'Analog Dinosaur' succumbs to the joys of FBA : enter Raspberry Pi 2/IQ-Audio DAC+!!

[Marco]

Not sure I really understand what he's on about (his English isn't very good), but you also need to read the subsequent replies from IQ-Audio. Remember also that I'm not using the Hi-Fi Berry interface.

All I know is that I've got two superb sounding 'conventional' music sources (CDP and T/T), and in my system, the Pi/DAC, fed with appropriate quality recordings, can compete at their performance level - and I'm not alone in feeling that way, as others I know with similar quality equipment have reached the same conclusions.

I don't rave about something for nothing!

Marco.

[r100]

" https://volumio.org/raspberry-pi-i2s...ounds-so-good/

Brilliant, and most interesting indeed!"

Whats most interesting are the comments made after the article from users, especially Ralf.

So ? I trust my ears more than Ralf's opinion. C'mon. This thing costs 10x less than that 800£ USB cable

[Marco]

So ? I trust my ears more than Ralf's opinion.

Exactly! Ken just seems to have a downer on the Pi (and the whole FBA thing), for reasons best known to him.

Marco.

[Tim]

You won't win Marco, the doubters will always doubt and I'm not sure why. Ignorance, fear . . . who knows why?. It often baffles me that instead of just accepting it and being happy for those that enjoy it, they feel the need to try and discredit it. Been there many times over the years and mostly from people who have never heard a good file based audio system - odd, almost as if they have a hidden agenda

Plenty of room for everyone to enjoy their music, however it might be served up.

[BTH K10A]

Hi Andy,

Believe me, I know where you're coming from, and the last bit applies to me every bit as much as it does you.

However, at the end of the day, an FBA device is just another source of music, the same as a turntable or CD player. Therefore, in my system, it just sits there in the room, the same as the rest of the kit, as a tiny little box on top of my DAC, so what's the problem? It's not taking away anything.... I still use my T/T and CDP just as much as before.

It certainly adds plenty, in terms of benefits, and for less than I've paid in the past for half a case of wine!

I now have 2TB worth of music (thousands of albums) I never had before, and the ability to access it from anywhere in the house, or outside in the garden, all at the touch of a button. The convenience it provides, however, is outweighed by the benefits it brings to your enjoyment of music - and how it encourages you to listen to even MORE music...

I can sit downstairs in the lounge, where the Celestion 66s are, and whilst sipping a nice glass of wine in front of the coal fire, explore a huge library of music (superb sounding hi-res 24-bit stuff; resolution that is beyond the capability of Red Book CD), and add to that library at any time by ripping it from my existing CD, or even vinyl, collection.

None of that detracts in any way whatsoever from my enjoyment of vinyl, or collecting records - so what's not to like?

Marco.

I can see the benefits Marco but for me I would probably only use it for convenience or background music in much the same way as I listen to music via my tuner.

[Qwin]

Not knocking your judgement Marco, I'm sure what you have sounds VERY good.

I've been looking at file based sytems for a while now and different approaches come to the for from time to time. I liked the idea of i2s as it gets rid of USB but it is after all just another serial bus. Short signal paths are allways a good thing so it all sounds good but........

I actually read all 33 comments before posting and what Ralf claims is pretty clear and most notably not denied in the IQ-Audio response, they mearly side step the lack of 24 bit support by stating (the writer that is) that he could never hear the difference between 16bit and 24bit anyway. There was no come back on the stated poor clock and jitter on the Rpi.

All this might be irrelevant as these things are constantly changing and it may be fixed now.

Just making the point hear that there's more than one way to skin a cat, CAD won best sound in show at Bristol 2013 with their FBA system which used Kernel streaming and asynchronous USB DAC. (Jriver/Jplayer)

So just a heads up that there are other choices available.

No denying the low cost of the Rpi unit/DAC but if your current DAC will handle kernel streaming you are well on your way. The largest cost in either is to build a NAS raid system with two discs to automatically mirror your precious data in case of one disc failing, pretty much essential I think, so good choice Marco.
I may yet end up with an Rpi in my system, I wonder if anyone will be using one at the Wam show as I am going to that for the first time this weekend. Like you I trust my lug holes more than a report telling me this or that about the science involved.

After seeing a few replies while I was typing - I'm not down on the Pi its just I have not seen anyone explain what makes it special over any other system. Its not the best computer or best DAC ever made is it, so what is it that makes it work so well. I would like to hear one if I get the chance.
As I pointed out earlier I have a FBA system, I am looking to improve on that, but dont want to spend my hard earned on the wrong upgrade so I am asking the appropriate questions of those that have gone this route.

[struth]

I read somewhere some use a sabre dac with it as well. you need an external clock though so adds expense. It is all things to most people it seems, but I get confused easily with ll the different bits so will just have to struggle on with what Ive got for now. Would like to hear on though.

[Marco]

Fair enough, Ken.

Indeed, they may well have fixed whatever it was that was supposed to be wrong since that discussion, but as they say, the proof of the pudding is in the eating, or in this case the listening, so I don't give a monkey's toss what some folk are waffling about on a blog!

It's the end results achieved that matter, and what my own ears and experience tells me - and they're telling me that the Pi is a rather special little device, and somewhat of a giant-killer, although as with anything else, it isn't perfect. This is just the beginning of the journey, mate, much like it was when you started modifying the crossovers on your 66s - and look how that turned out in the end....

Paul Hynes is working for me right now not only on an off-board linear PSU, for the Pi, but an individually regulated circuit, to minimise switching noise and distortion from the Pi's power system, similar to what he did with the Technics SL-1200 (featured in the regulator boards I use with mine, via his SR7 PSU), although of course that didn't exhibit any switching noise, so the results produced by whatever he comes up with are potentially rather exiting!

Doubtless there will also be all sorts of other tweaks produced for the Pi, in due course. The important thing is that the core product is excellent - and very cost effective!!

No denying the low cost of the Rpi unit/DAC but if your current DAC will handle kernel streaming you are well on your way. The largest cost in either is to build a NAS raid system with two discs to automatically mirror your precious data in case of one disc failing, pretty much essential I think, so good choice Marco.

Cheers, the RAID system was Dunc's idea, not mine, which he implemented. I just bought the NAS box from him

Marco.

[Yomanze]

Marco, my USB to SPDIF front end with a custom media PC absolutely destroys any CD transport I've used, so I get what you're saying...

Even when playing CDs the media sever sounds the same, because it buffers it all into memory anyway.

Still, am going to have to give this device a go as if it's even near your existing gear then a no-brainer to try!

[WAD62]

Exactly! Ken just seems to have a downer on the Pi (and the whole FBA thing), for reasons best known to him.

Marco.

Hi Marco, glad to see you're enjoying file streaming...

The only annoying thing is that some of us have been at it for years, and just waiting for the Pi 2 and appropriate software for months...and you beat us to the punch!!!

I've had the Pi for 4 weeks, IQaudio board on the way, squeezeplug downloaded, could be very interesting comparison to SBTouch and HiFimeDIY U2 combo...