I was making an I2S DAC for a friend of mine. He is old school, and uses a CD transport with S/PDIF output to an external DAC.
I used a DIR9001 module to convert S/PDIF to I2S. I needed to test this, and I don't have a CD transport.
I used a PCM2704 USB to SPDIF module with Raspberry Pi USB output and Moode. USB to S/PDIF to I2S.
This sounds better than my regular setup, which is Kali and the I2S DAC. There is significantly reduced CPU noise with the USB to S/PDIF to I2S setup. I am not referring to noise in silence (there is none), but noise modulating on the signal, which creates a slight increase in perceived treble.
Power for the DIR9001/I2S DAC is separate from the RPi/PCM2704. There is a single supply in the RPi/Kali/I2S DAC. All supplies are the same SMPS.
The difference is unmistakable, and I am having difficulty going back to my regular setup.
I used a DIR9001 module to convert S/PDIF to I2S. I needed to test this, and I don't have a CD transport.
I used a PCM2704 USB to SPDIF module with Raspberry Pi USB output and Moode. USB to S/PDIF to I2S.
This sounds better than my regular setup, which is Kali and the I2S DAC. There is significantly reduced CPU noise with the USB to S/PDIF to I2S setup. I am not referring to noise in silence (there is none), but noise modulating on the signal, which creates a slight increase in perceived treble.
Power for the DIR9001/I2S DAC is separate from the RPi/PCM2704. There is a single supply in the RPi/Kali/I2S DAC. All supplies are the same SMPS.
The difference is unmistakable, and I am having difficulty going back to my regular setup.
Hardware: RPi Zero W | Allo Kali | ProtoDAC TDA1387 X8 | PGA2311 | Icepower 500ASP | Harbeth SHL5
Software: Moode 8.3.3
Source: Win 10 NAS
Software: Moode 8.3.3
Source: Win 10 NAS
