ES9028Q2M+ Volumio 2.323 (17.11.2017) + Hints about 384khz in general

so,
i normally “hate” this Volumio->came back to it by chance..


(V-2.323)
https://volumio.org/get-started/
so, very smooth and clean..not so many pops,clicks and noise..relaxed..->try it !! 😉 (i wondered myself->relatively good alternative to the other rpi-audioplayer at present)

I used “Generic I2S DAC” and then came “Hifiberry-DAC” automatically..
tried to upsample it to 384khz but was not possible “ALSA-error”->and so we are back to the main problem with 384khz and this ES9028Q2M-Board (tried to recall it here, before i forgot it again):
Over I2S and the RPI3B its normally only up to 192khz->for more (384khz) u need a kernel patch..
In picoreplayer u can use the “es9023” overlay and the the “384khz”-option then (as said some articles before); but picoreplayer is not so comfortable..
same at present with MoodeV4B9 and “hifiberry-dac”->because it has not now the advanced and realtime-kernel as before also no 384khz: same at present with Dietpi..
DoP seems possible; and so we come to the next article->DSD-LED (+Volume and FIR-Buttons) on these ES9028Q2M->http://essabre-90xx-rpi.sfb2.com/2017/11/dsd-led-volume-and-fir-buttons-on-these-es9028q2m-boards-diy/

New ES9038Q2M´s out (Part II.) + first reviews..

okay,
here are first reviews on the ES9038Q2M-chinese-Boards:->http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/digital-line-level/297351-chinese-es9018k2m-i2s-dac-post5240556.html (many thanks to “Drone7” there.. 😉 )

->”First impressions… I am quite surprised… My Diyinhk 9018k2m with 3x custom power supplies is bested by this 9038q2m using a single 15+-0-15- supply. (plenty of opportunity here for upgrading )
It does not have the ‘clinical’ presentation I associate with ESS chips… and seems warmer and fuller yet without sacrificing detail.
Resolution and soundstage is noticeably better than the 9018k2m .
I have wired a 50k audio taper pot and can adjust volume. Not a big range but enough to use as a ‘digital controller’ direct to a power amp.
Using a rotary switch to change inputs. No switching noises ! Very smooth operation.
Will try switching filters next but can’t see the need really. Who changes filter on a track by track basis? .
I would rather listen to one for a week then try another and eventually settle on a preferred filter then leave it jumpered.
Inputs tested …Usb to i2s, optical, and coax all work.
Downsides ?
… so far no direct i2s driver to be found..:-(
I am using a usb to i2s (raspberry pi player) interface and this works ok mostly… lock not achieved unless the dac is switched on while the Pi boots. If it is on first the Pi does not recognise it.
If anyone finds a dtoverlay for this I would be most interested…”
Maybe on the drivers AUDIOPHONICS I-Sabre DAC ES9028Q2M Raspberry Pi ?
Tried that . Does not work..
I recall reading that the 9038Q2m is equivalent to two 9018k2m so drivers may be very different..
you are not getting noise or glitches between tracks or on changing sample rate tracks – even on high res?
Nope, no noises,clicks,pops or otherwise. Plays smoothly when moving from 24/96 to DSD to 16/44..
Using usb to i2s.(XMOS USB U8->https://www.ebay.com/itm/XMOS-U8-USB-384K-32B-module-I2S-SPDIF-output-support-DSD-for-es9018-DAC-hifi-amp/282706307492?hash=item41d29be9a4:g:bgsAAOSwoVNZ7xy~


3pole 4position switch.
Position 1 connects as if jumper J2=optical spdif in,
position 2 as if jumper J3=coax spdif in,
position 3 as if jumpered both J2 & J3=i2s in,
position4 no connection so acts as mute.

It matters not which pin the black wire connects to on that side on the board header as they are all shorted to each other.

