Kategorie: 384khz

Update: ES9028Q2M 384khz (MPD) in newer Dietpi (6.4 and up) I-Sabre-K2M-driver..

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so, 😉
after “Kennyliveforever” made a great post about porting/including the I-Sabre-K2M-driver in Volumio->http://essabre-90xx-rpi.sfb2.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=64, i´ve re-checked this driver-option in Dietpi (v6.6) again..
a few months ago i tried everything to get this driver in Dietpi (earlier versions) to work and there was/i heard absolutely nothing..
Now with the new DietPi (v6.4 and up) there was/must be a change in installing the driver..after you change the soundcard in rpi-config to “i-sabre-k2m” there “comes” a rpi-update and after that it loads some software from codeload.github.com, install some compiler-binaries and after that it compiles a complete new .dtbo (overlay) and includes it automatically afterwards..
some month ago, as said, these steps were absolutely not proceeded..

and now we have our lovely “384khz” back !!!

(i really don´t know why this is not clearly communicated via “fourdee” at dietpi..)
anyway, i started this whole blog/site by/of this problematic and alone for this, this blog has been paid off !! 😉 
okay, i had only a few minutes to test it, but i think with this ess-driver which uses (i hope) and demands the special capabilities of the ES9028Q2M i have a here a really better sound (about 10-20% min., i “surmise”); it comes now really up to my best combo at present->ES9038Q2M with Muses8920+Skysong-USB-bridge !!
but, and this is very important too: i strongly recommend to upgrade your ES9028Q2M to “Muses8920” too !!
(they cost only about 3,50$ from this seller by example (and they are not “fakes”, guess so 😉 )->https://www.ebay.de/itm/362255966842?ViewItem=&item=362255966842)
(i will test if this i-sabre-k2m driver also works with the ES9038Q2M..)

ES9038Q2M/ES9018K2M: DSD (+PERFECT BITSTREAMING) WIN8.1-FOOBAR2000 (PART 3)-> DoP (352k) works !!

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so, 😉
because “Krunoslav” (again 😉 ) send us a link “Foobar 2000 for Dummies (Part 2) – Playing DSD – New SACD plugin”->https://diyaudioheaven.wordpress.com/digital/pc-software/foobar-2000-for-dummies-part-3-new-experimental-sacd-plugin-v-0-9-x/
i updated my Foobar2000 to the latest SACD-Plugin+DSD Soundprocessor (V1.10->https://sourceforge.net/projects/sacddecoder/files/foo_input_sacd/) and followed some steps to set it up..
so, first: got it to work !! but only at present here via DoP (352k) with the Skysong(Singxer)-USB-bridge+ES9038Q2M (via I2S)..(it doesnt matter for me that it isnt DSD-nativ right now):

second, first musical impressions: relatively “dry”, very low latencies i guess..have to hear here more..(but it could be more in another “league” (DSD vs PCM))..
so, third, i fiddled a little bit around and here are now the settings which worked for me: (there could be other possibilities/ways as said)

first under “preferences”->”output” i choose “ASIO:DSD Transcoder (DoP/Native)->

then under “output”->”ASIO”->”ASIO Drivers”->”DSD Transcoder (DoP/Native)”, double click on it and then (which is strange, because normally this Singxer-ASIO component didnt work at all until now)->”Singxer USB-Audio Device” (no other ASIO-device works btw.)


fourth, also strange, under “preferences->tools->SACD”->”DSD+PCM” + “352800 (PCM)” but with “DSD Processor: None !!..”


as said, there could be other possibilities too but for me its enough for now and, as said, 2 strange things: The ASIO-Singxer-USB-Audio component works and DSD-Soundprocessor on “off” too..(but the latter could be a little bug)..
so, and now it works here really great 😉 ..this DoP/DSD-nativ-thing is sometimes really in a different league (but that really depends on your DSD-material too)

“Skysong” XMOS-USB XU208->first impressions+experiences (Win10)

