The ALLO Audio music steamer - Pic heavy review

[The Black Adder]

Thanks for the review, Josie, I was getting very eager to hear it and have just signed up to comment (long time lurker).

Prior to hearing of the forthcoming “The Boss” release (great name!), I was all set to buy either a Mamboberry LS or one of the Piano DACs from Allo, plus a Kali. As soon as I heard about this DAC I held off until some reviews came out, hoping to make my choice easier. But if anything it has made it harder, because now I am wondering if any of these alternatives offer anything ‘better’ than my current IQaudio DAC+?!

The ALLO kit is different... I'm not sure if 'better' is simply too subjective for my liking as they are half the same beast in regards to both use the RPI. I personally like the ALLO stuff for my music tastes.

It depends on what you are wanting from your music. For example, lots have said that the bass on the ALLO kit is much deeper, this is true but it's only one aspect in case. So, if you are after more weight then that one thing might be all you need to give one a go but the same goes to that old saying... if it ain't broke... etc.

Sure, they likely have subtly different sound signatures, but there seems to be little agreement among reviewers, which makes me think that it just comes down to subjective preferences for these ever so slightly different flavours.

Well, if you want a wholesome, big fat bottom end (ooer!) with focus then the ALLO stuff is most certainly a different flavour to the IQDAC+

A few people who own the IQaudio and Piano + Kali on the Rune Audio forum had suggested to me that the Allo combination was an improvement over the IQaudio. This made sense to me as I had naturally assumed that the reclocking done by the Kali (and now “The Boss”) would automatically elevate these options above the IQaudio that relies on the jittery clock of the Pi. But in your review you seem to imply that you prefer The Boss over the Piano/Kali, but that for some music you still prefer the presentation of the IQaudio?

In some music I think. I do still like the IQAudio. Whilst there is nothing wrong with the IQDAC+ it's just not as beefy or as open as the KALI/PIANO or BOSS for my liking. But you can bet your pants that on some systems the choice could be very much the pole opposite.

I listen to a lot of electronica, rock, dance and lots of 60's psychedelic stuff and with that extra weight it fits me and my system to which 15" drivers in cabinets the size of wardrobes seem to love.

So I am left wondering whether we can think of the differences in terms of better/best, or whether in fact the quality of these DACs has reached a kind of plateau where the best examples are all basically equally good, with only very subtle differences in audible output?

I've no idea about the DAC's unfortunately, anything technical goes over my head (although always willing to learn). There are plenty on here who could answer that

(I also suspect that psychoacoustics comes into play whenever we add a new component into the system, especially if we expect it to perform better, making it very difficult to accurately judge the subtle differences!)?

I was wondering, do you agree at all with that conclusion? Could you possibly elaborate on the differences between The Boss and the IQaudio? I know this is probably very difficult without a means to do quick A-B switching. Would you be prepared to show the courage of your conviction and say that The Boss is definitively better than the IQAudio, or is it just far too comfortable on that fence?

There is always an element of psychoacoustics, we are only human but I always allow kit to get warmed up or (burned-in) before I make a judgement. I think initial impressions can be misleading for sure so I like to live with stuff for a good while first. Sometimes it's not too long before I can either flick the 'YES' or 'NO' buttons but then I always like to understand the reasons behind why (if it's the latter mostly) before I throw it to the dogs. WOOF!