Tinker, Tailor, Streamer, Pi.

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Fretless
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Re: Tinker, Tailor, Streamer, Pi.

Unread post by Fretless »

There is a new device on the USB-audio mini-computer front and that is the Allo USBridge Signature.

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This incorporates an RPi3 board into a larger PCB with separated USB and Ethernet busses and a large amount of reclocking and noise-cleaning circuitry. A DigiOne SPDIF board can also be mounted on top to provide a streamer with an extra SPDIF coax output as well.

I found that the Asus Tinkerboard S in unmodified state already outperformed the Allo DigiOne Sig's SPDIF output and put that down to the Asus board's more powerful main processor (although I was using an earlier and lower-spec RPi 2B in the unit).

This is a case of seeing what funds allow and how long I can suppress my curiosity.
The Ifi iPurifier3 looks nice as well. :geek: :dance:

Image

Upstairs:
VinylPro-Ject 1.2 + Grado Sig Jr + Cambridge Alva Duo
DigiVolumio PC + Kiss DP-500 + Sabaj A20d
NVA: Cube2 - SSP - LS6+ Sabaj A10a {x2)
Little Bear MC2 + AQ NightHawk
Downstairs:
VinylLogic DM101 + Syrinx LE1 + Grado Sig MCX
DigiDenafrips Ares II + Volumio PC + Cambridge CXC
NVA: P50 & PSU - BMUAiyima A07 MAX + Arcam One
HP: Allo DigiOne + Sabaj A10d + AQ NightOwl
Office: Allo DigiOne SIG + SMSL M300se + Douk G4 (x2)
Mission 760 + Monolith 887 + German Maestro GMP 450
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Re: Tinker, Tailor, Streamer, Pi.

Unread post by CN211276 »

I can highly recommend the i Purifier 3. I was a bit sceptical but think it is worth three times the price of the JB I use in combination with at each end of the AQ Carbon.
Main System
NVA BMU, P90SA/A80s (latest spec), Cube 1s, TIS, TISC(LS7)
Sonore OpticalRendu, Chord Mscaler & Qutest, Sbooster PSs
Network Acoustics Eno, ifi iPurifier3, AQ JB FMJ, Cisco 2940 & 2960
DH Labs ethernet, BNC & USB cables, Lindy cat 6 US ethernet cable

Second System
NVA P20/ A20, Cubettes, LS3, SSP, SC
Sonore MicroRendu, Chord Mojo 2 MCRU PSs, AQ Carbon USB cable & JB FMJ

Headphones
Grado SR325e/Chord Mojo, Beyerdynamic Avetho/AQ DF Colbat

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Re: Tinker, Tailor, Streamer, Pi.

Unread post by slinger »

Interesting. The Allo USBridge Signature is actually based on a Raspberry Pi Compute Module 3 which, they say, "...contains the guts of a Raspberry Pi 3 (the BCM2837 processor and 1GB RAM) as well as an optional 4GB eMMC Flash device (which is the equivalent of the SD card in the Pi). The Pi 3 has a processor speed of 1.2GHz and runs at roughly 10 times the speed of the Pi 1 due to its quad-core CPU."

Features
  • 3 x USB 2.0 Host: 1 on rear side marked as USB CLEAN, 2 on front side marked as Wi-Fi/BT (USB 2.0 ports capable of delivering up to 900mA)
  • 1 x HDMI (Rear side)
  • 1 x Gigabit Ethernet Port (AX88179 chipset)
  • MicroSD card slot for OS (8GB or above)
  • Power: 5V/3A through USB-C connector
  • DigiOne Signature Clean Power: 5V/1A adaptor source or battery pack power 5v to 9v range
  • LED Status: power (PWR) green led shows the power status and ACT red led shows the SD card activity
Note: All USB host ports are with over-current protection circuit.

"The Pi 3 has a processor speed of 1.2GHz and runs at roughly 10 times the speed of the Pi 1 due to its quad-core CPU." while sort of true is a bit of hype, it just seems to mean that it runs at the same speed as an ordinary Pi 3 but isn't as fast as a Pi 4. It sounds good though. ;)
Amps - NVA P50, AP30, A40, Stanislav Palo Tube Headphone Amp BB 85
Speakers - Monitor Audio Silver RX2
Cables - NVA LS1+LS3, SSC, Gotham S/PDIF, IBRA Optical
Digital - NAD C516BEE, SONY ST-SDB900 DAB TUNER, TEAC UD-H01 DAC
Analogue - Pro-Ject Debut Carbon Esprit SB, Graham Slee Gram Amp 2 Phono
Cans - Grado SR80, ATH-M50X
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Re: Tinker, Tailor, Streamer, Pi.

Unread post by Firebug1 »

Fretless wrote: ↑Tue Feb 25, 2020 9:46 am Looks like the Wyrd is sold out through the official channels. The sites in UK and NL report that they have no stock and refer you to the US homepage where the Wyrd isn't even listed anymore.

Another device that is being removed from sale is the Schiit Eitr. A USB-SPDIF converter.
They don't have found enough Hifi nuts as customers 😝
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Re: Tinker, Tailor, Streamer, Pi.

Unread post by Fretless »

Just discovered that someone very nearby is a dealer for Ifi products.

Might be time for a visit. :grin:

Upstairs:
VinylPro-Ject 1.2 + Grado Sig Jr + Cambridge Alva Duo
DigiVolumio PC + Kiss DP-500 + Sabaj A20d
NVA: Cube2 - SSP - LS6+ Sabaj A10a {x2)
Little Bear MC2 + AQ NightHawk
Downstairs:
VinylLogic DM101 + Syrinx LE1 + Grado Sig MCX
DigiDenafrips Ares II + Volumio PC + Cambridge CXC
NVA: P50 & PSU - BMUAiyima A07 MAX + Arcam One
HP: Allo DigiOne + Sabaj A10d + AQ NightOwl
Office: Allo DigiOne SIG + SMSL M300se + Douk G4 (x2)
Mission 760 + Monolith 887 + German Maestro GMP 450
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Re: Tinker, Tailor, Streamer, Pi.