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so, 😉
first, i must say: “Unbelievable” 😉
(first impressions after arrival:“looks very neat and very well manufactured !!”)

hadnt expected so much; just wanted to uprade my PC-soundcard a little bit (Asus Xonar DX) and get rid of those horrible clicks/pops on the raspberry pi..
use now my “ES9018K2M” cause i dont wanted to f*** up my raspberry-setting with the ES9028Q2M..
and now i know what i already knew 😉 , that the ES9018K2M were already “High-End” in the right circumstances/surroundings..(and they were implemented on these/our “cheap” chinese-boards with low-quality components !!)


i also read somewhere that our lovely chinese-boards were specially designed for XMOS-USB devices; don´t know if its true but i can confirm that it is almost unbelievable what i now hear here ;-)..
so “dry”, such a lot of details, spaciousness, so less latency..
(it really upgraded my hifi-gear by 10-15%, and i have here a Cambridge Audio-Amp and Mission Cyrus Speaker)

okay, use now the standard-Win10-driver; had problems with Win8..
“Krunoslav Kovacic” send us fortunately the driver for the Skysong/Singxer for DSD on Win10 (hadnt test it yet by myself) and moved it also to the forum..(and some “standard”-driver)..->http://essabre-90xx-rpi.sfb2.com/forum
it says “XMOS USB Device” and “Skysong DFU” in the device-manager..absolut no hassle or problems while installing..
u can select up to “24bit/384khz” in the audio-properties->(see picture)

VLC-player plays 192khz but no more; Windows Test works with 384khz..
use now here JRiver (“XMOS USB Audio-WASAPI”) will test then foobar, ASIO etc..
(and this is all on a PC; hadnt started the whole Raspberry/Dietpi/Moode-thing right now 😉 ..)
Conclusion (for the moment): absolutely super to recommend !!->47$/39€ inkl. shipping (23 !! days to deliver from this seller)
https://www.ebay.de/itm/XMOS-XU208-Asynchronous-USB-coaxial-fiber-output-IIS-DSD256-spdif-dop64/122848729137?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649

Audio-Distros: Dietpi decided to revert to RPI-stock kernel..(very sad)

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so, 😉
its very,very sad, but “Fourdee” over at DietPi decided to go back to RPI-stock-kernel means no more enhancements/improvements in 384khz-playback in Linux/RPI-kernels (for our lovely chinese ES90xx-Boards via I2S) ;-(
thats really,really sad because in the earlier Versions of Dietpi (i guess till V1.54) it was the only RPI-audio-distro which sounds really good (Best !!) with at that time the ES9023 (dtoverlay=hifiberry-dac)+ES9018K2M at 384khz with no prob played via MPD..
u could change the sample-frequency via their wonderful “Dietpi-Boom”-Gui..;-(

Text on the Github-Page->Link:
“I’ve taken the decision to revert our DietPi RPi kernel to stock RPi kernel.
Currently the only difference in our kernel was:
DSD pop prevention on initial playback.
We simply do not have the man power and available time, to ensure this is updated regularly with requested patches. Time we can use to focus on supporting bug fixes and improvements for DietPi.
In future, all RPi kernel patch requests should be made directly to the RPi foundation, who have paid employees dedicated to that specific task:
https://github.com/raspberrypi/linux
This will ensure all RPi users will benefit from the requested fix, if accepted by the kernel maintainers.
I apologise if this effects audiophile users, however, I hope we have your understanding for this change.”

so, we have to look now for alternatives, cause as said DietPi has for me the best “sound” of all (audio-)-distros for the RPI (guess it was because of the lightweight-design (less processes,less distortion))

