I agree that a simple ABX test would resolve the first issue and, with the assistance of she who must be obeyed, I shall do this!
I have been playing around using different music players and computers with my MDAC.
I have used an Intel atom based PC running Vortexbox (uses Logitec Media Server and Linux ALSA), a Windows 8.1 PC running JRiver and Foobar 2000 (both WASAPI) and a Raspberry Pi running Runeaudio (Arch Linux based). All pass the bit perfect test at 44.1kHz, 16 bit and 96kHz, 24 bit, with the original wav files and Flac encoded versions.
The Vortexbox and PC (both players) seem to sound the same to me, or at least, each time I think I've heard a difference, when I try again, it's gone! However, the Pi seems sound a little courser and less detailed. Given that all the set ups have passed the bit perfect test, this seems a little odd. It could of course be audiophile nervosa (the little £25 computer cannot be as good as the £200 atom or £400 PC and this prejudice manifests itself in a perceived difference in performance that is not actually there!), but I don't think so.
I understood that all bit perfect players should sound the same with an asynchronous DAC like the MDAC, but is this really correct?
Some companies allege that bit perfect players can sound different (e.g. JPlay: http://www.jplay.eu), but are they just snake oil salesmen, like those who tell us that £100 USB cables are better than normal Maplin ones?
Could it be that there is some electrical noise (analogue) getting into the M-DAC from the Pi along the USB cable? I had this problem with a CDQ and solved it with a USB isolator board from Olimex.
Anyone any thoughts?
My new record cleaning machine removes so much noise.
Maybe I should try my laptop through it ??
Is it possible to get get static transferred from a PC ??
OK ABX test completed!
So why do all this? I just like messing with computers and HiFi and was intrigued to see if a really cheap and small computer (such as the Raspberry Pi that I used) could be used as a source for the MDAC without compromising sound quality. Looks like it can be!
So why do all this? I just like messing with computers and HiFi and was intrigued to see if a really cheap and small computer (such as the Raspberry Pi that I used) could be used as a source for the MDAC without compromising sound quality. Looks like it can be!
JPLAY shuts down all but essential computer activity as they reckon it introduces noise. Nothing to lose . .
Well obviously you are not able to use the computer whilst music is playing, that is self evident. And yes if you have the luxury of having a dedicated computer for music . . . But many people don't, hence JPLAY's success.
Well obviously you are not able to use the computer whilst music is playing, that is self evident. And yes if you have the luxury of having a dedicated computer for music . . . But many people don't, hence JPLAY's success.
I believe that was with relation to JPlay, which essentially cripples to OS in certain ways (disabling printing, some network services, ...) while actually making it use more CPU time on context switching (marketed as "Reduce OS latency by making Windows switch tasks faster.").Not sure what you mean but while playing music I can use my computer for various tasks (including heavy computations) and rarely get stuttering or any other issues.
MDAC will support DoP, which is DSD encoded in PCM, meaning the computer will simply replay a "simple" PCM file, which shouldn't be very expensive.Re. DSD-capability.
Since the MDAC2 is able to handle DSD, I would be interested in knowing how much cpu/ram power is needed for a computer player to replay DSD.
1) Will the Raspberry Pi be enough?
2) An Atom DN2800mt pc with 8gb ram + Win Server 2012?
3) Or do you need an i3 /i5 /i7 processor with 8gb ram or more?
The pc / rpi will be used as a dedicated audio computer.
Edit: I already own option 2.
Re. DSD-capability.
Since the MDAC2 is able to handle DSD, I would be interested in knowing how much cpu/ram power is needed for a computer player to replay DSD.
1) Will the Raspberry Pi be enough?
2) An Atom DN2800mt pc with 8gb ram + Win Server 2012?
3) Or do you need an i3 /i5 /i7 processor with 8gb ram or more?
The pc / rpi will be used as a dedicated audio computer.
Edit: I already own option 2.