Article: Sonore microRendu Review, Part 1

[YashN]

Cool start for a review. I really think this is the first audiophile computer motherboard.

 

Noticed a couple of typos/omissions: 'lessor' and 'the sensitive with he'

[YashN]

That was my guess. But it's a bit premature to complain that I haven't used one's software, when the review is half way finished.

 

Could be added as a point (currently 5 of them) in the "What is the microrendu" section.

[YashN]

Your approach will not achieve anywhere near the sound quality of the µRendu into a DAC via USB. A better approach to utilizing a small MoBo unit like Raspi or BeagleBone Black (better) is to add external clocking/reclocking with isolation. The masterclock provided directly on these boards is very high in jitter, and the board itself produces so much noise that getting a good clock onboard would be nearly impossible. you can get very good performance out of such an approach, but only with a more sophisticated implementation and more parts.

the discussion of how to do this better is interesting, but very OT for this thread.

 

He would still be using a general-purpose computer rather than one designed end-to-end for the best SQ.

[YashN]

The way I use it, 100% DLNA, the Pi is no different and certainly no less than the likes of Auralic (both), a PC, Mac Mini, or even a NAS.

 

How is the inevitable crunch in bandwidth because of the combined Ethernet/USB controller in the Raspi no different than Auralic, a PC, Mac Mini, especially for high-rate DSD?

 

Even a general purpose - and even a multi purpose PC - while its multi tasking would sound the same when running DLNA for audio

 

It never will sound the same as a motherboard, a set of components, interfaces and power distribution designed from the ground up to do one thing and one thing really well: computer for the best SQ.

 

This device is not in the same league as a general-purpose SBC at all. One is a Lamborghini Countach, the other is a Lada. Both can make you travel from point A to B faster than by foot and you can sure work on a Lada to improve it...

[YashN]

It would also help with forums like WBF

 

I think we can forget about that for a while until things settle there (check my thread on the microrendu there to see what I mean...).

 

I believe some independent measurements with eye pattern were posted on the pinkfishmedia forum by another John (unless it was that other forum with an animal name like hifipig?, memory fails).

[YashN]

The Raspberry Pi 3's wireless LAN does not share the USB bus, so its perfectly alright to use USB/ethernet to connect to an external HDD or NAS and use WiFi for streaming.

 

Wireless is usually unbelievably noisy...