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DAC2 HD setup

Anton

February 17, 2021 17:09

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Hi there, i just got into building my own Streamer using a Pi4 and a DAC2 HD connected to an Accuphase Amp. I want to use this setup to stream local FLAC files from my network, but mostly from Tidal HiFi.

I tried different OS for the Pi (Volumio & Ropieee) and also different Apps (Volumio & Roon).

So far i'm not really happy with the way this setup sounds and i was wondering if it might be a settings issue. 

1. Since i want to use mostly my Amps Volume Controls i was wondering what setting to use for the Pi? Set it to 100% or 50%? Does it even make a difference?

2. are there any other settings to improve sound quality? 

3. Is it possible to attach a 2nd HAT or maybe a USB device to have a TosLINK Input on the Pi that then gets put out throu the DAC2 HD?

best regards
anton

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7 comments

• 0
  
  Anton February 17, 2021 17:37

  I have now tried HiFiBerryOS too. First of all i REALLY enjoy this interface over all the other OS so far. Just so much more streamlined... anyway regarding my first question: Volume Levels are now -100 to 0dB so i'm guessing this means setting it to 0db (or 100 for the other OS) should be fine since its no potentially lossy amplification by the DAC or the Pi or whatever correct?

  Still sound quality is only meeeeh. sound just a bit crushed or something. not an audiophile with fancy words to describe what i'm hearing. 

  As I said the HifiBerry DAC2HD is attached to a Pi4 and connected to an old Accuphase Amp using good quality Cinch Cables. I am comparing it to a Marantz SR7010 (set to "Pure Direct" to bypass any potential EQ stuff happening). I am trying to get rid of this Marantz since using it basically as a DAC + Streamer seems just overkill to me....

  Any tips on how to improve this situation.

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  Anton February 17, 2021 18:33

  hm i have now grouped the two devices in roon as they both support airplay (the marantz doesn't support roon). after adjusting the volume to the same level in roon i can't tell a difference anymore. switching back and forth between the two inputs on my accuphase both seem to sound equally good. cant really test it using roons own protocol since the marantz doesn't support it

   

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  Anton February 18, 2021 16:18

  I changed my default usb-C Powersupply for an ifi iPower X and was surprised by how much of a difference this made. Would definitely recommend to try this. The different power supply seems to make a bigger difference in sound quality then the difference between the hifiberry and the Marantz DAC tbh.

  1 Question remains: is there an easy way to add a toslink input to my setup?

  Thanks for the help!

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  HiFiBerry team February 19, 2021 05:44

  No, there is no way to add a TOSLInk input.

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  David Börner February 20, 2021 21:16

  Interesting to hear the power supply made a difference. I tried Roon with my DAC PRO XLR and the sound was quite bad, maybe similar to what you describe. I was using the RaspberryPI power supply

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  HiFiBerry team February 21, 2021 06:25

  Feel free to test expensive power supplies. However, we don't recommend it:
  https://www.hifiberry.com/blog/techtalk-power-supply-matters/

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  Anton February 21, 2021 13:21

  yeah i read this before i bought the DAC2 HD but a YouTube reviewer suggested a power supply might still make a difference so i just wanted to test it myself. And I can confirm it made a clear difference in my personal setup for sure. 

  the ifi power x, although same price as the dac2 hd itself, probably isn’t an unreasonably expensive power supply. Also it works different then for example a true linear power supply. it uses active noise cancelling to filter disturbing frequencies from power signal. I mean i didn’t do comparisons other then to the stock power supply that came with my Pi so maybe a less expensive power supply would’ve worked too i just didn’t test that. for me the difference in sound quality i got using the ifi was well worth the 99€.

  Edited by Anton February 21, 2021 13:28