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RE: Allo DigiOne SPDIF HAT for Coax out

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Mel

In Reply to: RE: Allo DigiOne SPDIF HAT for Coax out posted by AbeCollins on December 29, 2023 at 15:59:11

Hi Abe,
Are you saying that you have a DigiOne with spdif outputs, but you actually use the USB output on the RPi4 without a hat? Any reclocking down the line?
What did the DigiOne do if you sent it a DSD (.dsf) file?
The Musetec actually has great USB to I2S conversion using an Amanero board with better than Crystek clocks and internal generation of the 5V power so that the USB cable is not compromized by carrying the power. I am currently using an SOtM sms ultra neo as a DLNA server. It works great. It seems, though, extremely sensitive to the USB cable used.
But, there seems to have been a lot of product development on the spdif front recently and I have from time to time enjoyed using my Oppo 105 as a DLNA server out of its spdif. It does output DoP, though it does not play anything gapless (as does the Oppo 205 I think). It is nowhere as good as the SOtM, but it has an interesting signature and I thought I might experiment with spdif using something better.

Edits: 12/30/23

Follow Ups:

RE: Allo DigiOne SPDIF HAT for Coax out - AbeCollins 10:27:06 12/30/23 (0)
I used the DigiOne SPDIF board (HAT) with the Raspberry Pi 3 because USB had some known technical limitations on these older Pi's [sharing circuitry and bandwidth with Ethernet and WiFi]. In my case the DigiOne SPDIF board was more reliable with no 'drop-outs' vs USB. That was on the Raspberry Pi 3.
The Raspberry Pi 4 solved those USB technical limitations so I run USB straight out the Raspberry Pi 4 to my USB DACs. I've done this with various USB DACs over the years with no issues. No special reclocking. There's no need unless your USB cable is flaky or unusually long. The DAC reclocks internally anyway but that's another topic.
As I recall the Allo DigiOne supports DSD 64 maybe 128 (both over DoP) but it's been years since I've played with it and my preference has been modest PCM anyway [16/44.1 - 24/96, 24/192]. I believe support for DSD/DoP will also depend on your player software, streamer software, and of course the DAC. BTW, most DACs support higher resolutions over USB than they do over SPDIF.
I know that modern USB interfaces and DACs have no issues supporting very hi-res DSD upwards of DSD1024 and PCM 32-bit/768-KHz.
P.S. I might dig up the old Raspberry Pi 3 and play with the Allo DigiOne if I can find it. It's in the basement storage room somewhere.

Edits: 12/30/23
Some will say.... - Ivan303 07:33:15 12/30/23 (2)
That the USB out on the Pi 4 is GREAT!

But, I have an Audio-GD DAC with AMANERO USB input, better clocks, and Audio-GD regulated voltage powering it and still..

Same with the Denafrips Terminator (mine is one version after their AMANERO USB version of the DAC), as well as an R2R Gustard.

In all cases I find the USB to be a bit 'harder' sounding than S/PDIF and further, prefer the Pi2AES solution over ALLO (we're talking minuscule differences here, but discernable).

Full disclose: I prefer tubes, horns and vinyl with a dislike of much of the digital world but have found I can live with R2R DACS.

I also prefer no feedback in the audio chain because feedback 'steals the soul of the music'.

Abe might be just the opposite in his preferences.

First they came for the dumb-asses
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a dumb-ass
- RE: Some will say.... - AbeCollins 09:55:24 12/30/23 (1)
  Yes. I am the opposite in my preferences. I prefer oodles of feedback and switching power supplies because they 'steal the sould of the music'
  ;-)
  BTW, AMANERO is pretty old tech. Nearly every modern DAC is on a 3rd or 4th generation of XMOS supporting hi-res upwards of DSD1024 and PCM 32/768. I mention this only because the O.P. seems interested in 'hi-res' and USB handles it better than ancient SPDIF.
  
  Edits: 12/30/23
  - RE: "AMANERO is pretty old tech"... - Ivan303 10:05:20 12/30/23 (0)
    So are tubes, horns and vinyl.
    
    And yet...
    
    First they came for the dumb-asses
    And I did not speak out
    Because I was not a dumb-ass

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