The ALLO Audio music steamer - Pic heavy review

[mikeyb]

I get exactly the opposite between IQAudio DAC and the Piano/Kali combo using MoOde, on the Piano/Kali I get about 30-40% more width/soundstage and better cleaner bass which results in more slam/kick

Did you make sure the alsamixer was set right on both setups, I know on mine that if I reboot or switch dacs I need to go back in via SSH and set the Digital output on the Piano/Kali to my preferred gain, currently set at -2.0 db on the digital setting, both analog levels set at max.

[Starterman]

Yes, I just checked the settings in Alsamixer. Both analogue volumes are at max and digital is the same as the setting on the controller (because I use the digital hardware volume control).

I suspect the power supply routing is the issue. I notice some inductors on the Allo Allo pcbs, I might try bypassing these.
I also might try the KALI with the IQ DAC - this will need the 3V3 supply rerouting through from the Pi or somewhere.

[mikeyb]

Yes, I just checked the settings in Alsamixer. Both analogue volumes are at max and digital is the same as the setting on the controller (because I use the digital hardware volume control).

I suspect the power supply routing is the issue. I notice some inductors on the Allo Allo pcbs, I might try bypassing these.
I also might try the KALI with the IQ DAC - this will need the 3V3 supply rerouting through from the Pi or somewhere.

I don't use the volume control within MoOde as this in turn reduces the Digital scale. I use hardware too but use the amp to control the volume with the digital scale set at -2 and I don't change this at all. On your system does changing the volume not cancel/change the digital settings?

It used to be that 86 was preferred for the IQAUDIO DAC in MoOde but Tim changed this to be 100 (0db) I believe, but 0db on my system is a bit rough on treble hence the -2db setting.

I always thought if using hardware volume you used an external amp to control the volume as the hardware setting should be set and not moved once you find a preferred setting?

What software are you using?

[Starterman]

The hardware volume is done inside the DAC chip. The Alsamixer digtial volume varies as the controller (an iPhone in my case) is varied - or vice versa, it's possible to change the setting in Alsamixer and iPhone "follows" it.
The 0dB thing was fixed within the kernels used by Moode IIUC.

When I power down and back up the digital volume stays at the same setting. This workes exactly the same for the Allo units as for the IQ. I believe I am comparing apples with apples here.

[mikeyb]

The hardware volume is done inside the DAC chip. The Alsamixer digtial volume varies as the controller (an iPhone in my case) is varied - or vice versa, it's possible to change the setting in Alsamixer and iPhone "follows" it.
The 0dB thing was fixed within the kernels used by Moode IIUC.

When I power down and back up the digital volume stays at the same setting. This workes exactly the same for the Allo units as for the IQ. I believe I am comparing apples with apples here.

Ok fair enough doesn't work that way on mine, the digital scale must remain at our near 0db or it just sounds flat and lifeless.

If I used my iPad to control volume it took over and reverted MoOde back to software volume so it required changing back again to hardware and putting it back to 0db.

If I use volume control on the MoOde web page that again affects the hardware alsamixer settings and needs resetting. I always thought the alsamixer settings were set then there was no need to change them again, hence my use of amp to control the volume?

If I use my smartphone and say Bubble uPnP it can't change the volume as I have it set not to because it does exactly the same, it overrides the alsamixer setting and again needs be set back at 0db ( -2 in my case) on the digital scale.

Be great if I could control volume via my smartphone or iPad, save walking over to the amp lol but as it is I can't as it doesn't work that way for me without altering the alsamixer digital settings [emoji6]

[struth]

Using the aphonics dac but was told moode is now software 96 setting. Seems to sound good to me.

[mikeyb]

Using the aphonics dac but was told moode is now software 96 setting. Seems to sound good to me.

Yip I have the Allo Piano DAC set at 98 (-2db) and I don't change it.

Originally on the IQAUDIO DAC Tim had MoOde set to 0db at 86, but was changed to 100 in a later version of MoOde.

I'm confused by the other posts saying that they use hardware volume control as I thought once set it was meant to be fixed and then use an external volume control, I've just changed my Bubble settings to use the phone volume control and although it worked it just moved the alsamixer setting which, as far as I thought shouldn't be changed once set at optimum for your system, ie: 96 on yours Grant and 98 on mine.

The Piano/Kali setup on mine is belting out some Porcupine Tree and I type and it's rocking very nicely indeed [emoji6]

[struth]

Marco said to try 96. Was 86 then 100, but 96 is way better i think. Just set software max to 96. Its as high as it will go then,

Using moode 2.7

[mikeyb]

Marco said to try 96. Was 86 then 100, but 96 is way better i think. Just set software max to 96. Its as high as it will go then,

Using moode 2.7

Yip that's me on MoOde 2.7 too

[jonners]

I also might try the KALI with the IQ DAC - this will need the 3V3 supply rerouting through from the Pi or somewhere.

I don't think think the IQ DAC will work with Kali even with the 3v3 supply - because it operates in master mode and the Kali requires a dac that's in slave mode.
Like Mike, I greatly prefer the Kali/Piano over the IQAudio sound.