HiFi Subjectivist ¦ Audio Forum ¦ NVA User Group

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



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 ... ?

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.



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).

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....

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

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

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

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

ah ok lol, I'm backing off

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.





Well - at least I've got a BMU.