DAC to the Future

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George Hincapie
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Re: DAC to the Future

Unread post by George Hincapie »

It's brill that you've so many systems set up!

I haven't heard Class D since I had the Kii speakers at home for a demo. It seems to have improved a lot since then :guiness;
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Fretless (Mon Jan 02, 2023 5:13 am)
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Linear Tube Audio MZ3

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HifiMan Sundara • HiFiMan Arya Stealth Edition • ZMF Vérité Closed Ltd (Stabilised) • ZMF Atrium Open Ltd (Hawaiian Koa) • ZMF Aeolus Ltd (Mexican Bocote)

Digital
Audial S5 • Pi2AES 2.0

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Forza Audio Works • Blue Jeans • DH Labs • Periapt

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Fretless
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Re: DAC to the Future

Unread post by Fretless »

Upsampling to 768KHz through the ESS Sabre ESS9038Q2M DAC chips.

Wow! :bow-blue:
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George Hincapie (Tue Jan 03, 2023 2:06 am)

Upstairs:
Vinyl
Pro-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:
Vinyl
Logic 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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George Hincapie
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Re: DAC to the Future

Unread post by George Hincapie »

Fretless wrote: Tue Jan 03, 2023 12:10 am Upsampling to 768KHz through the ESS Sabre ESS9038Q2M DAC chips.

Wow! :bow-blue:
Using Roon?
These users thanked the author George Hincapie for the post:
Fretless (Tue Jan 03, 2023 7:46 am)
Headphone Amplification
Linear Tube Audio MZ3

Headphones
HifiMan Sundara • HiFiMan Arya Stealth Edition • ZMF Vérité Closed Ltd (Stabilised) • ZMF Atrium Open Ltd (Hawaiian Koa) • ZMF Aeolus Ltd (Mexican Bocote)

Digital
Audial S5 • Pi2AES 2.0

Cables
Forza Audio Works • Blue Jeans • DH Labs • Periapt

Power
Farad • Tomanek

Sources
Roon • Tidal • Qobuz

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Re: DAC to the Future

Unread post by Fretless »

George Hincapie wrote: Tue Jan 03, 2023 2:07 am
Fretless wrote: Tue Jan 03, 2023 12:10 am Upsampling to 768KHz through the ESS Sabre ESS9038Q2M DAC chips.

Wow! :bow-blue:
Using Roon?
Volumio 3 has an inbuilt resampling function that goes up to 768KHz, which is also the maximum PCM that the Sabaj A10d can process.
Sounds incredible to me and I'm waiting now for a better USB cable.
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George Hincapie (Tue Jan 03, 2023 9:32 am)

Upstairs:
Vinyl
Pro-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:
Vinyl
Logic 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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Fretless
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Re: DAC to the Future

Unread post by Fretless »

Just implemented this trick with the Denafrips Ares II (which the company has now renamed as the ENYO).

The Intel i7 processor in the Downstairs system's desktop PC has more than enough power to run the Volumio resampling algorithm at its maximum setting and the Ares can handle input up to 1536 KHz.

I did try these things with Volumio 2 and wasn't so happy with the hi-res levels, but the OS has been completely overhauled and the sound quality is now liquid-smooth with effortless, enveloping detail.

More later ... :music-listening:

Upstairs:
Vinyl
Pro-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:
Vinyl
Logic 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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George Hincapie
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Re: DAC to the Future

Unread post by George Hincapie »

Fretless wrote: Tue Jan 03, 2023 7:50 am
George Hincapie wrote: Tue Jan 03, 2023 2:07 am
Fretless wrote: Tue Jan 03, 2023 12:10 am Upsampling to 768KHz through the ESS Sabre ESS9038Q2M DAC chips.

Wow! :bow-blue:
Using Roon?
Volumio 3 has an inbuilt resampling function that goes up to 768KHz, which is also the maximum PCM that the Sabaj A10d can process.
Sounds incredible to me and I'm waiting now for a better USB cable.
Oh nice!

I may give that a try.

Have you ordered a cable?
Headphone Amplification
Linear Tube Audio MZ3

Headphones
HifiMan Sundara • HiFiMan Arya Stealth Edition • ZMF Vérité Closed Ltd (Stabilised) • ZMF Atrium Open Ltd (Hawaiian Koa) • ZMF Aeolus Ltd (Mexican Bocote)

Digital
Audial S5 • Pi2AES 2.0

Cables
Forza Audio Works • Blue Jeans • DH Labs • Periapt

Power
Farad • Tomanek

Sources
Roon • Tidal • Qobuz

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Fretless
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Re: DAC to the Future

Unread post by Fretless »

AQ Cinnamon USB A-C.

May not be the most esoteric choice but it was reasonably-priced on Amazon and will give an indication as to whether a high-end link is worthwhile.
Should be in this evening.

:dance:
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George Hincapie (Tue Jan 03, 2023 1:26 pm)

Upstairs:
Vinyl
Pro-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:
Vinyl
Logic 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

User avatar
George Hincapie
Posts: 321
Joined: Wed Aug 21, 2019 7:46 pm
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Re: DAC to the Future

Unread post by George Hincapie »

I thought Volumio was ran from an SD card in a Pi, but there's a PC server version now too?
Headphone Amplification
Linear Tube Audio MZ3

Headphones
HifiMan Sundara • HiFiMan Arya Stealth Edition • ZMF Vérité Closed Ltd (Stabilised) • ZMF Atrium Open Ltd (Hawaiian Koa) • ZMF Aeolus Ltd (Mexican Bocote)

Digital
Audial S5 • Pi2AES 2.0

Cables
Forza Audio Works • Blue Jeans • DH Labs • Periapt

Power
Farad • Tomanek

Sources
Roon • Tidal • Qobuz

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Fretless
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Re: DAC to the Future

Unread post by Fretless »

Not a server installation, it is a standalone OS which can run an X64/X86 PC.

Either from a removeable USB-stick that leaves Windows on the PC. Or installed to the harddisk of the PC and replacing the original operating system.

I have one old Windows Vista PC and the fanless i7 desktop both running Volumio 3 with USB output. Because they are dedicated to just performing one single task - converting network data into a digital audio format, the resulting audio quality is phenomenally good.

Fine way to re-use an old PC as well.

All Volumio devices on the same network can be centrally run via a browser UI or a dedicated Android app.

8-) :guiness;
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George Hincapie (Tue Jan 03, 2023 2:27 pm)

Upstairs:
Vinyl
Pro-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:
Vinyl
Logic 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

User avatar
George Hincapie
Posts: 321
Joined: Wed Aug 21, 2019 7:46 pm
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Re: DAC to the Future

Unread post by George Hincapie »

I'm with you know. So the server data stream feeds the DAC via USB. Cool.
Headphone Amplification
Linear Tube Audio MZ3

Headphones
HifiMan Sundara • HiFiMan Arya Stealth Edition • ZMF Vérité Closed Ltd (Stabilised) • ZMF Atrium Open Ltd (Hawaiian Koa) • ZMF Aeolus Ltd (Mexican Bocote)

Digital
Audial S5 • Pi2AES 2.0

Cables
Forza Audio Works • Blue Jeans • DH Labs • Periapt

Power
Farad • Tomanek

Sources
Roon • Tidal • Qobuz

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