Is There Such a Thing as a Better Sounding Streamer?

Don Ivey said:

Thanks, looks good! Do you think it could power a Sonore MicroRendu effectively?

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No unfortunately it is not compatible with microRendu as there is only the 5V version of Nirvana at this time, and the microRendu requires 6-9 volts.

Though it might actually work if the connected DAC were not drawing any bus power, you'd still be in grave danger of corrupting the microSD card that runs the Sonicorbiter OS when booting it up with insufficient voltage, very much not recommended to even try it.

If Allo has market success with these units, perhaps they would consider at some point down the road offering Nirvana in other voltages, but for right now it is 5V only and that is incompatible with the microRendu.

Nirvana's 5V output is perfect for Raspberry Pi however.

Read thru this thread again. I've used the bluesound Node 2 for a few years now and really do like their platform a lot. It's good to see so many others do as well even though it has it's limitations with quality of power supply and limited outputs.

With that said, i just dont understand why NAD isn't the next step up for Bluesound based products. I know they do use it, but not in the ways most of us would use it it seems. Why can't they just offer a straight forward upper level version of the Node?

Edit: I looked them up again and they do have this: (No USB out but it does have balanced out)
NAD C 658
$1,650

Drugolf said:

Read thru this thread again. I've used the bluesound Node 2 for a few years now and really do like their platform a lot. It's good to see so many others do as well even though it has it's limitations with quality of power supply and limited outputs.

With that said, i just dont understand why NAD isn't the next step up for Bluesound based products. I know they do use it, but not in the ways most of us would use it it seems. Why can't they just offer a straight forward upper level version of the Node?

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FWIW, I have a now discontinued Arcam rPlay. It was replaced with a unit that is more than 2x expensive. I got the rPlay for $299 when Parts Connexxion had it on sale.

Arcam ST60 is company's first feature-packed music streamer

Thanks to the threads here and especially posts from Mikey Fresh. I finally understood the Raspberry Pi. I ordered a full loaded Allo Rpi SPDIF streamer. The ability to change the software and, the beyond my tech-nickle grasp, power supplies sold me. IMHO, digital=rapid depreciation It cost $715 shipped and, fingers, crossed, will be around a long time. I just could not see the value in the high priced commercial offerings and I don't want a built in DAC.

FloriduhBoy said:

Thanks to the threads here and especially posts from Mikey Fresh. I finally understood the Raspberry Pi. I ordered a full loaded Allo Rpi SPDIF streamer. The ability to change the software and, the beyond my tech-nickle grasp, power supplies sold me. IMHO, digital=rapid depreciation It cost $715 shipped and, fingers, crossed, will be around a long time. I just could not see the value in the high priced commercial offerings and I don't want a built in DAC.

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So is this the USBridge Signature, with DigiOne SPDIF board and Shanti PSU?

Congrats on that, it would appear to be a state-of-the-art solution at about half what the major brands are charging for something similar.

Did you order direct from Allo, or from a U.S. seller such as PiShop, or CED?

Which software distro did you have preloaded?

Thanks. I ordered direct from Allo (India) with this configuration. I went with the Shanti power supplies because of threads on DIY Audio. It appears that the Nirvana power supplies are very good though.

FloriduhBoy said:

Thanks. I ordered direct from Allo (India) with this configuration. I went with the Shanti power supplies because of threads on DIY Audio. It appears that the Nirvana power supplies are very good though.

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You ordered one too many Shanti supplies, the Shanti has 2 separate isolated rails and you can use one for the RPi power, and the other to provide clean power to the DigiOne SPDIF output.

In your screen shot you've got 2 Shanti PSUs ordered, but you only need one.

If they've already shipped it don't worry, someone will want to take it off your hands at that discounted bundled pricing.

MikeyFresh said:

You ordered one too many Shanti supplies, the Shanti has 2 separate isolated rails and you can use one for the RPi power, and the other to provide clean power to the DigiOne SPDIF output.

In your screen shot you've got 2 Shanti PSUs ordered, but you only need one.

If they've already shipped it don't worry, someone will want to take it off your hands at that discounted bundled pricing.

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In the drop-down menu, there is a power supply choice for the clean and dirty side. I assumed two power supplies were needed.

FloriduhBoy said:

In the drop-down menu, there is a power supply choice for the clean and dirty side. I assumed two power supplies were needed.

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I don't know what to say except their ordering page seems confusing in that regard.

The player you bought requires two power supplies, but the Shanti is two power supplies in one, and they are fully separate isolated rails. The high current rail will power the RPi, and the lower current rail will power the DigiOne. Thats all you need there.

If they haven't shipped it yet, get them to revise your order and in the process your shipping charge should be reduced as the PSUs are the only heavy thing in the package. If they did ship it, don't lose any sleep, you'll be able to sell the extra Shanti given the discounted/bundled price you paid, or use it in a second system.

MikeyFresh said:

I don't know what to say except their ordering page seems confusing in that regard.

The player you bought requires two power supplies, but the Shanti is two power supplies in one, and they are fully separate isolated rails. The high current rail will power the RPi, and the lower current rail will power the DigiOne. Thats all you need there.

If they haven't shipped it yet, get them to revise your order and in the process your shipping charge should be reduced as the PSUs are the only heavy thing in the package. If they did ship it, don't lose any sleep, you'll be able to sell the extra Shanti given the discounted/bundled price you paid, or use it in a second system.

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Thanks for clearing that up. Shipping is $53, so I'll keep it and use it in a second system with the rPlay. Or offer it to someone here.