USB Nervosa Thread Decrapifiers, pro interfaces, and bears oh my

Spending too much on USB decrapifying is a bit mystifying, in any case. Beyond a certain level of expenditure (say, around the cost of a Wyrd) it becomes a wasteful exercise in turd polishing, surely?

(Yes, I know Head-Fi loves doing that, and moaning "Teddy Pardo" in an orgasmic voice meanwhile, but.. please.)

If you're willing to waste hundreds of dorrah, you're probably better off getting a DAC that isn't dependant on USB. Suddenly you have loads of good options, either easy/cheap DIY or shiny/expensive off-the-shelf.

 

It is ... because as long as you're connecting to the USB-input on a DAC, you're still involving a noisy, high-speed switching and much more complex receiver interface (essentially a SoC in many cases) in the signal chain.

USB->USB converters/cleaners or "re-clockers"* are far more limited in their potential to "do good" than even a basic USB->(isolated)S/PDIF converter.

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*Since there's NO AUDIO CLOCK with USB Audio 2.0, and all Async USB DACs must, by definition, re-clock the output from the USB input buffer, USB "re-clocking" is, at best, a way to accidentally reduce other electrical noise artifacts. Otherwise "USB re-clocking" is meaningless.

 

Hell, for less than £100, you can build a tiny box that sits on your network as an MPD/UnPnP endpoint, and has galvanically isolated coax out as well as optical, and has reasonable on-board clocks. If you're that worried about noise from your computer, that will sidestep it effectively.

 

Just PM me where you want it sent, no need to buy it!

If the DAC you're connecting it to needs to see a differential on the VCC/GND lines you'll need a +5v PSU (center-pin positive) to plug into it.

I'll send you one of these as well:



This one is intended for use with the Schiit Wyrd or Teddy Pardo USB boxes, as it keeps the VCC/GND connections intact, but runs them separately, with double shielding for both data and power, to maintain what both the Wyrd and the TP boxes do internally.

The former cable should result in lower electrical noise (given a suitable PSU or DAC that doesn't need one at all) ... and I'd be interested to see what you find in terms of listening. And if you think it's worthwhile, they can go on the loaner program from there.

 

The "Pro" versions of things like the HiFiBerry Digi+ certainly have good enough clocks to feed the Schiit Adapticlock-enabled DACs with no problems. And they offer galvanic isolation (I think there's an option to self-solder and AES/EBU connector too). AND, as an extra bonus, you can run them as a Roon end-point too.

 

Yep, that's the sort of thing I was referring to (hence the "under £100" price tag). You have a ton of choices as to what to run on it- even people scared of dabbling with Linux can find off-the-shelf distributions to support Roon, Squeezebox, MPD, or DLNA rendering with minimal effort. If people knew how good, cheap and easy this stuff has become, they'd be quite shocked. Most of it self-configures and comes up with a web interface, even.

Last I checked, the Pro has a self-solder BNC option, rather than an AES/EBU.

Looking forward to seeing the hat from these guys though:

http://www.pi2design.com/coming-soon.html

 

You're right! It's the Pi2 board that has the AES/EBU option.

Too much time with my face in my own design ...

 

Even a stopped clock gives the right time twice a day

 

pi2design prototype in action -->

http://www.superbestaudiofriends.or...ultibit-i2s-input-mod.3492/page-2#post-118759

 

I couldn't wait longer for an AES available board so I've just went from Hifiberry Digi+->RCA->Yggdrasil to Hifiberry Digi+ Pro->BNC->Yggdrasil about a week ago. The difference is small but I think it's more transparent. I also notice better instrument separation in the treble on some tracks. Compared to the USB connection though the difference is much bigger. I think it is well worth it.
I run Rune audio on the PI3 but I had to update the kernel to do so. (out of Volumio, Rune Audio, Moode Audio only the last one supports the Digi+Pro out of the box at the moment.)

 

Yep, and Volumio boots from initramfs, I think, so updating the kernel isn't quite as straightforward as a full fat Linux install.. doubtless they will update soon so it's supported by default, though. Given how cheap these boards are, people who are wedded to a specific distro could always pick up the non-pro version in the meantime, if they preferred, I suppose.

Damnit, I can see that I'm going to have to pick up yet another Pi to play with hats..

 

The pi2designboard is very good, despite the teething troubles with the analogue section.
Its a noticeably less sensitive to the PSU than the Digi+.
These Piboards are a surprising good source for the financial outlay.
Would love to read comparison with some of the Lynx cards for example.

 

Aye, though it appears that the iFi iPower does actually work as advertised, so if people who do have the Digi+ want an inexpensive option that will knock the noise down somewhat, it's a lot cheaper than a large high-end LPS (and less terrifying than some of the cheaper Chinese ones on ebay, which are a bit of a guessing game).

 

Good suggestion. I have tested that ifi iPower and it does improve the sound over a generic SMPS unit.
Better still was to go into the Digi+ first which then powers the Pi too.

 

Could you please share how to do this. If have seen references to this but no how-to guide, thanks.

 

I think a picture will explain better than words.
This is not my picture, its from the hifiberry forums, but mine looks exactly the same.
Disclaimer: Do be careful when you are working with mains electricity, as you might damage yourself or your equipment.

Read through this post on the hifiberry forums:
https://support.hifiberry.com/hc/en...6543509-Digi-Linear-Power-and-DAC-Suggestions

 

Guys, what's your opinion on Microrendu and SOtM SMS-200 ?

 

Vague audiophool speak, high price and usb i'd say be careful.

Maybe check this out: http://www.superbestaudiofriends.org/index.php?threads/raspberry-pi-i2s-to-spdif-hat.1990/