1. Moode ->Link… now at V4.0Beta12..has also canceled their RT-/advanced-kernel thingy..(all concerning the support of our lovely chinese ES9023,ES9018K2M,ES9028Q2M and ES9038Q2M-boards via I2S)->hope they will invent it again..
2. Volumio ->Link (now at V2.348)… found it really horrible at the beginning but meanwhile its much better..absolute easy to use; almost no pops,clicks, and a very relaxed/easy use (try it again 😉 ) but now also not with full 384khz support for our boards via I2S..
3. Picoreplayer ->Link.. now at pCP3.22 (27.Sep.2017)->absolute 384khz-capable (look at the other posts), but not so comfortable..

these 3 were my choice after i tested a lot of other audio-distros for the RPI at the beginnung with our ES-Sabre-Boards(there were a lot more, Daphne, Rasp-something, Runeaudio etc..but the above were the best/most comfortable imo)

if u mean u know another good audio-distro (comfortable, easy to use, 384khz) please leave a comment here !! (and we can move it maybe to the forum->http://essabre-90xx-rpi.sfb2.com/forum/)

„SKYSONG“–XMOS-XU208-USB Part II.: Sample-frequency+PCM/DSD Leds

26 Kommentare

so,
again some pictures from the above mentioned Skysong-XMOS-XU208 in “action”: 😉

(this (above) should be (explanation at the bottom) “PCM“/”384khz“)

Taobao->22,81€ (incl.shipping)->https://item.taobao.com/item.htm?spm=a211ha.10565794.0.0.e1360b5U0Xo17&id=560049846644&toSite=main

according to the primary post->http://essabre-90xx-rpi.sfb2.com/2017/11/skysong-xmos-usb-xu208/ and this “Singxer Q1-Diagramm” theres the fourth Led in the upper right a “PCM/DSD” indicator (and not what i´ve written “Power”-indicator->u have to zoom in the picture)


(more information in the original post->http://essabre-90xx-rpi.sfb2.com/2017/11/skysong-xmos-usb-xu208/ )

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

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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/

ES 9028Q2M->dtoverlay Raspberry Pi->config.txt

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okay,
for this ES9028Q2M:

the working dtoverlay in config.txt is fortunately again (Raspberry Pi+DietPi+other):
hifiberry-dac -> (in config.txt): dtoverlay=hifiberry-dac
up to 384khz with no problem..
(rpi-dac works too, but as said limited to 192khz)

Hint for squeezelite-command-line options (also in picoreplayer->squeezelite-settings): try to use 24 (bit) and mmap on (1)..
(on this board 16 (Bit) causes only a heavy distorted noise/very often/almost in every case, beware !!))
PiCorePlayer->“in Picoreplayer you have to change from “simple/generic es9023” (es9018k2m) to “ES9023” (without anything)->up to 384khz;
(also had problems playing in 16bit->distorted noise; so try to use 24 oder 32 bit in “ALSA-Params”)
RPI-Dac was also possible in picoreplayer (but only up to 192khz)”

link+further description here:
http://dietpi.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=1891&p=7243&hilit=es9023#p7243

ES 9018K2M->dtoverlay Raspberry Pi->config.txt

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okay,
for this ES9018K2M:

the only working dtoverlay in config.txt (Raspberry Pi+DietPi+other) is:
rpi-dac -> (in config.txt): dtoverlay=rpi-dac
and though, its unfortunately limited to 192khz !!
there is no other dtoverlay that works without distortion for this board..(searched and demanded it for weeks, no success)

But after a lot of research its possible to get 384khz on this board to work with->PiCorePlayer !!
Description->“try picoreplayer->audio-options->use “Generic/simple es9023″->advanced->”Audio Card Control”->check “dt-overlay parameters 384k”..
let “onboard soundcard” enabled (had problems with it changing, but try your luck”)->check the output with->sudo cat /proc/asound/card1/pcm0p/sub0/hw_params (or ../card0/.. if u unchecked onboard sound device)..
additionally change upsample setting to “X” (upsample to max device capacity) and set alsa settings->sample format to 24 (had problems with 32)
so you´re done !!!”

link+further description here:
http://dietpi.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=1891&p=7243&hilit=es9023#p7243

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