Maybe the answer to my last post about locking the volume will address this, but thought I'd go ahead and post some findings.
I've spent the afternoon comparing my totally stock SqueezeBox Touch to my new piCorePlayer, using the M2Tech HiFace II USB>SPDIF. Both players using ethernet connection playing from the same server. Downstream gear: Rega DAC, Plinius 9200 integrated, KEF R700 speakers, various Nordost cables. To power the piCore I tried two different configurations: 1) Samsung tablet 2 amp power supply directly into the RPi with the HiFace plugged directly into the RPi, and 2) with the tablet power supply running the RPi only, and a separate "low noise" linear power supply running the HiFace (using a USB power injector). I heard no differences between the two power configurations. I had really high hopes for the piCore+HiFace combination - figured the low-jitter SPDIF adapter would trump the output on the Touch, but I'm pretty disappointed. Using various high-bitrate tracks, the difference in sound quality hit you like a ton of bricks. The PiCore combo sounded relatively flat - reduced soundstage and clarity. Lot less air in the sound, almost like there is a roll-off at the highest frequencies. Not what I would call bad, but when compared to the Touch, just no contest. My wife has better ears then me and when I gave her a blind A/B test she had a pretty visceral "no comparison" reaction. My goal was to use the RPi as the heart of a 2nd bedroom system, but if I cannot get this sounding better I'll be finding another Touch somewhere. Has anyone else done any critical comparisons of a piCorePlayer relative to other digital transports? Maybe the HiFace is not as good as the various web reviews say? Maybe there is some setting or tweak in piCorePlayer. What else could I be missing? -djm ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ctownj30's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=62343 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=97803 _______________________________________________ unix mailing list [email protected] http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/unix
