Article: Allo USBridge Sig Review

[allo.com]

Hello

 

  we are working on a software that will be ALLO official version for USbridge based on Moode. We have some big surprises coming...

 

We are also working on better documentation , meanwhile.

 

   Please note that we have dedicated tech suport and we are making every effort to take care of every customer , however due to the fact that there are many open source players (Moode , Volumio , Ropiee , PcP , Max2play etc) its rather both an advantage and disadvantage .  Advantage is that each of those players will give you the power of open source , updated very often .

 

  Of course disadvantage is that its rather harder to use and take some getting used to . Overall we think its a positive. As long as you know how to play with a router setting (for example) you will be able to use Usbridge Sig with most OS (most players have GUIs)

 

 I see that above someone suggested it will be easier to use Pro-Ject (*easier to use) Note that that particular hardware uses Volumio player ... you can get the same player on Usbridge Sig

 

 

   At last , next time you buy a DAC , please ask the manufacturer if its compatible with Linux on DSD (only DSD has issues on Linux) . Linux audio is here to stay and  will probably grow in the upcoming years.

[allo.com]

Hi

 

 please note we are not using eMMC on RPI CM. Instead we made a eMMC that plugs into the SD card with an adapter . The advantage is not faster speed ,but we are observing less corruptions happening on the eMMC compared with SD cards.

[allo.com]

The problem is that your DAC does not support DSD native in Linux . So there is a patch that was written , unfortunately kernel 4.19 seems to have issues with those patches.

 

  Please understand that kernel comes from RPI foundation and as soon as they release a new one , all OS/players will incorporate the new kernel .

 

  It is out of our hands , but unlike any other Single Board Computers , RPI foundation is well known for timely updates of kernels. It will happen.

[allo.com]

Dear Gavin

 

  USbridge Sig is just hardware outputting digital signal . We concentrated on reducing any noise on the hardware bus.

 

As such USbridge does not have a sound signature . I think that you are referring more to the combination of software that might change how you perceive sound .

 

 Yes you can play with any EQ and try finding a sound thats more to your liking , its all in software .

[allo.com]

Hi Gavin

 

  there are diffrences betwen the CM 3 and CM3+. IN CM 3 you can use both eMMC and SD but in CM3+ you can only use one

 

If you use a CM with eMMC how will you flash the eMMC ? Its not simple..

[allo.com]

On 2/25/2020 at 8:11 PM, sjj said:

just wondering, is there an update on these two items?

No update , will let you know when we get more info

[allo.com]

Hello Dynobot

 

  What LPS are you using ? Do you have any HD drives connected directly to USBridge ?

[allo.com]

Ifi power is rather bad . The LPS  what noise and power rating ?Do you have the make ? I will try to see if I can find any numbers (noise) on it.

 

 

   Its rather strange that RPI sounds better than USbridge sig , there must be a cause.

 

My first instinct ,  there is an issue with the power feed . We designed Shanti with USBridge in mind. For example you say that your power is linear regulated, while thats fine generally , Shanti has a massive F capacitance at the output (after regulators) . Linear regulator does not behave best on a dynamic load,

 

  Alternatively , I am aware of the AudioGD hardware . While test results (THD) is not the whole story , this particular brand , tests rather ..bad.  I am saying this , because a few months back I received a report that an AudioGD Dac paired with a Digione Sig was inferior to a rather low hardware (spidif signal) that was tested to have much more jitter on the output.

 

 

 

 

[allo.com]

Ifi power on internal testing under real conditions (the numbers they quote are with isolation transformers) was about 6uV (including mains) from 0-20Khz

 

  However that is differential noise. In addition to differential noise (6uV is good) we have common mode noise and leakage currents noise .  IFI psu , like any SMPS thats not earthed has (rather big) leakage current noise thats ,of course not accounted for .on marketing data .

 

 I do not recommend it .

[allo.com]

Hi Dyna

 

 

 the link from zackthedog is correct , thats what to use if you want to use a CM with eMMC.

 

   Regarding the power , I briefly spoke about common mode noise , I did not see excessive amount of it on IFI.

 

Meanwhile  I did focus on "leakage currents" and IF (like all SMPS without protective earth)  has lots . I believe there are other threads on forums where the issue is discussed at lengths . There are even  solutions (some wire on DC Gnd connected to earth)

 

   I think that AudioGD is an acquired taste (generally speaking) . One of my new Dacs (Revolution) has the ability to change harmonics (H2 and H3) amplitude and the perception of sound changes . Looking at most AudioGD tests the harmonics are different that most DACs (and rather very high) and its my opinion (not backed by any scientific data) that it has a particular sound .

 

  Usbridge Sig does output a very clean interface to any DACs and we are seeing a small change in H amplitude as a result .  Maybe its just that a particular preference of sounds changes because of that..

 

   I would try changing the IFI PSU, then try to get any other DAC and check if USbridge Sig brings an improvement .