one at a time ��

The NAS is set as a source in in Moode.
You are correct in suggesting it was a Moode browser being used to control the player and not an actual app (sorry for that mistake).

I also don't up sample unless I play DSD files which the Kali/Piano combo seems to need. All Moodes settings are otherwise default apart from the kernel being changed to advanced.

[The Black Adder]

I can't upsample to 384Khz, nothing comes through whatsoever.

Right now I have it disabled.

Using Pi2, Kali, Piano 2.1, Moode 3.1

Any ideas?

[jonners]

I can't upsample to 384Khz, nothing comes through whatsoever.

Right now I have it disabled.

Using Pi2, Kali, Piano 2.1, Moode 3.1

Any ideas?

Seems weird. Is your music directly connected to the RPi via USB, or via the network?

[The Black Adder]

It's USB.

? I'm confused.

[jonners]

I will also try attaching a USB drive to the Pi/Kali/Piano set up to see if it makes any difference - eliminate the variables one at a time ��

Good idea. My USB drive is directly attached, and occasionally if I'm very attentive I get the sense that a tiny skip has happened. Not enough to make me go 'ouch' though.

[jonners]

It's USB.

? I'm confused.

Had a thought: Does your Kali have the 22/24MHz clocks or 44/48MHz?
If the former, it would be unable to go up to 384Hz.

[r100]

or maybe the pi2 is struggling with the "Sox very high" setting

[Lunicycle]

I have now swapped the Pi 3 running asset with Pi 2 on the Kali/Piano set up and on 1st impressions it seems to have illuminated both the clicking and skipping switching between tracks, all FLAC, of various types 16/44.1, 24/96 & 24/192 I have yet to hear any clicks or skips - using Moode 3.1 with max upsampling

Listening through headphones (it was 6:00 am!) I listened to one of my current favourites (Cara Dillon - Upon a Winter's Night - O Holy Night) as it is just 2 female voices a-cappella I thought any skipping would be very obvious and there was none. However there was some clicking, that of the singer's tongues against the tops of their mouths -is there a name for that noise?

I am still using the NAS - Asset upnp (pi2) - Pi3/Kali/Piano set up controlled with Bubble upnp on Android. I am sticking with this because I like the interface and smart way Asset handles "the", I couldn't go back to 80% of groups being listed under T.

The downside of switching the Pis is that indexing the music took longer but I may get another Pi 3 in the New Year or even wait until the next Pi version appears!

A couple of questions to finish with:
-In this mode the 192k blue led on the Kali is permanently flashing - does this match others experience and is it OK? (Andre?)
-In terms of 'burn-in' is there any point in setting up a long and varied playlist and just letting it run 24x7 without any output on i.e. power amp off?

Thanks and happy Christmas

Richard

[ALLO.com]

hi Richard,
overall a great listening experience I gather.
about your question, i will get back to you on Tuesday as my team is not available.

happy holidays to all!