Hi everyone,
Today I tested MoOde V3.1 for raspberry pi 2B with advanced kernel selected and am happy to report DSD128 works on there!
And as LMS renderer too (since squeezelite is part of the package)
Now I can compare DSD128 between I2S output and USB output ;o)
Cheers,
Charles
Hi Charles, thank you very much! It works indeed via MoOde 3.1 and as Squeezelite for LMS. Unfortunately not via Roon’s Squeezebox support (DoP/DSD64 yes but DoP/DSD128 is given out as 352 khz PCM there).
Well, comparing DSD128 via USB (Roon -> HQPlayer non-upsampling and without any USB helpers) and I2S (MoOde/Squeezelite/LMS) I don’t know what to favorize. Both sounds great to me. Rather have to sort out if I still need the SOtM sMS-200 at all. And no Singxer SU-1 is needed anymore I guess.
Thanks again and belated congratulation to you and your wife!
Mario
well, testing DSD128 with MoOde I have a lot of stuttering and noise, with default parameters.
I will test with doubling the buffers in squeezelite parameters…
…after doubliing the buffers: stuttering goes away, it plays now fluidly. but background noise is still there (not specific to DSD128 I could hear it on DSD64 as well)
reporting that to the MoOde community.
No stuttering or background noise here. What I2S audio device did you choose?
Hello Charles,
there is a new version of the piCorePlayer or even two. piCorePlayer 3.10
Of course I have downloaded the version 3.10-Audio. This version supports higher sample rates. To make the pi2 run together with the Audio-GD module you must chose ‘HiFiBerry DAC+ Light’ as Audio output or ‘HiFiBerry DAC’. The previous Generic I2S Driver is missing now.
I must confess that I too had slight background noise with MoOde on DSD64 and DSD128. Unfortunately it is about the same with this version 3.10-Audio. Though I didn’t play with the Squeezelite settings.
Well, I remembered my pi3 / HiFiBerry DAC+ Pro package. It seems that such a HAT does the trick. Chosen ‘HiFiBerry DAC+’ for Audio ouput and the background noise on DSD64/DSD128 has gone. At least compared to the pi2 without such a DAC addon. (I can switch between the pi2 and pi3 thanks to the two I2S inputs of the DS DAC.) I wonder why I didn’t install MoOde on the pi3.
Just wanted to mention about it. Of course I will make further listening sessions. Hope not to be euphoric too early again but for now… thumbs up!
Mario
I guess I am talking to myself here. 
Well, just to confirm: there is no background noise on DSD64/128 with the pi3 / HiFiBerry DAC+ Pro / piCorePlayer 3.10-Audio package.
Thanks again to Jesus from Sonore for posting this link: DAC+ Pro - connect external I2S DACs
thanks for the report Mario I’ll test it!
glad the picoreplayer guys could do it and solving this background noise issue!
Charles
Holzor, No there are some people who still continue to follow the discussion 
Do you mean you use a DAC hat on the RPI3 to get benefit of a I2S output with the Audio-GD adaptor?
From my side I’ve tried to contact either by phone and email the Engineered team for the NMR module. Like ti know the price and how these products are distributed. I even know that Audiophonics tried to join them.
No feedback at all… It’s a pity, the product seems interesting. 
Linvincible said thanks for the report Mario I'll test it!glad the picoreplayer guys could do it and solving this background noise issue!
Charles
I didn’t try the “normal” version 3.10 because it doesn’t support higher sample rates.
patrick said Do you mean you use a DAC hat on the RPI3 to get benefit of a I2S output with the Audio-GD adaptor?From my side I’ve tried to contact either by phone and email the Engineered team for the NMR module. Like ti know the price and how these products are distributed. I even know that Audiophonics tried to join them.
No feedback at all… It’s a pity, the product seems interesting.
Oui. I have a pi2 with the Audio-GD module and a pi3 with the Audio-GD module and the HiFiBerry DAC+ Pro in-between. Thanks to the HAT DAC DSD128 is working without background noise.
I have read about this NMR module. Indeed very interesting. Strange that there is no feedback. Hope, Alexandre is ok.
Mario
holzohr Did you tried another soft than PiCorePlayer, like Moode 3.1 for example ?
Is the I2S output on the NAD 50.2 Network Player compatible with the DS DAC? Thank you!
I don’t believe they have an I2S output. Looks more to me like actual HDMI. Though we use an HDMI connector, we do not use the HDMI format.
Paul McGowan said I don't believe they have an I2S output. Looks more to me like actual HDMI. Though we use an HDMI connector, we do not use the HDMI format.Thanks Paul. I originally thought the same thing, but I saw this in the description of the 50.2: "We included HDMI because it is a secure encrypted format that supports multiple channels of 24/192 High Res Audio in PCM’s native I2S format." http://nadelectronics.com/products/masters-series/M50.2-Digital-Music-Player
patrick said holzohr Did you tried another soft than PiCorePlayer, like Moode 3.1 for example ?No. I had Moode 3.1 installed on the pi2 before, without the HiFiBerry and was using its Squeezelite only.
GarageBand saidPaul McGowan said I don't believe they have an I2S output. Looks more to me like actual HDMI. Though we use an HDMI connector, we do not use the HDMI format.Thanks Paul. I originally thought the same thing, but I saw this in the description of the 50.2: “We included HDMI because it is a secure encrypted format that supports multiple channels of 24/192 High Res Audio in PCM’s native I2S format.” http://nadelectronics.com/products/masters-series/M50.2-Digital-Music-Player
I2S data is neither secure nor encrypted.
But I can’t fault them for writing that because the essence of what they are saying is more true than not - it’s just a bit misleading for people trying to figure out what to use or not.
Thanks.
Ah, so there is a new problem in that kernel inducing more jitter! I read about those reclocking cards, hifiberry pro or cali, and although they correct the issues it’s introducing complexity again… I hope jackofall can find and solve the software issue, cleaner solution in my opinion.
or the other card from Alexandre switches seamlessly between PCM and DSD and is more available ;0)
I’ll wait and see!
maybe try a cali reclocker in the meantime ;0)
Charles
Holzohr said
Charles, in my case the HifiBerry DAC+ Pro solved the background noise problem. Without the HiFiBerry between the pi and the Audio-GD module there was this noise with the version piCorePlayer 3.10-Audio. If using a pi2 or pi3 shouldn't make any difference I think.I didn’t try the “normal” version 3.10 because it doesn’t support higher sample rates.
I admire the heroic efforts being taken here to get I2S to the DS.
But are you folks finding it sounds better than USB with all other grounds removed as per Ted’s suggestion (it makes a difference) and a good cable? (The Intona USB isolator took my system up a notch, and does DSD128 and DXD without problem.)
FWIW, Wyred 4 Sound told me that their MS-2 server can now be bought/upgraded to output DSD via I2S HDMI.
linvincible “Ah, so there is a new problem in that kernel inducing more jitter! I read about those reclocking cards, hifiberry pro or cali, and although they correct the issues it’s introducing complexity again… I hope jackofall can find and solve the software issue, cleaner solution in my opinion.”
Seems the clocks on RPI are not quality clocks like the one on Kali boards or HifiBerry DAC Pro+. So, will a software solution for the PI help regarding the Jitter?
@Minimalist Don’t know if you could achieve equal or better results with other solutions. What is driving this quest (on my own) is it seems to bring the shortest path from the CPU to the DAC (USB circuitry is avoided), minimal hardware, minimal cable, etc…
To be right, the other minimal solution and known high in sound quality seems to be the Bridge
