jolon

I recently compared the USB output of a LattePanda Delta with a NUC 8i3BEH and the NUC was noticeably worse (both in fanless cases but not linear power supplies). I know you've got a lot clocking and cleaning on the USB line, but the NUC does seem to be particularly poor in that area. Interestingly I also find the stock audio out on the LattePanda to be cleaner than the audio out on the NUC, so I wonder if it is just a poorer overall motherboard design.

I thought I'd share some experiences with the LattePanda Delta. I bought it a few months ago for a different purpose, but thought I'd try it out as a music server the last few days. I don't have any audiophile USB music servers to compare it to, only other computers, but to me it sounds considerably better than the other sources which I've compared it to which includes a RPI3B+ based RaspTouch, 2009 and 2015 Mac Minis, 2015 MacBook, and an Intel 8th Gen Nuc with fanless case. I haven't done much in the way of tweaks. I'm using the fanless heat shield, but am using the stock power supply. I'm running Ubuntu Desktop with a minimal install and Logitech Server and Squeezelite. I don't have much in the way of USB Dacs, I've only tested it with the Chord Mojo and a Resonessence Herus. The Mojo is much clearer, rhythmic, and more dynamic on the LattePanda. The Herus also sounds better than on the other sources (but the Mojo sounds better than the Herus - the Herus is USB powered). I find there is a threshold where a CD player is more enjoyable than a computer source, and the LattePanda Delta seems to just cross that threshold. The only class of computers I haven't tested is larger PCs. I'm not sure how common the LattePanda's USB quality is amongst PCs.

Watts at the speaker depends on volume. Not sure how you got that value. I was measuring the RCA outputs. Input impedance of scope would be quite high, I would have to check.

Let's say it is 1 thousandth of the maximum output. You can represent that resolution with 10 bits. Are you happy with 10 bit audio? (2^10 = 1024)

I did the test mid-2015. The Sneaky I had (now sold) was purchased in 2014, however I don't believe the Sneaky internal components changed much since its introduction (~2008).

Yes

It's worth pointing out that I don't believe the Sneaky has magnetics on the Ethernet connector, and neither does my Yamaha R-N602. The Acoustic Revive is basically magnetics in a connector, so by simply having magnetics reduces a lot of the noise. The Sneaky was originally released in 2008 and the architecture hasn't changed since then. So it is one of the earliest network streamers and I'm sure a lot has been learned since then (including myself!) I've largely switched to fiber now with a media converter before the network streamer and it sounds the best I've heard it so far. It's made me think it would be nice if manufacturers used an SFP connector. By default it could be an Ethernet SFP, but we could have the option of using fiber without requiring an external box and power supply.

Are you referring to the dBfs comment above? You can see the peak-to-peak measurement in the screenshots. It's the RCA output of the Linn Sneaky MDS so I presume it is probably max ~2V.

If you are "very aware" of the bits are bits debate, can you explain to me the other side of the debate?

You may not be aware but there has been an ongoing "bits are bits" debate in the audiophile community for a number of years. The key point is the sound can change even if the bits don't. Audio systems are ultimately analogue. And digital is a concept we have invented but in reality it can be a very noisy system. You can read more about it elsewhere.

I did a comparison using an oscilloscope two years ago on the output of a Linn Sneaky DS network streamer (their bottom of the range). The noise on the RCA outputs appeared to be different depending on the ethernet cable feeding the Sneaky (pictures attached). However at the time I wasn't as aware of the benefits of switches, cable layout, power supplies, etc. I'm not sure what interference would've been around the equipment. I may have had a plasma TV in stand by directly above the streamer. Something that is worth considering is that upstream upgrades may benefit poorer quality streamers. My two streamers are basically the bottom of the range. A Yamaha R-N602 and Linn Sneaky DS. The Yamaha seems to benefit quite a bit from upstream changes. For example, feeding the Yamaha with a 5 metre shielded Cat6a cable into a Netgear switch and then 1.5m AudioQuest Pearl into ethernet to USB adaptor, USB to USB-C adaptor, into 12" MacBook sitting on a glass table, I can hear the difference if I put a mouse pad under the laptop, or if I put the laptop on the floor. A more expensive network streamer will hopefully be less sensitive to network noise. I also question whether a microwave is the best noise test. Microwave radiation is relatively easy to block. A thin foil will block it. But frequencies in the audible range (below 20kHz) are much more difficult to block. Some food for thought.

The 35min mark on the WWDC "Introducing AirPlay 2" session has a slide which says "e.g. 44.1kHz or 48kHz": https://developer.apple.com/videos/play/wwdc2017/509/ However it does also say "All platform-supported audio formats", so hard to say.

It only has one port. I've got the USB drive (or SD card reader) plugged into the JitterBug which then plugs into the receiver. Yes it would be filtering the power lines as well as the data lines.

I was interested to know whether it was the SanDisk SD card specifically that had the "sound" that it had. I haven't used SD cards for years but found an old Class 6 Transcend 8GB SD card that I purchased in 2008. It was full of photos which I deleted and BlackMagic indicated it had just over 10MB/s write speed and 20MB/s read speed. Plugged into the Lexar SR2 reader it sounded very similar to the SanDisk Extreme Pro SD card but didn't have that slight dullness in the upper midrange. I A/B-ed them a few times and confirmed what I was hearing. The SanDisk could be slightly quieter. But both very similar, the Transcend was more enjoyable. I'm wondering whether this may be down to the extra onboard logic in the controller to handle errors during fast write speeds. The Extreme Pro is rated at 90MB/s write. I'm interested in trying one of the High Endurance cards from Transcend or SanDisk which are designed for DashCams and have a read/write speed of only 20MB/s. One more combo, I'm using the very compact SanDisk Ultra Fit USB drive in the car, and I decided to combine it with the JitterBug. Without the Jitterbug it has a very pleasant warm/rich sound but lacks detail, the JitterBug helps add some things that are missing. It's a nice combo. This reminds me of swapping tubes. Each card/combo has its own flavour.

I should clarify that I'm plugging directly into the network receiver, there's no computer or network in the chain.