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

[killie99]

Been having a good listen this morning, it's good, not great. A bit harsh and recessed compared to my touch through Mdac. The volume level is quite different from the mdac but that might be because I'm using the balanced output on the mdac. I've set the pcm level to 86 and the other 2 are at 100 in alsamixer. How do I check the output voltage is 2V? I'll leave it running all day and hopefully it'll improve.

[mikeyb]

Been having a good listen this morning, it's good, not great. A bit harsh and recessed compared to my touch through Mdac. The volume level is quite different from the mdac but that might be because I'm using the balanced output on the mdac. I've set the pcm level to 86 and the other 2 are at 100 in alsamixer. How do I check the output voltage is 2V? I'll leave it running all day and hopefully it'll improve.

Takes about 50 hours to hit it's sweet spot 😉

Mike.

[AlanS]

Been having a good listen this morning, it's good, not great. A bit harsh and recessed compared to my touch through Mdac. The volume level is quite different from the mdac but that might be because I'm using the balanced output on the mdac. I've set the pcm level to 86 and the other 2 are at 100 in alsamixer. How do I check the output voltage is 2V? I'll leave it running all day and hopefully it'll improve.

Forgive my poor powers of English comprehension - you are saying PI-DAC+ via Volumio is harsh? What were you playing out of 16/44 -> 24/192?

Wish I lived around the corner I'd love to hear what you find harsh. I hear many say MDACs are a bit light and bright so are touches a neutral device?

I don't know about coming on song, I find it hard to remember what I listened to 50 hours ago. My rPi PI-DAC+ combo just sounds "different" according to what I listen to. As such I see them as being revealing of the source feed.

Hope you get used to it.

[killie99]

Yep, harsh.

I've got it set to:

audio output - IQaudioDAC
mixer type - Hardware
dsd over pcm - no
volume norm - no
audio buffer -2048
buffer before play - disabled
output format 32 bit/384khz
sample rate conv - fastest sinc interpolator

and it's looping on Sam Smith ripped to FLAC 16bit 44.1khz

I've been through a whole bunch of dacs (Benchmark, Eastern Electric, Musical Fidelity, Perreaux to name a few) and the MDAC is the best of the bunch. Amp is a Luxman L550aii and speakers are Impulse Tu'us.

Is there a way to totally disable the volume control in Volumio so it's only the amp that can adjust it? I'm sure I read a thread on that the other day but I've been looking for it and can't find it now. Ah might have found it, do I set the Mixer Type in Volumio to Disabled?

[lovejoy]

Yes that's the right setting. I guess you've also tried it with no upsampling and still found it harsh? Very strange as harsh is one word I'd never use to describe mine - I'm about to try my new DAC board as I'm curious as to whether there's a difference in quality between this new batch and the last ones...

[The Black Adder]

Been trying out some SACD/DSF rips.... Sounds superb!!!

I do however have to drop the upsampling down a notch from the top though... anyone else find this, can it be fixed or is it just too much for it's little mind to cope with?

[Krisbee]

Yes that's the right setting. I guess you've also tried it with no upsampling and still found it harsh? Very strange as harsh is one word I'd never use to describe mine - I'm about to try my new DAC board as I'm curious as to whether there's a difference in quality between this new batch and the last ones...

A good question, but I'm not sure how you would establish a definitve answer.

[lovejoy]

Been trying out some SACD/DSF rips.... Sounds superb!!!

I do however have to drop the upsampling down a notch from the top though... anyone else find this, can it be fixed or is it just too much for it's little mind to cope with?

Yep, same here. It will play, but as soon as another task kicks in, such as access from the web browser, there's a glitch. Looking at the process monitor, the processor is getting a hammering, so I guess the Pi is running out of steam at this point. Not sure I could discern the difference between the high and very high resampling settings anyway, other than audiophilia nervosa setting in.

[The Black Adder]

Yep, same here. It will play, but as soon as another task kicks in, such as access from the web browser, there's a glitch. Looking at the process monitor, the processor is getting a hammering, so I guess the Pi is running out of steam at this point. Not sure I could discern the difference between the high and very high resampling settings anyway, other than audiophilia nervosa setting in.

LOL... I'm just playing... So has anyone overclocked the Pi yet?... OOOOHOO!!!!????

Apparently you can, but you need some heat sink cooling on it's loaf.

Better to burn out, than to fade away!... lol

[lovejoy]

A good question, but I'm not sure how you would establish a definitve answer.

No obvious differences on a quick comparison between new and old boards, certainly no increase in harshness.