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Ernie
Senior Member Joined: 23 Jan 2014 Location: Birmingham UK Status: Offline Points: 386 |
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Got 3 streamers RPi with digi pro, Sonos Connect and Cyrus Stream X Signature. Not all digital sources are created equal.
Best sound per pound RPi can’t hear any difference with files above CD (44.1khz 16bit) quality though. Most convenient Sonos, even Stevens sound wise to the RPi and been running since 2008 and still going strong with regular updates from Sonos. No sign of support ending so I feel it was a great buy. Downside Sonos doesn’t play past 48khz though this isn’t a problem with CD rips and Tidal. Sounds better since I discovered that you need to set the volume to max and fixed. Hands down winner Stream X (with Qobuz and Rips). GUI is shocking but the sound... like going from £200 amp with built in MM stage to an Accension and Proprius amps. I know which one I’d be using (or at least auditioning) with +£3k head ear speaker phones. Just saying. |
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There are 10 kinds of people. Those who understand binary and those who don't.
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cypsela
New Member Joined: 04 May 2015 Location: Wakefield Status: Offline Points: 29 |
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Hats off to Ian for taking the trouble to explain what a hat was. As a interested follower of the forum ,the use of abbreviations can prove frustrating to non technical members like myself. Might others consider following his lead? Edited by cypsela - 12 Dec 2018 at 1:39pm |
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David
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Ash
Senior Member Joined: 18 Mar 2013 Location: Dorset Status: Offline Points: 4334 |
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I would rather build my own computer (whatever form it may take) than buy a pre-built computer or streamer. Cost is ultimately meaningless, it's mainly marketing and consumer psychology. I'm not particularly intelligent but I do have the viewpoint of a sensible engineer and have an eye for small details. I think the RPi into Graham Slee electronics will do the MySphere 3.1 justice. It sounds superb straight out of my Sony Hi-Res Walkman playing FLAC and the FM Radio is excellent too, especially when the transmission quality is high.
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BackinBlack
Senior Member Joined: 05 Feb 2012 Location: Hinton, N'hants Status: Offline Points: 2020 |
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Some "Big Brand" streamers use a Raspberry Pi or similar Single Board Computer as their core processor, many use Arm processors as does the Pi. The software and following decoding hardware (DAC) are really the key to audio quality. The cost of trying the base RPI are minimal, basic switch mode PSU, 8GB uSD card and RPi 3B+ can be bought for around £50, much less if you use a Pi Zero. just add software, then try it as a USB feed to your Majestic. Then add whatever HAT, PSU case etc you choose. There's plenty of food for thought on the Moode, Rune or Volumio Forums. iQaudio (made in UK) and HiFiBerry also have interesting ideas. I imagine you've already looked at all those and more. It's just my view, but as Chris notes, I think commercial streamers are too limiting. Been there, done that, as they say. I have acouple of streamers that lie idle with their outdated software and limited file type handling. Ian
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Just listen, if it sounds good to you, enjoy it.
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Chris Firth
Moderator Group Joined: 16 May 2013 Location: Rossendale, UK Status: Offline Points: 1532 |
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The main problem with "proper hifi" maker's streaming kit is that you're fine up until the arbitrary point where they decide they're not going to support it any more (usually about the time where they decide it's time for you to buy a new box from them). And then the bag of nails control system they threw together becomes even more frustrating because it can't keep up with the delivery method changes a service provider has just implemented. I would suggest giving mainstream brands a very wide berth. I have been using Squeezebox Touch players for a long time now, and they deliver daily. I run the server on a RasPi (I use piCorePlayer), and the server accesses my local library (on a NAS), and offboard servers equally well, and sound quality is truly excellent, as are the various ways of controlling the players. I am very impressed with Orange Squeeze as an Android controller app specifically meant for LMS and Squeezebox, but also capable of controlling Innous Zen products too. |
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Ernie
Senior Member Joined: 23 Jan 2014 Location: Birmingham UK Status: Offline Points: 386 |
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Ash, have you considered just buying a good streamer? You’ve bought yourself some very expensive headphone/ear speakers and you want to listen to a £80 RPi set up.
By all means try it but I doubt you’ll get the results you desire. I have a Cy##s Stream X Signature and it’s head and shoulders (and knees and toes for that matter) above the Pi (though the app is bloody awful compared to Volumio! Operates like 4 year old put in together). |
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There are 10 kinds of people. Those who understand binary and those who don't.
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Ash
Senior Member Joined: 18 Mar 2013 Location: Dorset Status: Offline Points: 4334 |
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Thanks for all of your information Ian. My objective is the highest sound quality possible from digital audio. I wish to shield from EMI as much as possible (otherwise I'd select a standard desktop PC for music) so I'm fine with selecting a metal case to enclose it. If I need to install updates from the internet, I can use either Ethernet cable or open the case temporarily if I need to use Wifi/Bluetooth effectively. But the only data streaming I'm interested in is via cable. The Majestic has certainly proven its worth, in my mind, so I want it in the system. Delivering it the most unaltered digital signal is my plan. No CD drives, no wifi, no CPU fans, no poor quality power supplies. As for USB vs S/PDIF from RPi, I will have to compare them.
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