admin – ES Sabre-90xx-Rpi

Raspbi HAT ES9038Q2M / Ustars R38

Juli 29, 2021 admin Kommentar hinterlassen

so, 😉

found by chance this ES9038Q2M-HAT (38€, Aliexpress->LINK)..

interesting is that they use an „OPA1612“ (i´ve just ordered one too, because i´ve often seen ES9038Q2M with this op-amp and will test them against the other op-amps i have here (Burson V5i-D, AD797, OPA627AU , Muses8920 etc,etc..))

by that they say in the description:“..Professional IIS verarbeitung chip realisiert PCM/DSD ausgang. 2. unterstützung 32BIT/44,1-384KHZ DSD64-DSD128 ausgang“, means they found apparently another way („..professional I2S processing..“ to output DSD over I2S (which i, we hadn´t got solved here (we used then a usb-bridge (or „new“ now via HDMI))

u can also use an oled-display (+10$) directly connected (see pictures)..

else nothing new from here, greets for now !! 😉

Raspberry Pi 4 ->DSD(.dsf/.dff)-files over HDMI / HDMI to I2S-extractor arrived..

Juli 22, 2021 admin Kommentar hinterlassen

so folks 😉 ,

hooray, today the hdmi to i2s extractor (from audiophonics) arrived ! 😉 (more later)..

but first, these „Raspberry Pi 4 DSD over HDMI“-thing:

i´ve read the days that openelec, Volumio, Moode + picoreplayer are also capable to sent dsf/dff(DSD)-files via hdmi-out on the Pi-4..

thats also a very nice „alternative“ because u didnt have to use an usb-bridge (which is absolutely + in every way necessary) to play DSD-files from a Pi-(X) to an „chinese“ ES90XX-board..(we didnt get it to work only over I2S)..

the Pi-4 should now be capable of streaming (also multichannel-DSD) via HDMI (was not (or less) possible with the Pi´s before)..

i´m reading just now a lot of it and will post then more about it..

so, and yet to the (long awaited) „HDMI-I2S-extractor“ 😉 ..

„rock-solid“ (not soo heavy as the before mentioned Burr-Brown-implementation in the Philips Fidelio BDP9700), but very „steady“..

in first using and setting it up, it has 2 red LEDs flashing/blinking) and no picture/sound and i´ve read elsewhere before that u have to use a 5V external power-source (although its not necessary as per „description“)..

okay, feeded it with 5V,2A and had problems (again) with the I2S-line from the extractor to the „green“ (SMPCB) ES9038Q2M, not soo with the JY „Blue“ ES9038Q2M..

ended it up now with a coax-line from the extractor directly to the coax on the ES9038Q2M..(but only for now, for DSD(native) u need the I2S-line)

and got finally my lovely 192/24 😉

as said, very „solid“-sounding, almost like the Burr-Brown-Gear in the BDP-9700; very exact, another step in the „hi-fi“-direction..

so, the problem is now that my Sony BDP-S7200 should play .dsf/.dff-files (SACD in anyway) via usb/network, but don´t do 😉

got/always say „file is corrupt or wrong media-format“, + i havent got a single !! SACD here, so i couldnt test the DSD-functionality (and that is/was originally the reason for all these devices lately !!) right now..(but i´m on it !!)..

and so, these Raspberry Pi-4 playing DSD-files via hdmi came to my mind..

(i do play here with volumio->usb-bridge->es9038q2m .dsf/.dff-files „in native“ but for test here the hdmi-i2s-extractor)..

(will post a lot more about it)..

so, many greets for now, hope u enjoy the pictures, much more to come

and stay tuned !! 😉

Little update: ordered the hdmi to i2s extractor from Audiophonics..

Juli 14, 2021 admin Kommentar hinterlassen

so folks 😉 ,

a little update concerning the hdmi to i2s extractor->

bought/ordered it right now from audiophonics->https://www.audiophonics.fr/en/diy-interfaces/digital-interface-board-hdmi-mhl-to-i2s-coaxial-optical-p-15388.html

->we´ll have to see how it works out here..

but according to another user @aliexpress (he bought it with a black plastic case) it seems to work (toi,toi,toi (german phrase) 😉 ) also with a sony blurayplayer (guess he played a SACD)->

(don´t know the excact Topping-model/series he had there)

so, much more to come, many greets from here !! 😉

HDMI to I2S

Got today the AK4113 digital receiver to I2S-output/ still at 96khz/24bit..

