DAC to the Future

All general audio posts go here.
User avatar
Fretless
Posts: 9294
Joined: Wed Nov 12, 2014 12:15 pm
Location: Somewhere in Holland
Has thanked: 1490 times
Been thanked: 2283 times
Netherlands

Re: DAC to the Future

Unread post by Fretless »

The first of the (several) packages I am waiting for has arrived - and it it the LPSU for the Pi/Hifiberry Digi+ Pro.

Image

Neat little box about the same size as the Pi casing, with 2 USB A-type ports on the front along with a round DC 5V socket. Mains cable (not supplied) goes in the back, where the on/off switch is.

Hooked it all up, switch on, red LED glows and the Pi fires up.
As does the Edirol DAC which is still drawing its power via the host USB connection on the Pi. So - let there be music!

This cobbled-together and definitely-not-properly-set-up system is very enjoyable in its own modest way. The little Cubes are putting out lovely sounds and the Sansui amp is still running sweetly after 30 years. Then the digital front end gets some really clean power and things start to get serious.

First attention-grabber is the bass which is immediately deeper and fuller. Instruments clearer and better defined with an overall sharper focus in the Cube sound-field.

Now to let it all warm through a bit and have another listen later on. This PSU might well go to a headphone system run with an Allo DigiOne in the lounge. Also I'm waiting for the little Chinese DAC which is to replace the Edirol here.

More fun and games to be had.
Now, where's that BMU got to ... ?

Upstairs:
Vinyl
Pro-Ject 1.2 + Grado Sig Jr + Cambridge Alva Duo
DigiVolumio PC + Kiss DP-500 + Sabaj A20d
NVA: P50sa - Cube2 - SSP - LS6+ Sabaj A10a (x2)
Downstairs:
Vinyl
Logic DM101 + Syrinx LE1 + Grado Sig MCX
DigiDenafrips Ares II + Volumio PC + Cambridge CXC
NVA: P50 - BMU+ Aiyima A07 MAX (x2) + Arcam One
HP: HifiBerry Digi+ PRO + Sabaj A10d
Office:
Allo DigiOne SIG + SMSL M300se + Douk G4 (x2)
Mission 760 + Monolith THX AAA 887
Headphones: German Maestro & AudioQuest

User avatar
Fretless
Posts: 9294
Joined: Wed Nov 12, 2014 12:15 pm
Location: Somewhere in Holland
Has thanked: 1490 times
Been thanked: 2283 times
Netherlands

Re: DAC to the Future

Unread post by Fretless »

In the eternal search for low-budget improvements I have come across a USB charging cable that might be something:

The Orico Fast Charge MicroUSB cable.

Image

The sales blurb claims : Thanks to Fast Charge technology, charging is up to 15-30% faster than standard charging cables. and I found a test where somebody was actually comparing USB charging cables to see if there was a difference - and there was. The Orico has considerably lower resistance and improved current flow over standard cables.

These Orico leads would seem to be made with a special low-loss material on the USB power lines. So, in audiophile-think, a cable that gets more energy to where you want it - and in my case from the LPSU to the Pi.

Anyway I needed some extra USB cables and these were only about 7 euro. Didn't break the bank.

Do they make a difference? No idea (yet). :grin:

Upstairs:
Vinyl
Pro-Ject 1.2 + Grado Sig Jr + Cambridge Alva Duo
DigiVolumio PC + Kiss DP-500 + Sabaj A20d
NVA: P50sa - Cube2 - SSP - LS6+ Sabaj A10a (x2)
Downstairs:
Vinyl
Logic DM101 + Syrinx LE1 + Grado Sig MCX
DigiDenafrips Ares II + Volumio PC + Cambridge CXC
NVA: P50 - BMU+ Aiyima A07 MAX (x2) + Arcam One
HP: HifiBerry Digi+ PRO + Sabaj A10d
Office:
Allo DigiOne SIG + SMSL M300se + Douk G4 (x2)
Mission 760 + Monolith THX AAA 887
Headphones: German Maestro & AudioQuest

User avatar
karatestu
Posts: 5945
Joined: Sun Jan 08, 2017 4:40 pm
Location: North Yorkshire
Has thanked: 1865 times
Been thanked: 1378 times
Great Britain

Re: DAC to the Future

Unread post by karatestu »

:epopc: :epopc: :epopc:
DIY FREE ZONE

User avatar
scotty38
Posts: 301
Joined: Sat Jan 20, 2018 12:51 am
Has thanked: 9 times
Been thanked: 4 times
Kiribati

Re: DAC to the Future

Unread post by scotty38 »

Fretless wrote: Wed Jun 19, 2019 8:52 am The Orico has considerably lower resistance and improved current flow over standard cables.
With the distances involved I'd like to see what the measured differences are and how much current is being "held back" by any other properly made cable....

User avatar
Fretless
Posts: 9294
Joined: Wed Nov 12, 2014 12:15 pm
Location: Somewhere in Holland
Has thanked: 1490 times
Been thanked: 2283 times
Netherlands

Re: DAC to the Future

Unread post by Fretless »

I'll try and find that test later. Busy now, work to do.