New Board:


(Board power supply: AC 15-18VX2 (3 lines) + AC 7-12V (2 lines))
->https://www.ebay.com/itm/HiFi-ES9038Q2M-The-ES9038-I2S-Input-Decoder-DAC-supports-DSD/272922072899?hash=item3f8b6c5743:g:cbAAAOSwPpZaBDG7

Audio-Distros: DietPi + MoodeV4Beta9 (automated install-script)

so,
Fourdee over at Dietpi->https://github.com/Fourdee/DietPi made a script for an automated DietPi + MoodeAudioV4B9 install..
works here (RPI3B + I2S-ES9028Q2M) fabulous and with absolut no issues (install/compile about 35-45min)..
“Skript”/infos are here->https://github.com/Fourdee/DietPi/issues/1223

“Currently in testing, under RPi Stretch.
Steps to test the DietPi + moOde installation:

Download the DietPi Stretch image and write to SD card: http://dietpi.com/downloads/testing/DietPi_RPi-armv6-(Stretch).7z
Download the following automated installation file http://dietpi.com/downloads/conf/moode/dietpi.txt and save it to the SD card /boot/dietpi.txt. This will automatically install moOde on 1st run.
Connect Ethernet.
Connect HDMI if you want to see the installation process.
Eject SD card, pop into RPi and power on”

(PS.: its then “dietpi/” in the browser-line and not “moode/” and the ssh-login data is: user=root and pass= dietpi)

DIY: STM32F103C8T6 (“Blue Pill”) + Oled (TFT-) Display..

okay,
bought some STM32F103C8T6 (“Blue Pill”) of about 1,55€ (1,72$) !! at Aliexpress->Link
thought i could use it for my planned own DIY-DAC to display input-source, samplerate, filter-settings, volume etc..

also a 2.6 ” TFT (240X320)->Link (Youtube-Vid is with an 0.96 OLED)

 

 

 

you can program/flash it with a Raspberry Pi->Link, no need for a usb-ttl adapter or ST-Link or something..

so, and with this Arduino IDE u can write some little programms/”sketches” and write/upload them directly to the chip..
now i must a find a way to read out some information (from maybe a XMOS-USB-Bridge) about the samplerate for example, or maybe which input (USB (I2S), opt, coax) and write it out on a display..
but super no clue at present !! 😉 , i´ll inform you here about some progress..

UPDATE: MoodeAudio V4 Beta9 + ES9028Q2M (chinese-board) (DoP)

okay,
got here after a few updates Beta9 to work..
tried a lot, but with at present only “Generic 2 I2S-hifiberry-dac” settings available and without the advanced or realtime-kernel i got only max 192khz over the bus..(with this ES9028Q2M)
so i fiddled a lit bit around with the DSD-settings, and it was only “DoP”-possible (see pictures) (not native DSD !! afaik – but have no problem with that here) with this board + actual settings but u have to set “Sox resampling=enabled” and “DoP=yes”..curiously with sox resampling disabled-> no DoP !! (just for info)
DoP -> “yes”:

(DoP “no”->then no native DSD also->only PCM):

(rem.: it displays “DSD” anyway->its related to the file (extension)) 

(Update: Moode V4 Beta9 as 2.6GB compressed to 920MB image here->Link (Google-Drive))

New ES9038Q2M Chinese-Board – pictures..

here are btw. some new ES9038Q2M-chinese-board pictures..
the board-layout seems to be changed to 1.04 and you can see how you can apply a input-selector switch to this..
(connected to JP2 and JP3; as described earlier and again on picture 3)
(basically you can do this too with another selektor on the other pins, so that u can change the different digital filter settings..(FIRs))


(Beware: according to some sources 0=Connection , X=Disjoin !!!)
(ES9038Pro+TFT Console->Audiodesignguide->Link)

OP-AMPS CHANGE (PART 2)->NE5532 to Muses8920->different, more musicality, very soft..

okay,
this time i changed the onboard NE5532 from the ES9018K2M to Muses8920 and the result is:
Different 😉

first, absolut no comparison to the OPA2604 (in any case to those i had here)->they were really bad..
These Muses8920 have a great musicality, and a very fine resolution but at present it lacks of something (in comparison to the NE5532)..
(so, here i have stop for a moment, because i have to re-check them in a few days..)
more to come…

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