Great unboxing photos.
Interesting to see the ‘new’ improved version of the iFi over the cheaper earlier version.
I found in the other version that the universal barrel connector (that plugs into the USB-C adaptor for the RPi4) was easily unplugged, and so just put some heatshrink tubing over it to effectively keep the adaptor connected.
After seeing the measurements of the ifi on the link I shared, I decided to purchase Vs LPS.
Shipping for the Shanti to Australia was silly money, so it made the decision easier.
I figured the Power X would only be an improvement.
I’m still keen to add the Ian Canada conditioner, just for good measure. 
All opinions are there to be challenged, and it is only by challenging them that we make progress.
I urge everyone to try new things themselves and on their own equipment in their own environment.
I was sceptical myself about the iFi but felt it was worth a try for £49. I’m glad that it has worked for you too.
I’ve rarely found two systems that are identical - especially when they’re increasingly complex.
As well as audiophiles (many of whom are technically competent) the complex system challenge applies equally to studio folks too.
One well known studio wanted to reproduce the sound of their particularly “good” first studio, and in constructing the second, took huge care in selecting exactly the same equipment, building the room the same way with the same materials to the same exact dimensions. It cost a fortune.
I know, because I helped install the matching Neve analogue desk that they took great trouble to find…
The second studio has never sounded as good as the first…
Complex systems are what keeps engineers like me employed!
Just an additional note…
It’s worth mentioning that as well as the force of nature that is Thorsten Loesch (who is behind both AMR and iFi) John Curl joined their team in 2019.
In the world of audio engineering - John is a bit of a legend.
Despite AMR’s (in my view) OTT hype of some of what they do - there is no doubt that there is some great engineering going on - and iFi was the vehicle for them to release some of the ideas and technology that could be spun off, or didn’t quite make it into AMR products. I think the iFi power supplies fit into that category. If you want to understand more - just google the names and you’ll have enough reading material for a year!
I agree. While I do own several of iFi’s DAC/Amp products, their offerings for sorting power and noise are, IMHO, their most interesting. And their prices invite experimentation. 
you pay the brand , not the tech , indeed I’m glad to read this gadget solve and improve your system
Agreed, its overpriced.
The standard version is probably the better buy.
I suspect (unproven) the Power X will have improved measurements/performance.
I’m guessing they would have addressed the standard units improvement areas.
Could be wrong.
I’ve been curious about this as well. It’s difficult to find much information about the differences besides this:
I’m still tempted to pick one up just to see how it compares. Glad to know it’s working well for you.
ASR will eventually measure.
My guess is noise floor will be lower.
There is a thread here:
Loaners are about to be provided.
For me, after many tests with various linear power adapters, the shanti was the best. It was better than batteries when it comes to SQ.
Curiosity note, why has the quote been translated to what looks like Polish?
Interesting 
I use Google Chrome and automatic Polish translation. I marked the quote and added the text in English. The quote was automatically translated into Polish.
Fair enough, was just curious
I do own and use both the Nirvana and iFi SMPS, preferring the Allo. Maybe it’s just because I love their other products, but I think it’s the best value in the RPi world.
On the linear ps side, Shanti for a DigiOne Signature has been my most expensive spurge (and well worth it) followed by ZeroZone, TeraDak, Breeze(?) and Jameco lps for so many other components where I just hope to minimize additional hash on the line by avoiding cheap wallwarts.
I am relatively open-minded on the debates but curious as to the real issue:
I am running a RoPieexl on an RP4 (stock power supply or battery) via USB to Hugo TT2. Tried to cut everything unnecessary in RPi off. Sounds great to me but I do not have a £2k streamer to compare to. There are definitely no interruptions, clicks, hum, etc.
The question I have is that if the signal is damaged to the extent that the incoming Chord processes are unable to fix, how does it specifically conspire to attack audiophile areas of interest (soundstage, etc), and not basic playability? What does noise on the USB do - does it add data which forces the DAC not to process correctly, or does the noise flip some 0s into 1s and vice versa?