Juni 27, 2021 admin Kommentar hinterlassen

so, 😉

got today this little „gem“, the mentioned AK4113 Digital Receiver Board + LCD1602 Screen SPDIF Optical/Coaxial/I2S To I2S Converter“(LINK)

thought first i have to solder the pinheader for the LCD1602 by myself; but it was already soldered->

„powered“ it by a simple usb to 5V „converter“ but all i got at the end was 96khz/24bit via the hdmi-audio-extractor and also via the coax/toslink-output of the Sony BDP-S7200 and the Philips BDP9700/12->

tried all different settings in the system-menus from the both player (auto,bitstream,pcm etc.,etc.)->no success..also via the hdmi-extractor the max was 96/24..

but don´t know if the AK4113 detects (and displays) it accordingly; but the 3 manual settings on the extractor were „pass“,“2ch stereo“ and „5.1“..with the „pass“ and „2ch stereo“ i got only 48/24 max..has to „evaluate“ it more..

UPDATE 1: seems like these special 4k-hdmi-switch/audio-extractor only supports audio up to 96/24..so, be careful in choosing the right one !!

another thing was that i wanted originally connect the AK4113 via I2S (to bypass the spdif-conversion) to an ES9038Q2M, but absolutely no „lock“-light..thought about it a lot and i guess (at the moment) the I2S-line (-cables) are too long (ca.30cm)..(read it sometimes ago->“the i2s-line(-cables) has to be short as possible (5-10cm)..“

UPDATE 2: curiously, i´ve got the „lock“-light (and its playing) with the „blue“ ES9038Q2M; so, again, there is often a compability-problem with different devices..

greets for now + much more to come.. 😉

„Shame on me“->very nice „Burr Brown“ (uargh) implementation on a Philips BDP9700..

Juni 22, 2021 admin Kommentar hinterlassen

so, 😉

„shame on me“ 😉 , but got today by chance a „Philips Fidelio“ (uargh, hell 😉 ) Blurayplayer BDP9700 „in“ and as u know, i HATE this „Burr Brown“-sound, for me its the sound u have to avoid by any chance, its exactly the opposite of this „airy“/“open-sounding“ of the later ES-Sabre-chips, i must say its the finest implementation of any Burr Brown-„gear“ i´ve ever had (okay, this thing/player costs originally above 500€ !!)..

but so „honor where honor is due„->very nice „craftsmanship“ (and thats the point by the later „Burr Brown“-implementations)..

the „sound“ is absolutely superb (FLACs till 24/192 over „internal“ stage/chinch), best BB i´ve ever had (as said), rock-solid, but misses these unbelievable ES-Sabre-advanced-bitstream-thing (the fabulous/enormous „soundstage“/“positioning“/“airy attitude“)..

but as u see (they used for example 2 toroidal transformer (one just for audio)) its absolutely made on a highest level of „craftsmanship“ and so u got a result which has also to be achieved..

picture-wise these player is worser than the other Sony BDP-S7200 which i also have here; by that the firmware is too old + buggy->the Sony (and the newer Sony UBP 4K-Player) are absolutely better IMO..

(these have btw. and as u surely know 2 x HDMI-out (1x for audio only) (absolutely „common usage“ nowadays)..(these Philips has also 2 x HDMI but u cant get DSD (via DLNA) over HDMI out)..

so, clear and rock-solid BB-sound here now (but not for long !!), in this sense, greets for now, more to come (especially about this HDMI->I2S-thing) !! 😉

SFB2

(eventually) „Lock“-problems (coaxial/optical)-line on ES9038Q2M-boards..

Juni 13, 2021 admin Kommentar hinterlassen

so folks 😉 ,

as slighty feared, i´ve got a new hdmi-switch with an audio-extractor-function (also for DSD) (19€/Aliexpress)->

but got „massive“ lock-problems, means its „stuttering“ over the coaxial and optical line on our ES9038Q2M-boards (the „lock“-LED is constantly „working/blinking“); no constantly bitstream..(had it also often, when the soldering on pi-boards/es9038q2m i2s-line was not so optimal)..

checked the coax-cable, used toslink too: same problem..

thought first the switch couldnt deliver a constantly bitstream but connected it then to our mini-dac (Ünnlink 192Khz Digital to Analog Audio Converter (http://essabre-90xx-rpi.sfb2.com/?p=2384)) and voilá, no stuttering/problems anymore..

okay, but i had not such lock-problems with my Sony CD-changer, nor Blurayplayer, nor Telekom-Mediareceiver over coax/toslink..

so it seems its only on some audio-devices (spdif transmitter/receiver-chips problems/incompatible) and as we had it here in discussion a thousand times (->“.. and as we know „our“ early chinese ES9038Q2M-boards had not such a good „coax/toslink/spdif-line“ (the first onboard spdif-receiver-chips were not soo good (hashtag #SRC4192/AK4113/4118) ->http://essabre-90xx-rpi.sfb2.com/?p=2211 ->“..First, on the new, blue SMPCB they use some „DS9281“ for „better coaxial conversion, less jitter, less „lock“-„problems, „better coaxial line..“),

i/we have to make/find a workaround and for this i´ve found this little nice gem->

