Raspberry pi and the delights of invisible media!

[mikmas]

As it seems you're using Volumio on a 3B+, it's worth looking into underclocking IMHO.

Nowhere near as difficult as it sounds, some useful info here http://theaudiostandard.net/thread/4...r-pi-allegedly. Certainly less time consuming than comparing storage media and I possibly more audible?

Interesting tweak ... and love this comment from the author of the mod under discussion - sums it up perfectly IMV

http://archimago.blogspot.com/2017/0...-3-as-usb.html

QUOTE:
"A. General Impressions
The Raspberry Pi 3 playing to the USB DAC is indeed "clean"; as in just as noise-free and "bit-perfect" as other computer-based servers sending to a good asynchronous DAC (no surprise and further discussed here last summer).
----
May I also remind everyone that this is all with an inexpensive switching power supply... No noise of significance even with the 192kHz test beyond the audible spectrum. I think it would be nice if the believers in linear power supplies can show some evidence that noise can be significantly improved at the DAC output since the cost of linear power supplies can be many times that of a Pi 3!"

(emphasis added)

[DarrenHW]

There seems to be a consensus, that if using a standalone Pi (i.e. no HAT) then PSU makes little difference. I USB out from the Pi to the Oppo and am very pleased with the results.

I'm still interested in upgrading to a LPS as I can use this to power my Pi and MiniDSP (for Subwoofer) which, if nothing else will remove 2 SMPS from my HiFi Radial.

[Marco]

Interesting tweak ... and love this comment from the author of the mod under discussion - sums it up perfectly IMV

http://archimago.blogspot.com/2017/0...-3-as-usb.html

QUOTE:
"A. General Impressions
The Raspberry Pi 3 playing to the USB DAC is indeed "clean"; as in just as noise-free and "bit-perfect" as other computer-based servers sending to a good asynchronous DAC (no surprise and further discussed here last summer).
----
May I also remind everyone that this is all with an inexpensive switching power supply... No noise of significance even with the 192kHz test beyond the audible spectrum. I think it would be nice if the believers in linear power supplies can show some evidence that noise can be significantly improved at the DAC output since the cost of linear power supplies can be many times that of a Pi 3!"

(emphasis added)

That negates considering the main reason for installing a (Fully Regulated - *must* be that) linear PSU in the first place: preventing the injection of noise into the MAINS SUPPLY shared by the rest of the equipment.

(emphasis added)

It's not just about improving the sound of the RPi or DAC, by addressing noise at circuit level. SMPS units are notoriously NOISY buggers, period!!

Therefore, eradicating that noise (by not using any in the first place), which they inject *at source* into the mains supply, thus contaminating everything else plugged into it, is where I think the bulk of the sonic benefit is gained.

Marco.

P.S Dazza, Happy New Year, mate! Hope Luke and you are well?

[Leeken]

I was just about to turn 16 first time I saw the Prodigy in 1996

Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

Seen them for the first just before “Charley” came out at a rave in 1991,absolutely mind blowing!

[DarrenHW]

That negates considering the main reason for installing a (Fully Regulated - *must* be that) linear PSU in the first place: preventing the injection of noise into the mains supply shared by the rest of the equipment.

(emphasis added)

It's not just about (arguably) directly improving the sound of the RPi. SMPS units are NOISY buggers!! And removing that noise is where I think the bulk of the benefit is gained.

Marco.

P.S Dazza, Happy New Year, mate! Hope Luke and you are well?

My sentiments exactly!

Happy New Year to you and Del. We're both good thanks, how's life at Marco Towers?

I've been meaning to find the time to pop round for a visit and pick up the BD's I lent you, but work keeps getting in the way . The system's moved on a few steps since you last heard it, mostly due to the addition of a second Nak (one for left channels and one for right) and bolstered by new Schuko power cables, interconnects (some balanced) and Bi-Amping the main speakers. As usual it's still a work in progress, you'll have to pop round for a film night once things have settled down a bit

[Jimbo]

My sentiments exactly!

Happy New Year to you and Del. We're both good thanks, how's life at Marco Towers?

I've been meaning to find the time to pop round for a visit and pick up the BD's I lent you, but work keeps getting in the way . The system's moved on a few steps since you last heard it, mostly due to the addition of a second Nak (one for left channels and one for right) and bolstered by new Schuko power cables, interconnects (some balanced) and Bi-Amping the main speakers. As usual it's still a work in progress, you'll have to pop round for a film night once things have settled down a bit

Sorry to crash the Post Darren but could you let me know what mods were made to your Lentek Head Amp by Nick G? You could let me know PM if you don't want to continue on here.

[DarrenHW]

I honestly have no idea, I bought it off of Marco, maybe he can shed some light on it?

[Jimbo]

I honestly have no idea, I bought it off of Marco, maybe he can shed some light on it?

Ok.

[Marco]

My sentiments exactly!

Happy New Year to you and Del. We're both good thanks, how's life at Marco Towers?

I've been meaning to find the time to pop round for a visit and pick up the BD's I lent you, but work keeps getting in the way . The system's moved on a few steps since you last heard it, mostly due to the addition of a second Nak (one for left channels and one for right) and bolstered by new Schuko power cables, interconnects (some balanced) and Bi-Amping the main speakers. As usual it's still a work in progress, you'll have to pop round for a film night once things have settled down a bit

Hi mate,

We're cool. Had a great time over the festive period - hope you did, too! Nothing much changed here. Main system upstairs is the same, other than I've now taken delivery of Chris' new LDR, which I haven't had the chance to try yet. Would be interesting hearing it in your system sometime...

I've been tweaking the downstairs streaming system, mainly with some new cables from Supra (HD5 HDMI and CAT 8 Ethernet), and also installing an SR Blue 13A fuse (see here: https://www.synergisticresearch.com/fuses/blue/) into the Supra Lo-Rad mains distribution block, feeding the system, which is sounding *really* good now, the effect of some of which has also had a positive impact on the playback of movies

You're welcome to drop by anytime to collect the BDs (remind me which ones they were?) Would love to hear your system again, now you've carried out the tweaks, and the film night sounds great!

In all seriousness, we should do that, as I'm buying more BDs myself now, so we could have alternative film evenings, introducing each other to a new film on our respective home-cinema systems, then borrow the BD in question and watch it again on our own system - accompanied, of course, by a good curry and few beers!

Sounds fun, no?

Btw, if you like good Chinese food, the Eastern Sheraton in Wrexham is under new management, now called Great Walls, see here: https://www.google.com/search?q=grea...E,lf:1,lf_ui:9 Del and I have been twice, once for a sit-down meal, and also had a takeaway, and it's SUPERB! Knocks anything else in Wrexham, or surrounding area into a cocked hat. I'd give it a go. Collection only, though.

I'll bell you tomorrow and we can have a catch up.

Marco.

[Marco]

Ok.

Jim, I'm a bit tied up just now, but search the forum for anything under "Lentek head amp', the thread should pop up where I modded mine, and all the mods were listed

Marco.