ALLO USBridge Signature

[uniquesnowflake]

4 hours ago, albert said:

I am presently using my desktop computer's usb output into a ifi usb and then to a chord hugo. I have used a raspberry pie + hifi berry digi + to the hugo but did not find it much better than the 1st configuration. Would the allo usbridge sig be much of an improvement?  Also is the shanti power supply make much of a difference, since the hugo does not need the usb power. 

Hifiberry digi+ isn’t that good of a source

[uniquesnowflake]

23 hours ago, albert said:

Funny , i don't really know if the ifi really improved the sound that much. I plan on using this on my headphone setup which is beside my desktop computer. I am leaning towards the usbridge since i plan on using volumio with an attached external hard drive  and the price is cheaper. I don't know what to expect from the allo unit. Reading reviews seems to indicate that the digone sig and the usbridge sig sound pretty similar. I am not in a hurry . Do they have any discount for black friday?

 

Not familiar with the quality of the Hugo's USB input, but IME it's a lot easier to "fix" USB on a low power, less complex device such as the RPi.

 

If you're not in a hurry, I would hold off buying the USBridge or get a Digione Sig first (I personally own both, using the USBridge as an "audiophile Pi" for the DigSig. There's nothing wrong with the current USBridge, but I heard Allo is working on a new version based on the Pi4 CM.

[uniquesnowflake]

For those proficient with a soldering iron (or can find someone who is), there's a lot to be gained through modding. 

1. While I appreciate Allo making the USBridge Sig backwards compatible with the Digione Sig, it results in a lot of connectors that degrade the sound. I chose to skip all the USB-C nonsense and supply power directly to the board. If you're up for it, an additional CLC filter at the input will help to further clean up the power.
2. Os-Con caps play well with digital circuits, and I chose to replace some of the SMD caps on the WM8805 side of the Digione Sig.
3. More Os-Cons on the top side of the Digione Sig. Last but not least, the SPDIF output cap and series resistor were upgraded to Auricap XO and TX2575. This mod provided the biggest jump in sonic performance. There was a clear improvement in linearity, details, and extension.

[uniquesnowflake]

On 1/2/2023 at 2:39 AM, Ronald Vergeer said:

I am very interested in these charges you made. Can you shareware more details on it?

 

Hi Ronald,

 

The mods are pretty much covered in the post and attached images. Do you also own the Digione Signature, or just the USBridge Signature?

[uniquesnowflake]

If you have the skill and willingness to do so, I'd recommend upgrading the onboard TPS7A4701 LDOs to high quality discrete regulators (e.g. Sparkos Labs) in addition to the mods. 

 

Otherwise, considering replacing/adding Os-Con caps and bypassing the plethora of connectors first.