More listening

I've now found some more cables, and connected the ODAC and iQAudio Pi-DAC+ simultaneously. Rune/MPD does a neat job of enabling them both to be connected and switched between with only a small interruption.

I'm now listening to BBC R3 streamed via wired Ethernet from the router. The sound is good on either, with room acoustics clearly audible. However, the Pi-DAC+ seems to be more open, listening to a live Wigmore Hall concert. But it's a tough call!

The DAC+ has a much wider range of acceptable digital formats, which given my desire for a "hw:n,m" use i.e. straight-through no pre-processing or resampling, makes it more useful.

ALSA information from the pair of devices is shown below

2) Analog alsa audio output interface `hw:1,0'

 - device name       = IQaudIODAC                                                  

 - interface name    =                                                             

 - usb audio class   = (n/a)                                                       

 - rates per format  = S16_LE:             32000Hz 44100Hz 48000Hz 88200Hz 96000Hz 176400Hz 192000Hz 

                       S24_LE:             32000Hz 44100Hz 48000Hz 88200Hz 96000Hz 176400Hz 192000Hz 

                       S32_LE:             32000Hz 44100Hz 48000Hz 88200Hz 96000Hz 176400Hz 192000Hz 

 3) USB Audio Class Digital alsa audio output interface `hw:2,0'

 - device name       = ODAC-revB                                                   

 - interface name    = USB Audio                                                   

 - usb audio class   = 1 - isochronous adaptive                                    

 - rates per format  = S24_3LE:             96000Hz 88200Hz 48000Hz 44100Hz 32000Hz 

                       S16_LE:              96000Hz 88200Hz 48000Hz 44100Hz 32000Hz 

***** Later *****

I've rigged up a pair of ancient* Wharfedale NXT panel speakers with their subwoofer in the same room, and connected the ODAC via a Myst TMA5 amplifier I had lying around. Not for a DAC comparison, but just because I could and because I'm thinking about using them in my office when it gets sorted out. Using the RPi + DAC setup to play whatever I feel like there from the putative library would be great!

* Ancient?! Hardly - the Quad ESL63s I'm listening on are nearly 35 years old... and been rebuilt at least twice!