[Voyage-linux] Cubieboard 2 and MPD, (and NO external DAC)

[patrick]

Hi,

Firstly, I would like to thank you for an excellent port of Voyage MPD 
to the Cubieboard.

It was easy to install and works well.

The reason I purchased a Cubieboard  2 was that I read in the 
specification for the Allwinner cpu, that  the CPU contained an inbuilt 
DAC with a response up to 192Khz at 24 bits,  with a noise floor of -100 db.

So before I connected my XMOS USB DAC board, I thought I would try the 
performance of the internal DAC.

It works very well,  (on subjective tests with my ancient ears).

Last night I was listening to  44Khz, 96Khz and  192Khz 24 bit FLAC 
files, played from a local SATA drive attached to the Cubieboard.

There were no clicks, pauses, or hiccups of any kind. The sound was 
clear, almost the same as the USB DAC, but a bit more "mellow" than from 
the XMOS DAC.

In the quiet pauses between parts, I could hear no noise.

The only drawback was that the  analogue audio level is less than the 
XMOS, I had to turn the wick right up on the PA.   It could probably do 
with a preamp between the headphone out socket and the line in on the PA.

If I had not purchased a USB DAC already, I would not bother, and just 
use the Cubieboard's internal DAC full time.

Unfortunately, there seems to be a large school of thought, amongst some 
HiFi experts, that expensive = quality.   If their system does not cost 
more than any one else it is no good, so I expect some unfavourable 
comments  from them!

For those on a limited budget, I think the Cubie board is an excellent  
device.  YMMV

I am now thinking of building a box with a character  LCD  display, and 
installing the Cubieboard,  disk drive and power supply, so as to have a 
complete sound source system in one housing. (Apart from the PA).

I would be very interested in hearing from anyone else who has tried  
the Cubieboard internal DAC.

thanks again

regards

Patrick