Unread post by Fretless »

New toy ordered:

Ifi Nano iUSB 3.0

Image

Image

Similar concept to the Schiit Wyrd - but then better (I hope).

USB reclocking and regeneration with extra-clean power supply. The Nano iUSB also features a second power-only USB output socket so that it can be used to power, for instance, a DAC, Pi or Tinkerboard. Meaning that no additional PSU is needed for the streaming source.

On the other side of the village where I live is the HQ of award-winning record company Channel Classics, A sideline of theirs is the website NativeDSD where a large catalogue of high-quality (mainly classical) DSD recording can be purchased for download. NativeDSD also deal in hardware from brands like Ifi, Sonore and Chord, specialising in streamers and DAC's. I only found this out yesterday - very dangerous for my bank-account to have such a business so close by!

So, starting with something cheap(ish) and we'll see what that does when it arrives.

:music-listening: :music-listening: :music-listening:

Upstairs:
VinylPro-Ject 1.2 + Grado Sig Jr + Cambridge Alva Duo
DigiVolumio PC + Kiss DP-500 + Sabaj A20d
NVA: Cube2 - SSP - LS6+ Sabaj A10a {x2)
Little Bear MC2 + AQ NightHawk
Downstairs:
VinylLogic DM101 + Syrinx LE1 + Grado Sig MCX
DigiDenafrips Ares II + Volumio PC + Cambridge CXC
NVA: P50 & PSU - BMUAiyima A07 MAX + Arcam One
HP: Allo DigiOne + Sabaj A10d + AQ NightOwl
Office: Allo DigiOne SIG + SMSL M300se + Douk G4 (x2)
Mission 760 + Monolith 887 + German Maestro GMP 450
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Re: Tinker, Tailor, Streamer, Pi.

Unread post by CN211276 »

Totally different device to my little i Purifier 3. Looking forward to your report and hope you are equally impressed.
Main System
NVA BMU, P90SA/A80s (latest spec), Cube 1s, TIS, TISC(LS7)
Sonore OpticalRendu, Chord Mscaler & Qutest, Sbooster PSs
Network Acoustics Eno, ifi iPurifier3, AQ JB FMJ, Cisco 2940 & 2960
DH Labs ethernet, BNC & USB cables, Lindy cat 6 US ethernet cable

Second System
NVA P20/ A20, Cubettes, LS3, SSP, SC
Sonore MicroRendu, Chord Mojo 2 MCRU PSs, AQ Carbon USB cable & JB FMJ

Headphones
Grado SR325e/Chord Mojo, Beyerdynamic Avetho/AQ DF Colbat

RIP Doc
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Re: Tinker, Tailor, Streamer, Pi.

Unread post by Fretless »

Just been informed that the Ifi Nano iUSB 3.0 has been discontinued and is no longer available.
Same story as the Schiit Wyrd.

Oh well, it was a nice idea ....

Upstairs:
VinylPro-Ject 1.2 + Grado Sig Jr + Cambridge Alva Duo
DigiVolumio PC + Kiss DP-500 + Sabaj A20d
NVA: Cube2 - SSP - LS6+ Sabaj A10a {x2)
Little Bear MC2 + AQ NightHawk
Downstairs:
VinylLogic DM101 + Syrinx LE1 + Grado Sig MCX
DigiDenafrips Ares II + Volumio PC + Cambridge CXC
NVA: P50 & PSU - BMUAiyima A07 MAX + Arcam One
HP: Allo DigiOne + Sabaj A10d + AQ NightOwl
Office: Allo DigiOne SIG + SMSL M300se + Douk G4 (x2)
Mission 760 + Monolith 887 + German Maestro GMP 450
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Re: Tinker, Tailor, Streamer, Pi.

Unread post by slinger »

The Nano 3.0 sounds more like my Oehlbach without the additional USB socket than it does the Wyrd.
Amps - NVA P50, AP30, A40, Stanislav Palo Tube Headphone Amp BB 85
Speakers - Monitor Audio Silver RX2
Cables - NVA LS1+LS3, SSC, Gotham S/PDIF, IBRA Optical
Digital - NAD C516BEE, SONY ST-SDB900 DAB TUNER, TEAC UD-H01 DAC
Analogue - Pro-Ject Debut Carbon Esprit SB, Graham Slee Gram Amp 2 Phono
Cans - Grado SR80, ATH-M50X
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Re: Tinker, Tailor, Streamer, Pi.

Unread post by Fretless »

Found someone else who appears to have one....

Upstairs:
VinylPro-Ject 1.2 + Grado Sig Jr + Cambridge Alva Duo
DigiVolumio PC + Kiss DP-500 + Sabaj A20d
NVA: Cube2 - SSP - LS6+ Sabaj A10a {x2)
Little Bear MC2 + AQ NightHawk
Downstairs:
VinylLogic DM101 + Syrinx LE1 + Grado Sig MCX
DigiDenafrips Ares II + Volumio PC + Cambridge CXC
NVA: P50 & PSU - BMUAiyima A07 MAX + Arcam One
HP: Allo DigiOne + Sabaj A10d + AQ NightOwl
Office: Allo DigiOne SIG + SMSL M300se + Douk G4 (x2)
Mission 760 + Monolith 887 + German Maestro GMP 450
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