THE ORRONOCO AUDIO DIY

It has been a while I am not posting anything in this blog. This is because of my main job schedule is very tight, so I cannot even manage this blog at all. But thankfully I am still having my routine music listening session, probably a few hours a week, with the current audio setup is using the low cost AD1865NK DAC, the LM3875 Gainclone amplifier and SB-acoustic 2-way speaker system. For the digital player is iBasso DX-90 which I have used for very long time. I am curious what is inside this tiny media player and I have an opportunity to open it up now.

I tried to be honest. I often laugh reading many feedback in the online forum discussion when they tried to answer a question about: "is it necessary to have a linear power supply for Raspberry Pi?" Yes, we are talking Raspberry Pi as media player or NAS connected by a HAT to send the digital out to the better performance external DAC. Then will it improve the sound quality by only changing from cheap switching power supply to the linear? I guess you have find this same conversation in many forum as well. I understand that buying a finished linear power supply product can be costly. Let's say the price of this mostly above US$100 and spending such that money seems totally useless because your opinion already broken from that forum feedback. They are saying that linear power supply for computer is not logical at all to give any benefit. Which in my opinion their feedback has nothing to do with practical experience, but only based on their subjective opinion. Period! So I p...

You might read my previous post about the same content like this  here  but that is the recommendation I made in 2017 is not for everyone. It is more intended for person like me who already had many CD collection and grew in 90's era which CD is a holy grail for good music. One simple reason for that recommendation is for people who more than happy to listen the music at home, at their lovely chairs, rather having on-the-go music experience. Of course it is also an earphones recommendation that more friendly as an entry point to audiophile world rather than the bulky speakers. So, here is today, the year 2020 that pass slowly because of the covid-19 pandemic everywhere, I still make this budget audiophile recommendation, which actually I had prepared already since the beginning of this year. This recommendation is likely for everyone but more emphasis to youngster which attached with their smartphones and more mobility.

Building a good pair of RCA cable is not cheap. If you have build your own cables for your audio system, then you know how much you spent for a set of RCA plugs. Like me, I often using CMC RCA plug that cost me more than US$20 for plugs only without counting the cables yet. So, I wish there is an audio manufacturer can offer good quality RCA cable and of course at affordable price, and my wish granted. Here it is, the US$20 PYST RCA cable from Schiit. Early disclaimer, I am not sponsored with anyone or the manufacture it self, so this is purely what I am thinking about the product and I think it is worth to share.

Since I already had the LG B&O Play earphones  here , I guess it is not complete without adding the DAC from the same company as well. This LG DAC is special because it is still on collaboration with famous audio manufacture B&O. This is the LG Hi-fi Plus, the 32 bit DAC B&O Play launching on 2016. Actually this DAC is the additional accessories for LG G5 smartphone to improve the internal smartphone sound quality. But the good news is this DAC can be pair not only with the intended LG G5 smartphone, but it can be attach to any external device as a stand alone DAC & headphones amplifier with USB-C connector. Nice! I bought it about US$50, not cheap for outdated product, but I get it in brand new condition, so why not to spent.

I still owned several iPod model and they are become my audio portable since 2 decades ago. Those iPod sounds very good considerably to today standard. Just plug the 30 pin to audio line out adapter to the amplifier and it sound at it is optimum performance. Just in case you forget, about 10 years ago, iPod and DIY Cmoy amplifier become very popular among portable audiophile for on the go setup. Sadly most of the 30 pins to audio line out adapter is only provided by third party manufacture. The best one that I can recommend is from Fiio. At that time, Fiio released several model 30 pin to line out adapter but none of those Fiio adapter product are still available right now. I still have one and it still working flawlessly until now. So if you want to find the same function as Fiio audio line out adapter but better, then go through this Apple original product. This is component AV cable made by Apple for iPod accessories back then.

It is been a week since I bought this hi resolution digital audio player, Sony NW-A55 and I couldn't more happier with this decision. No doubt I rumbling few weeks back than to make a purchase decision compare to the higher spec, the NW-ZX300. This is the reason why I choose NW-A55 over the NW-ZX300.

Yes, I going back to the Sony DAP again. This one is the Sony NW-A55, an entry level DAP that sound so good. This DAP can act as Bluetooth receiver through my headphones only, but the connection is not quite easy. Sony NW-A55 also have radio FM built-in which the reception quality is very good when tuning at outdoor. I listen my favorite music through this Sony DAP via the headphones but not as much as I listen it through my home audio system. One reason I using this Sony DAP is their unique DSP sound setting. Let's figure out them one by one.

The good things about technology is they become cheaper each year. And if we are talking about digital audio player (DAP), today DSD player can cost about US$70 only. But do they compromise the sound quality? I will figure it out with this new Fiio M3K along with the others DAP sound quality which price higher at the time they released.

It is been awhile that I am not posting anything in this blog. Not because I am super busy with my daily life, or I am super lazy for even write down a word for full-filling my blog and pretending that: "this blog is still alive" But more than that, I am preparing something that could replace my reference audio source. Something that the audio player I am comfortable with and of course with the sound that I could smile every time I turn on my system.

The word lucky for me is very simple. It is the unexpected situation where no any intention to find a good Sony Playstation SCPH-1001 but it suddenly someone come to you and ask politely if I want to buy this. I am quite shocked that this PS1 is comes in complete package and in the good condition.