This article shows measurements comparing various power supply options with raspberry pi 3b. Also has links to other measured experiments like ethernet, galvanic isolation, minimizing rapi CPU and other settings, etc.
That’s not going to address the subjective opinions but shows that there’s no difference from a measured perspective. When data is corrupt over USB audio the result is that the data is dropped. The audio impact is clicks and pops in the playback. I’ve only had drop outs when playing high sample rate over marginal wifi that caused buffers to not keep up. With a good wifi connection or ethernet for data transport and USB to the dac you are very unlikely to have any data transfer problems.
I can’t hear any audible difference between USB, coax, SPDIF, wifi, ethernet when using PC, Squeezebox Touch, or raspberry pi to feed by dac. Others express different experiences. For me I used to way overthink this area. Thankfully there’s no difference to my ears so I use the setup that is most convenient for me.
Cheers!
My understanding of the argument is that clocks and DAC chips are extremely sensitive to any electric noise that infiltrates the system. The problem is that the noise creates environmental issues within the DAC device rather than a data integrity issue. This noise can come in thru either power or data connections. It is not a matter of bits being lost somehow. And then there are those who say this is all BS.
For me, I have an Allo DigiOne that I think makes my DAC sound better than the USB on either my pi 4, my NUC, or my MacBook Pro. I wouldn’t wager large sums on a blind test but I do think it is better.
Thank you! An awful lot of people with ears and engineering knowledge better than mine do state that they can hear the difference (on their setups). I do not trust my sonic memory - I think the brain plays all sorts of bias games which as you say on a blind test basis may not always come up with the expected answer. I am just not sure what noise does - if it does not distort digital data, does it mess up the analogue conversion process? Why does it conspire to attack very audiophile areas of interest instead of just messing up the sound royally for us all to hear? I suppose the only way is for me to find a shop to borrow an expensive streamer and try some kind of parallel setup with blind testing but the temptation to play around with the RPi4 to push it to the limit is definitely there. I still think most DAC makers focus on the USB input these days to make it bulletproof so I do wonder whether on something new like TT2 the noise issues may have been largely resolved. Or at least resolved for my ears.
That is a good explanation without becoming to technical. In a DAC, I think its 2 of its components or parts that are especially sensitive to electronic noise: the oscillator (clock) and the analog output part.
Note that this does not mean electronic noise causes bit-errors, its still bit perfect data, although inaccuracies in the oscillator will cause clock-jitter. And all DACs have clock-jitter, its unavoidable, but the less the better.
A good streamer/transport will help reduce the electronic noise entering a DAC, as will a better power source. And then the DAC can get noise the other way, over RCA or XLR from the amplifier.
And as if this was not enough, RFI can cause electronic noise, and the DAC also create its own noise internally (XMOS etc).
Thanks for expanding and clarifying. I will also put forward my view that the benefits of minimizing the electric noise (after a point) are really only apparent if you sit down in the sweet spot and intently focus on imaging. If you just want a system that sounds great while you move around the house getting other things done then you probably don’t need to worry about any of this too much.
I wanted to post my experience with HATS Vs USB direct out of the Pi, after a break from this thread for sometime.
I currently own a RME ADI2 dac, which by all accounts has excellent jitter and noise management.
Having used predominantly USB directly out of my RPI4 for about 6months, I thought I would try a PI2aes hat to see if any improvement was possible.
To keep this short, the PI2aes is a step up.
It removes a slight haze present on USB in comparison, something I wouldn’t have thought was there. It provides more air, and HF mid range insight and clarity. Slightly more forward.
I thought I was dreaming, or bias was present, so I tested, retested for many many hours. There is absolutely a difference.
So I was wrong, the PI2aes Hat is better than straight USB out, in my setup.
But if I had never tried the PI2aes, I would have been happy with just USB.
Note. I used an ifi power x to power the RPI4 board, and a meanwell 24vdc supply for the PI2aes.
I used roon and setup both spdif and USB outputs. I grouped both outputs allowing instant switching and comparison. Comparison were done with many different genres of music.
My two cents.
My system.
PI4(PI2aes) > RME adi2 dac Fs > firstwatt F7 > custom vintage 3 ways.
