Allo Sparky USBridge

[jtwrace]

1 minute ago, ted_b said:

Jason,

With your unit did you go into the menu to enable Roon as an endpioint, or did it come pre-configured for that?

No sir, literally out of the box, plug the card into it, plug the USB cable into the wrong port (;-)), plug the Ethernet cable in and plug power in.  That's it!  Showed up in Roon below within a few minutes.  

 

 

[jtwrace]

Just now, mikey8811 said:

 

By these streamers you like the best you mean the Aries Mini if one were to use Roon?

 

What about for a non Roon user just based on sound quality?

Sorry for the confusion.  If you're not a Roon user or JRiver (DLNA) user I suppose the ARIES or ARIES MINI would be a great solution.  Roon is 100% stable though and I just love it.  

 

If you use JRiver with one of these devices in DLNA mode you're not giving anything up I don't think.  I've done it many times and it sounds fine to me. 

 

Does that help?

[jtwrace]

Just now, rickca said:

Thanks.  I'll continue to monitor this thread for feedback from others.  This is really interesting and I have to learn more about it.

I'd have no issue buying another (or two) and doing a tour with them but I'm not so sure that it would be good given the slight technical part of it.  In the past when I did amp tours, it's pretty easy...plug it in and that's it.  If someone hasn't gone through the setup the first time previously it can get to be a bit much and with these tours a couple days is all you can do as they take a while to cycle through 10 people.  It would be cool for CA members though and especially those that don't have the disposable income.  

 

Here are the amp tours I've done previously with the listening impressions from them:

Stage 1

Stage 2

Listening Impressions

 

[jtwrace]

16 minutes ago, ted_b said:

Jason,

sorry for all the pile on questions but:

* what are you using to power the USBBridge, and have/will you try the J28 jumper idea to power both halves at some point?

No need to be sorry....Ask away Ted!

 

Using stock power supply that comes with the unit. 

 

I haven't but it's on my list but want to make sure all the little bugs are worked out first.  Also, I'm thinking of what I'll use exactly for excitation.  Personally, I'd like to see @allo.com in the next iteration have an external way of doing this so you remove the jumper but the unit would have another barrel jack.  Also, I'd like to see some test results showing that it's really advantageous.  As you might know, I really like data!  ;-)  

[jtwrace]

18 hours ago, allo.com said:

Patch was applied , Amanero board connected and shows 256/512  DSD ready.

 

 We are testing the audio quality up to 256 today. (limit of our DAC) and will report back

Great!  Looking forward to trying this.  Thanks for the quick response to making this happen!  

13 hours ago, allo.com said:

Another short update, we are also fixing a few bugs in the new release (like losing network connection once in a while )

 

   Dan and our team are working on it.

This is also great news as I've had this issue very intermittently and was on my action item list.  Glad to hear I can cross it off.  

 

Will the update auto update?

[jtwrace]

4 hours ago, juliocat said:

Upsamplig to 256 DSD with Amanero interfase (DAC Max), Native Mode, really really great sound!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

I sorted the upsampling problem found by H-man by turning on Headroom - play - stop -turn off headroom - turn on SRC 7th Order Linear Phase- play - Voila!!!

Can you share the directions in updating the OS?  I've never done it and would like to do it now.  I can use Mac or W10.  

[jtwrace]

Just now, juliocat said:

 

I don´t have an eMMC adapter so i remove from the sparky and write the new version in a Class 10 Micro SD 16 GB 

 

 

http://dietpi.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=9#p9

Removed what?

[jtwrace]

Just now, juliocat said:

 

The eMMC memory is under the HDMI connector in the sparky

Then where will that fit?

 

[jtwrace]

Just now, juliocat said:

 

To write the new Dietpi version on eMMC memory card you need an adapter 

Oh geez.  Where does one get one of those adapters?  What's it called?  

[jtwrace]

1 minute ago, juliocat said:

 

To write the new Dietpi version on eMMC memory card you need an adapter 

Isn't that the thing that comes with the kit?  

[jtwrace]

Why can't I use the eMMC adapter that comes with the kit?  Then overwrite the new OS to the current card that I've removed from under the HDMI port?

[jtwrace]

I have one.  So i download the OS and then transfer to the SD card?  That's it?  NO other crazy steps that are needed?  

[jtwrace]

Nope, can't do it.  The reader doesn't fit into my adapter on my PC.  What a pain.  

[jtwrace]

16 hours ago, H-Man said:

 

This is what I meant when I said ugly upgrade process up above... But a suitable card reader is pretty cheap. 

I was able to find a reader so I'll try it for giggles.  

 

I've been informed that Allo is going to work on this so it's auto update.  No promise in timeline but they do want it.  @allo.com has been so on top of it!  Very impressive.

[jtwrace]

@H-Man where do I find the img file?  I have the .7z file but don't see where I find the img file that the directions say I need to write.

 

[jtwrace]

2 minutes ago, volpone said:

 

Could you please give me a link to the  eMMC module reader + USB multireader you are using ? 

I probably will have to update Sparky OS (Dietpi) and I'm looking for one. Thank's

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B008VQ2YUY/ref=twister_B0114MZS7W?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

[jtwrace]

3 minutes ago, volpone said:

 

Thank's.

Is this, cheaper, OK too ?: https://www.amazon.com/Transcend-microSDHC-Reader-TS-RDF5K-Black/dp/B009D79VH4/ref=pd_cp_147_4?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=VFV04VSEGWQKHBEKXC37

Yes!

[jtwrace]

I wrote the image file to the card but the USBridge isn't found within Roon.  Any ideas of what I likely did wrong?  

[jtwrace]

@H-Man got any ideas?  I tried my Mac and same thing. Nothing.

[jtwrace]

Does this correct @H-Man?  This is the directory of the card plugged into my computer.

 

 

[jtwrace]

9 minutes ago, pgbcincy said:

@jtwrace, you might want to check out these pdfs if you have not.   https://www.allo.com/sparky/usbridge.html#downloads  Follow the instructions on USBridge-DietPi-Installation-Config-Guide.pdf;  Once you flash, I believe you need to install the Roon software again via the guide.  

That doesn't make sense considering what I've been told.  I've already spent nearly 5 hrs to no avail.  This is exactly why it needs to be auto.  I've tried plugging an HDMI in and there isn't anything to see which leads me to believe that it should just boot like it did and be done.  I must be doing something wrong but I've read the simple instructions many times and get the same result.  

 

@allo.com and @H-Man must be sleeping.  

[jtwrace]

On 9/2/2017 at 3:39 PM, H-Man said:

Sorry been out all day  

 

You need to flash the eMMC with a disc image writer like Etcher https://etcher.io/. 

 

/Henrik

Thanks.  Downloaded Etcher and get the same result.  Nada. I've done it the Allo way using their recommended software and now this.  Nothing.  I don't get it.  

[jtwrace]

8 minutes ago, H-Man said:

Strange. Do you have access to a Linux PC? If so see I f you can read the eMMC card in the reader from the Linux machine. Does Etcher give a success message after the image burn? 

I don't have access to one.  Yes, Etcher does give me a success message.  

[jtwrace]

5 minutes ago, H-Man said:

Can you attach a screen or tv to sparky when it boots and see if there are any messages? 

See attached.  

[jtwrace]

7 hours ago, H-Man said:

Well it is at least booting something so something got flashed on the eMMC. Does it accept keyboard input? 

Wait a second.  I'm booted into the system with a keyboard now.  Do I need do something else? If so, what?