THE ALLO KATANA 1.2 DAC REVIEW - A new ball game

[Bourneendboy]

I am using the isolator with the Boss, works like a charm

Does it fit between the Pi and Boss or on top?

I guess it won't fit inside the aluminium case?

[Alp]

I have a pi question or two.

1) IF I were to use a SSD with the Pi to store the music files, would it need any extra power?

2) IF I were to use a Linear PSU, What king of spec would be required and does anyone have a handy link?

You can run the SSD from the USB, no problem. I did that for a while but (apparently) an SSD generates a lot of noise; I have found the sound to be better streaming from my NAS across wifi.

From what I have read, a linear PSU might be wasted on the RPi itself. I recently bought a 50000 mAh MaxOak battery which has high current output and lasts ages and is much cheaper than a quality linear PSU with a high output current. The DigiOne Signature and Katana both isolate the "dirty" power of the RPi from a separate clean power supply (e.g. a battery or linear PSU) and you also need much lower current supply for that part too.

[Bigman80]

You can run the SSD from the USB, no problem. I did that for a while but (apparently) an SSD generates a lot of noise; I have found the sound to be better streaming from my NAS across wifi.

From what I have read, a linear PSU might be wasted on the RPi itself. I recently bought a 50000 mAh MaxOak battery which has high current output and lasts ages and is much cheaper than a quality linear PSU with a high output current. The DigiOne Signature and Katana both isolate the "dirty" power of the RPi from a separate clean power supply (e.g. a battery or linear PSU) and you also need much lower current supply for that part too.

Ah, I see.

Thanks for that.

[Sherwood]

Thanks, Mike. Your welcome.

Yes, the case work is rather simple. I now feel this Allo package now needs to be presented much more professionally. To be able to buy a nicely designed case which fixes the wiring direction issue would be superb.

It's all good feedback for Allo.

I would have bought this myself if the product was produced in a case ideally with a good LPS to feed each board. At the asking price it needs to excel on ergonomics and not just on SQ!

[atca]

My unstacked stack in 50mm case.

[walpurgis]

Sugden box, but internals look non-standard to me. Not that I'm familiar with the original.

[Ashmore]

Hello all

I continue to use the Pi3 + IQ Audio DAC combo. I've been (and continue to be) mostly very happy with it. But having been 'away' for a couple of years I see things have moved on somewhat!

I'm not a newcomer but it's hard to assess the merits of digital stuff, and I suppose I have the impossible question - so with apologies in advance for it - in what ways could I expect this modern marvel to exceed my IQaudio setup? (I note we are in a different price bracket here too).

Simon

PS I'm running a lovely Lurcher 300b, and terrific Reiver (Colin Topps) speakers, it's a revealing system. I manage the current pi set up with picore and squeezecommander.

[mikeyb]

Hello all

I continue to use the Pi3 + IQ Audio DAC combo. I've been (and continue to be) mostly very happy with it. But having been 'away' for a couple of years I see things have moved on somewhat!

I'm not a newcomer but it's hard to assess the merits of digital stuff, and I suppose I have the impossible question - so with apologies in advance for it - in what ways could I expect this modern marvel to exceed my IQaudio setup? (I note we are in a different price bracket here too).

Simon

PS I'm running a lovely Lurcher 300b, and terrific Reiver (Colin Topps) speakers, it's a revealing system. I manage the current pi set up with picore and squeezecommander.

I've had an IQAudio DAC hat before, in fact it was my first Pi DAC, but I have to say that the Allo kit is better sounding but others might say different.

The Allo kit is more expensive of course so no shame on the IQAudio.

[jonners]

@Ashmore

I think you would find that the Katana is in a different league, and your system is certainly good enough to benefit from it. You need to factor in the cost of at least two decent 5V power supplies though.

[atca]

Sugden box, but internals look non-standard to me. Not that I'm familiar with the original.

Pi3b+
Allo Katana 1.2
Allo Isolator
2x 5v linear PSU from MPAudio
240v to 6v AC transformer from MPAudio