Popular Post toddrhodes Posted March 7, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted March 7, 2021 So this needs a bit of an asterisk, but I put together a DDC of the DIY variety. AccuSilicon XOs Amanero USB streamer input Ian Canada FifoPi Q3 Ultimate Ian Canada HDMIPi i2S transmitter I use a Pi4 as an HQ Player NAA, and that outputs to the above device, which passes i2S into my Venus II. Otherwise, I've been using a dual head Ghent Audio USB cable direct from the Pi4 to Venus II. To start - I do not dislike USB direct into Venus II. I just wanted to experiment a little, see if a DDC - even a simple DIY one - makes a positive difference. And from one that literally fits in the palm of my hand? In my setup, it absolutely makes a positive difference over USB direct from Pi4 to Venus II. And even more oddly? I'm using the same USB input (Amanero Combo384) that Venus II uses. The caveat - there is some sort of handshake or timing issue at play with my DIY DDC and Venus II. I'm working with Alvin to sort through that now. But, despite that - I notice the same thing another user over in the Denafrips DDC thread suggested - more emphasis and "grunt" in the upper midbass and lower midrange. In addition, an improvement in instrument separation and rendering of "space" in the soundstage are the main takeaways. And again, this is with a fairly simple DDC. All of this, including the Pi4 and my fiber ethernet converter, are powered by Ian's LifePO4 battery PSU. So far, that's just stock - I can mod it further but haven't felt the need to. So I would say that depending on your source, a DDC absolutely can be apparently better via Venus II. I think it all comes down to how well "clocked" the source you use today is. In my case, a Pi4, is not well-clocked at all, it's relatively noisy in comparison, and not all that powerful. To me those things shouldn't matter in my application, but I'm not doing all I can to correct my slight issue just for my health - I really do detect a tangible benefit. sonodynesrp205 and Rexp 2 Ryzen 3900x Roon Core PC -> Intel i9900k HQPlayer W10 machine -> iFi Zen Stream NAA Holo May KTE, Benchmark LA4 preamp SMC Audio upgraded DNA-125 Amp Dynaudio Confidence C2 Platinum speakers Vinyl rig - Schiit Sol, Nagaoka MP-500, Mod Squad PhonoDrive phono stage Link to comment
toddrhodes Posted March 31, 2021 Share Posted March 31, 2021 I picked up a used Hermes from US Audio Mart. It arrived on Monday but I've only listened to the combo for a bit - was just not feeling well yesterday. Chain is: Win 10 PC as Roon core --> Win 10 PC as HQ Player processor --> fiber network conversion --> Pi4 (both fiber converter and Pi are battery powered) --> Ghent dual head USB cable to Hermes USB In --> i2S out to Venus II using a 1.5 foot 4K HDMI cable ($10 on Amazon or something - nothing special). One of the reasons I picked up Hermes was to see if a different i2S source from the two I have onhand produced the same audible "tick" or "snap" over i2S as the other two did. The other two were Pi HAT-type units - one a DDC and the other a Pi2AES. But I figured maybe there was something odd there that produced the issue. But it happens on Hermes as well. So at this point, looks like my Venus II i2S input may have an issue which is ok, I'm working with Alvin on that and have no doubt we'll figure it out. But absent that issue - which only happens intermittently - I DO perceive a positive change in the presentation. I've noticed it with the other DDC I have as well - the Ian Canada FIFOPi + HDMIPi transmitter module. It's hard to explain but the differences I hear are twofold: Meatier midrange - it's like the upper strings on bass guitar and the lower strings on electric guitar went to the gym just a little bit. It sounds more natural, a little better "in your face" grunt that is forward in a good way. Second is the image is just more believable, more rounded out and while I don't think the overall dimensions change - the definition of spacing around instruments, the recorded space/venue - those come through more clearly. It's a nice change and one I am willing to sort out the issues on i2S to have at my disposal without any other issues. Just tonight I decided to try another option - Dual AES/EBU from Hermes to Venus II. I only just got it set up but I do really like what I hear. To my knowledge that limits PCM to 384 and DSD128 is the ceiling on that interface, but that's ok. I've reconfigured HQ Player accordingly and can confirm the DAC is "seeing" PCM384 as it should. Will update as I can. Ryzen 3900x Roon Core PC -> Intel i9900k HQPlayer W10 machine -> iFi Zen Stream NAA Holo May KTE, Benchmark LA4 preamp SMC Audio upgraded DNA-125 Amp Dynaudio Confidence C2 Platinum speakers Vinyl rig - Schiit Sol, Nagaoka MP-500, Mod Squad PhonoDrive phono stage Link to comment
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