Most of the kit mentioned isn’t even available in South Africa
I have a i7 desktop running the core then Ethernet to a Cambridge Audio CXN on Airplay ( for the time being), then via AudioLab M-DAC acting really as a headphone amp to Sennheiser HD 800. I am still sorting stuff out after converting to Roon proper.
For mobile AudioQuest Dragonfly Red, via Bose QC 25 running with a Apple Camera Kit on an iPad Mini.
The Obelisks are used as a traditional speaker with a sweet spot as the woofer is forward firing but it is a huge sweet spot as opposed to the tiny move your head and you’ll miss it of some. You can also wander around the room and retain a soundstage and image.
They need to be away from rear walls as they have a passive radiator at the back. But as they come on castors moving them to where you want them is very easy.
Thinking about upgrading my IQaudiO Pi-Dac+ with a Chord 2Qute. I’ll buy, try and return if I don’t think the upgrade is worth the money. The IQaudiO holds its own with £500 DACs I’ve auditioned, so I think I need to spend a little more on an upgrade.
I’ve got a Meridian 218. Works great with my legacy Meridian HT processor plugged into its digital input, a turntable into its analog input and Roon via a rock nuc into its network connection. Can control it with the G68, msr or iPhone/ pod. Analog out to mono amps. Sounds great with old Ruark floor standers.
Also have a Meridian director and a couple explorer2’s
Thanks to this forum I am looking to grab a pro-ject pre box S2 to have a play with dsd
Currently using Win10, i7-7700k, Roon, Chord 2qute, NAD326BEE(as pre), Roksan Caspian, Spendor A5r’s, Martin Logan Dynamo300 sub. (Previous Gustard x20u, iFi iDSD Micro- iUSB - TeraDak (LPSU), iFi Nano, Woo Audio WDS1, and the one that got me started on this madness, the Cambridge Audio DacMagic).
Well, I’ve taken the plunge and bought a Chord Electronics 2Qute at a very reasonable price. And, I like what I hear!
My outgoing IQaudiO DAC+ is excellent, and it’s testament to this little board that the difference isn’t great*. But, the 2Qute is a notable improvement: certainly greater detail and more “energy”. The DAC+ moves to another zone. My Hi-Fi room now consists of:
Roon Server -> Raspberry Pi 3 (Ropieee) -> 2Qute -> Arcam A19 -> Dali Zensor 7s (vinyl playback, for those who may be interested, Pro-Ject 1 Xpression Carbon UKX)
Other zones served by Raspberry Pi 3 (Ropieee) plus IQAudio DAC+/ Pi-DigiAMP+ (Monitor Audio CT165-T2 ceiling speaker)
I now need to decide if I buy another Pi for the 2Qute, so I can reuse the DAC+, or buy a CuBox-i. Any thoughts?
*Edit: Actually, after 24 hours I’m tempted to retract that statement. The DAC+ is excellent and it certainly holds its own with the likes of the Bluesound range I auditioned (and own), but listening to albums such as Tracy Chapman, Love Over Gold, Tigerlily, Ágætis byrjun, Elephant … through the 2Qute is a joy. I neither imagined nor expected such a marked improvement.
I’m rather fond of my Cuboxes: they’re quite a bit faster than the Pi and networking+USB is much better. Support is a bit off compared to the expansive Raspberry ecosystem, but I’m running Armbian on them without major problems. At the moment I’m running a i4Pro over WiFi to my headphone amp – it yet has to hiccup (over two days and many hours of play time).
Before posting, can you please spare a thought for those who had just convinced themselves that their Allo DAC is fine and the 2qute isn’t needed. Sob…
Audio - MacMini -> dCS Network Bridge -> Berkeley Ref. 2 -> Spectral 30SV Pre -> Spectral 400 monoblocks -> Wilson Alexia 2
Video - microRendu -> Audio Alchemy DDP-1 -> Anthem D2V -> Theta Intrepid -> Revel Salon
Computer - iMac -> LH Labs Geek Out -> Logitech desktop/sub
Later this week I’ll receive a Nucleus from Danny, and in future replace the Audio Alchemy w. a Yggdrasil. The Audio Alchemy will replace the Geek Out, and will be fed with a currently idle microRendu. The “liberated” MacMini will go back to more pedestrian duties.
Thanks, Rene. I’ve decided to stick with the RPi for now, but bought an Allo DigiOne SPDIF hat. Should arrive sometime this week. I gave Ropieee a go and I’m impressed.