Audiophiles hifi appreciation thread old and new

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Stevethecoffee in reply to @chrismanc

I have the Allo USBridge sig with the Shanti power supply but couldn’t comment on whether it’s better than straight forward rPi. Being careful not to start the bits are bits thing I can say that mine is very prone to picking up noise. Mine links my router plugged into one wall socket by Ethernet cable to a DAC plugged in to a wall socket the other side and there’s a noticeable ground hum. Also I plugged in a SSD to it and heard magic electric noises through the speakers for a bit but a restart made it go away. Because of this I find my MacBook connected by USB running Audirvana is cleaner than the USBridge and the streamer is just there for when I need to use the laptop for actual work and a wired connection isn’t practical. If I was going to buy again I would get the Digione Sig and connect by toslink.

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chrismanc in reply to @Stevethecoffee

Thanks for the detailed reply. It's an interesting counterpoint to a lot of reviews online . Maybe I'm better trying an rPi, its a cheap mistake if it doesn't work out.

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Stevethecoffee in reply to @chrismanc

Yeah the noise issues are curable, it just seems sensitive to them. Anyway it’s upstream of the dac so there is no possible way it can sound better or worse than anything else ;)
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Dramatic_Hammer in reply to @chrismanc

a lot of reviews online

As with everything audio, unless they're giving you measured numbers it's all subjective and some sources are better at turning that experience in to an believable narrative than others. You also get a herd/emperors new clothes effect with the latest widget du jour.

And on that note I googled your speakers to see what the USB input was doing and read the what Hifi? review, which was a masterclass in absolute guff!
A particular highlight:

We thought there was nothing left to be heard on Fleetwood Mac’s Rumours, but the HD Tracks download starkly reveals the contrast between the resignation of the verse and the bitterness of the chorus to Gold Dust Woman.

Anyway, it's basically a DAC so as StevePeel says, plugging any digital source in should give the same result, unless there is a problem with ground loops and/or RFI in the setup somewhere.