Upstairs:
Vinyl
Pro-Ject 1.2 + Grado Sig Jr + Cambridge Alva Duo
DigiVolumio PC + Kiss DP-500 + Sabaj A20d
NVA: P50sa - Cube2 - SSP - LS6+ Sabaj A10a (x2)
Downstairs:
Vinyl
Logic DM101 + Syrinx LE1 + Grado Sig MCX
DigiDenafrips Ares II + Volumio PC + Cambridge CXC
NVA: P50 - BMU+ Aiyima A07 MAX (x2) + Arcam One
HP: HifiBerry Digi+ PRO + Sabaj A10d
Office:
Allo DigiOne SIG + SMSL M300se + Douk G4 (x2)
Mission 760 + Monolith THX AAA 887
Headphones: German Maestro & AudioQuest

User avatar
Fretless
Posts: 9294
Joined: Wed Nov 12, 2014 12:15 pm
Location: Somewhere in Holland
Has thanked: 1490 times
Been thanked: 2283 times
Netherlands

Re: DAC to the Future

Unread post by Fretless »

Here is a Youtube vid of a resistance test with several micro-USB cables.
The Orico comes out pretty well.

https://youtu.be/n-bqiJykkcg

Upstairs:
Vinyl
Pro-Ject 1.2 + Grado Sig Jr + Cambridge Alva Duo
DigiVolumio PC + Kiss DP-500 + Sabaj A20d
NVA: P50sa - Cube2 - SSP - LS6+ Sabaj A10a (x2)
Downstairs:
Vinyl
Logic DM101 + Syrinx LE1 + Grado Sig MCX
DigiDenafrips Ares II + Volumio PC + Cambridge CXC
NVA: P50 - BMU+ Aiyima A07 MAX (x2) + Arcam One
HP: HifiBerry Digi+ PRO + Sabaj A10d
Office:
Allo DigiOne SIG + SMSL M300se + Douk G4 (x2)
Mission 760 + Monolith THX AAA 887
Headphones: German Maestro & AudioQuest

User avatar
scotty38
Posts: 301
Joined: Sat Jan 20, 2018 12:51 am
Has thanked: 9 times
Been thanked: 4 times
Kiribati

Re: DAC to the Future

Unread post by scotty38 »

Thanks, I didn't write down the numbers but it was something like 0.1 ohms difference together with the resulting mV drop. I'd expect the connectors to be making that difference so I would just buy well made stuff, I can't see those numbers making the slightest bit of difference to the sound.
I was expecting to see it only able to deliver say 1 amp instead of 2 and then I could have understood the difference :-)

User avatar
Fretless
Posts: 9294
Joined: Wed Nov 12, 2014 12:15 pm
Location: Somewhere in Holland
Has thanked: 1490 times
Been thanked: 2283 times
Netherlands

Re: DAC to the Future

Unread post by Fretless »

Don't take it too seriously, just me being over-obsessive ... :doh:

Upstairs:
Vinyl
Pro-Ject 1.2 + Grado Sig Jr + Cambridge Alva Duo
DigiVolumio PC + Kiss DP-500 + Sabaj A20d
NVA: P50sa - Cube2 - SSP - LS6+ Sabaj A10a (x2)
Downstairs:
Vinyl
Logic DM101 + Syrinx LE1 + Grado Sig MCX
DigiDenafrips Ares II + Volumio PC + Cambridge CXC
NVA: P50 - BMU+ Aiyima A07 MAX (x2) + Arcam One
HP: HifiBerry Digi+ PRO + Sabaj A10d
Office:
Allo DigiOne SIG + SMSL M300se + Douk G4 (x2)
Mission 760 + Monolith THX AAA 887
Headphones: German Maestro & AudioQuest

User avatar
scotty38
Posts: 301
Joined: Sat Jan 20, 2018 12:51 am
Has thanked: 9 times
Been thanked: 4 times
Kiribati

Re: DAC to the Future

Unread post by scotty38 »

ah ok lol, I'm backing off :-)

User avatar
Fretless
Posts: 9294
Joined: Wed Nov 12, 2014 12:15 pm
Location: Somewhere in Holland
Has thanked: 1490 times
Been thanked: 2283 times
Netherlands

Re: DAC to the Future

Unread post by Fretless »

Liitle Chinese DAC has arrived and I had to pay an extra 20 euro customs charge on it.

Fired it up and one channel isn't working, at all.

Not pleased. :snooty:



Image

Well - at least I've got a BMU. :dance:

Upstairs:
Vinyl
Pro-Ject 1.2 + Grado Sig Jr + Cambridge Alva Duo
DigiVolumio PC + Kiss DP-500 + Sabaj A20d
NVA: P50sa - Cube2 - SSP - LS6+ Sabaj A10a (x2)
Downstairs:
Vinyl
Logic DM101 + Syrinx LE1 + Grado Sig MCX
DigiDenafrips Ares II + Volumio PC + Cambridge CXC
NVA: P50 - BMU+ Aiyima A07 MAX (x2) + Arcam One
HP: HifiBerry Digi+ PRO + Sabaj A10d
Office:
Allo DigiOne SIG + SMSL M300se + Douk G4 (x2)
Mission 760 + Monolith THX AAA 887
Headphones: German Maestro & AudioQuest

Post Reply