The ALLO Audio music steamer - Pic heavy review

[Maikel]

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.

I think it has sonic disadvantages to power the pi through USB because you use the regulators on board.
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!

No, there's probably a slight sonic disadvantage I would think.

Could you explain why, please. I'm interested to know.

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!

Nice plans, please keep us posted. Thanks for the link, I'll check it out later.

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 would like to know that too Audiohdwr; I sent you an email a few days ago, did you receive that? Thank you in advance.