„AK4113 Digital Receiver Board + LCD1602 Screen SPDIF Optical/Coaxial/I2S To I2S„, 25$ Ebay/->LINK

has a lot of other advantages too !! first, we got finally our „digital format/sampling frequency/digits“-display !! got besides the 2 spdif-lines also an I2S-in (will be passed through) to whom we can connect for example another hdmi-extractor (link/description at the bottom) and can easily switch between the input-channels via some simple button switch and have in any case some beautiful digital-format/sample-rate display !!

by that it uses the AK4113 which should result in less jitter etc. too..

so, great (i´m waiting for it now) and yet to the last point today, these „Digital Interface Board HDMI / MHL to I2S / Coaxial / Optical“-device;->

had it mentioned in some articles before and because its above the 26€ duty-edge, i thought to buy it from https://audiophonics.fr/en -> https://www.audiophonics.fr/en/diy-interfaces/digital-interface-board-hdmi-mhl-to-i2s-coaxial-optical-p-15388.html ;

it cost „double the price“ (same device) 50€, but its in the EU; faster shipping times + no duty problems..(and there a lot (all) other nice things u need to have (i2s-cable,XH 2.54mm Male Socket 5 Channels connector, toroidal-transformer, cases, all u wish)

greets for now + more to come !! 😉

HDMI to I2S Part II.-> experiences, links, pics, wiring dsd->i2s

Mai 29, 2021 admin Kommentar hinterlassen

„It Works ! – Sony UBP-X1000ES HDMI “Audio” output to Chinese I2S Adapter Board to DS Sr. I2S Input“

->https://forum.psaudio.com/t/it-works-sony-ubp-x1000es-hdmi-audio-output-to-chinese-i2s-adapter-board-to-ds-sr-i2s-input/15630

2. „SACD playing to an external DAC (DSD via i2s hdmi input)

https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/sacd-playing-to-an-external-dac-dsd-via-i2s-hdmi-input.20115/

->“..And that works!
I’m really satisfied with the results indeed, superior to anything I’ve got till now.
In addition I have some SACDs that cannot be played by my Yamaha cds-s2000 anymore. I can play them again with a blu ray player with even better results.
During all my tests I’ve found the result with the i2s hdmi always better than any other input (also for red book CDs)“

3. DSD->I2S wiring..

(backside of the earlier posted „HDMI/MHL zu IIS I2S HDMI IIS I2S Separaten Extrakt Audio I2S/DSD/Optische/Koaxial“(and used in the 2 above mentioned articles/builds)->http://essabre-90xx-rpi.sfb2.com/?p=2531)

very much to come + many greets !! 😉

HDMI (4K)-audio-extractor / HDMI to I2S

Mai 29, 2021 admin Kommentar hinterlassen

so, 😉

as i yesterday connected my (Sony) blurayplayer via coax to the Sanskrit i saw only „44 or 48“ at the display, means the player downsample all content to this rate (to coax/spdif) because of copyright issues/or technical limits in other cases.. (uargh..) ; you get only 192/176khz or 96/88khz via HDMI..

(btw. nice description of this „case“ is here->“The extractor overcomes the restriction the visual media puts on its audio – namely restricting it to HDMI – by liberating it from its HDMI cell and forwarding it in a freed state…“->https://community.naimaudio.com/t/hi-res-audio-from-visual-media-sources/10673)

okay, and so we need a „HDMI (4K)-audio-extractor“ (see other post before->http://essabre-90xx-rpi.sfb2.com/?p=2477) (i originally wanted this extractor for the „I2S-line“, see at the bottom)

there are a ot of them around, beginning at 20$ (up to 60$ or more)(this for example)->https://www.lindy.de/HDMI-4K-Audio-Extractor.htm?websale8=ld0101&pi=38167

very important seems also the „ARC“-function + EDID-support/settings (will post maybe then more about it)..

obviously its better to buy directly a HDMI-extractor with I2S output to „bypass“ the spdif-conversion (and as we know „our“ early chinese ES9038Q2M-boards had not such a good „coax/toslink/spdif-line“ (the first onboard spdif-receiver-chips were not soo good (hashtag #SRC4192/AK4113/4118) ->http://essabre-90xx-rpi.sfb2.com/?p=2211 ->“..First, on the new, blue SMPCB they use some „DS9281“ for „better coaxial conversion, less jitter, less „lock“-„problems, „better coaxial line..“)->