Allo Revolution DAC 384 kHz/DSD512 USB DAC

Рет қаралды 28,975

4 жыл бұрын

It’s a € 300 DAC using the ESS9038 chip and Allo thinks it will more than satisfy both critical listeners and those that ‘listen’ with measurement equipment. That’s a nice challenge. BTW, it does DSD512 and PCM 384, even from a Raspberry Pi!.
Erratum: the op-amps used in the analog stages are TI OPA1612.
Manufacturer:
allo.com/sparky/revolution-dac.html
Relevant videos:
About my reference setups: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/h91naZV1xNjXlX0.html
Allo USBridge Signature Player: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/fbxgZt1n0LfVZ6s.html
SOtM sMS-200: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/irxdedmDq5-vd3U.html
3 Power supplies reviewed: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/q92DgbiY1tqzp30.html
Other relevant links:
If you like my work, support it through:
My Patreon page: www.patreon.com/theHBchannel
Paypal: www.paypal.me/theHBchannel
My book:kzfaq.info/get/bejne/qMBkjMSamb7MZo0.html
My links:
My site: www.theHBproject.com/en
My channel: kzfaq.info
My Facebook page: hansbeekhuyzen
My Google+ page: www.google.com/+TheHansBeekhuyzen
My Twitter: hansbeekhuyzen
My reference sets: thehbproject.com/en/About
About Questions: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/j6l-obiim7nGe5s.html
What DAC is the best: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/e9-bnt2putnYfGg.html

Пікірлер: 57

@freiheit6398 4 жыл бұрын

Great! I was looking for a review on this dac and there you go. "For those that rely on measurements.. do that and enjoy that even more than good sound" :) nice one!

@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel 4 жыл бұрын

Glad it was helpful!

@stillmotion7779 4 жыл бұрын

I have the Allo usbridge signature with the dragonfly Red as a DAC, and I have to say the quality of sound for the money I spend it is worth it. Thanks Hans for your very informative reviews!!!!

@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel 4 жыл бұрын

Very nice!

@MazeFrame 3 жыл бұрын

Perfect review, super informative and helped me a lot to decide if this was for me.

@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel 3 жыл бұрын

Glad it was helpful!

@marcosr2 2 жыл бұрын

Perfect review, I want to buy this dac

@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel 2 жыл бұрын

Go for it!

@maxsql 4 жыл бұрын

Thanks Hans, was hoping you will review this sooner or later. Great job as you always do, chapeau. Trying to choose between Mojo, Modi Multibit and Revolution. Your video made it harder to decide. Since it's desktop I'm fighting my urge to get Mojo because it seems like a pain. Your description says even from Raspberry Pi - do you mean I could just USB out from RPI 3B to Revolution and it will sound nice?

@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel 4 жыл бұрын

Of course not. I mean the Allo USBridge.

@maxsql 4 жыл бұрын

@@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel thanks for clarification. makes sense!

@TheKoltrane 4 жыл бұрын

This is a nice review but it would have been nice for a few more comparisons. I know you usually use the Chord Mojo as the benchmark for a good sub $500 dollar DAC. But maybe I can read into it since you said this DAC will stay in your set up 2 whereas the Chord "is convincing" in your most expensive setup?

@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel 4 жыл бұрын

Yes, you do need to put a bit of effort in...

@chrisjordan6498 4 жыл бұрын

Thank you very much Hans for this very informative video. I purchased the Allo Bridge signature after your review and have been very happy with it. A few questions... can I use the second power output from my Shanti to power this DAC, or does it need its own? Also, I am looking to upgrade from a Schiit Modi 3. I am impressed with all the configuration options of the Revolution, but how would you compare this DAC (once optimized) with the Unison USB equipped Schiit DACs such as Modius or Bifrost 2?

@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel 4 жыл бұрын

You could use the 2nd output for the DAC but I think it's better to feed the RPi part of the USBridge Sig from a cheap psi, power the clean input with the 1 amp output of the Shanti en power the DAC from the 3 amp output. I can only comment on products I have reviewed and I didn't review the DAC's you mention.

@chrisjordan6498 4 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the advice. With the USBridge sig player, how do you power the different stages separately? Is the power input in the back for the clean? And feed the cheap power to one of the USBs in the front of the unit? BTW, my unit does not have the SPDIF board with a separate power input.

@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel 4 жыл бұрын

I am sorry, I was mixing up things. On the USBridge Sig you can't split up PSU. You could use the 1 amp output to power the Rev Dac but in my experience using a PSU with a higher amperage does improve the sound quality further.

@chrisjordan6498 4 жыл бұрын

Okay, thanks for clarifying. Buying a second Shanti is a bit expensive. Which unit (bridge versus Dac) would be least hampered by a lower quality power supply?

@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel 4 жыл бұрын

My guess would be the best psu should be on the USBridge since the DAC has the super ApS. But I’m not sure. In no case use a $10 psu for that would be a waste. Consider the Allo Nirvana or iFi iPower 5V.

@luctorres9161 3 жыл бұрын

Hi Hans ! Great review ! How would you compare this one to SMSL SU9 ?? Thanks a lot ! Luc

@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel 3 жыл бұрын

Can’t help you there. Sorry.

@Diwakarvlg 3 жыл бұрын

Nice review I also saw the allo katana dac and got one for my self. Any comparison between the two sound quality wise ?

@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel 3 жыл бұрын

You find the review of the Katana here: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/hah_hKl337yxp58.html

@paolovolante 4 жыл бұрын

Very interesting and thorough review. Thanks! How do you rate this DAC vs the SMSL DP3 (only the DAC part of it)?

@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel 4 жыл бұрын

I have not reviewed the SMSL so I can’t say. Sorry.

@paolovolante 4 жыл бұрын

@@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel Not even by evaluating the chips inside? Thank you, anyway. :)

@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel 4 жыл бұрын

CERTAINLY NOT by evaluating the chips inside!!!

@szallitolevel 4 жыл бұрын

Good day, Paulo! Have a look on this : kzfaq.info/get/bejne/g9WeitF5072shJc.html

@paolovolante 4 жыл бұрын

@@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel You're perfectly right, sorry for the silly question... :)

@guytar1234 3 жыл бұрын

Hello Hans, Would you consider this Allo combo to be more resolving/flexible than a Node2i at roughly twice the price? Also considering the settings possibilities that look very interesting for sound shaping purpose. Thanks

@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel 3 жыл бұрын

Yes and yes

@bz3924 4 жыл бұрын

Hi, Hans, love your videos then that contain detailed info. I am looking for a DAC that costs a maximum of 600 eur. The last on the list is the streamer as well. Topping D50s TOPPING DX7 PRO AUDIOPHONICS EVO DAC Kit DIY DAC 2xES9038Q2M Fully Balanced & Streamer for Raspberry Pi 4. Will there be any rewew on them and which one you recommend. Best regards

@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel 4 жыл бұрын

I never know upfront what video I will do next, further than 2 to 4 weeks ahead. These are not currently on my list.

@emanueltomasini9947 3 жыл бұрын

Audiophonics evo dac review would be nice

@AndresRafaelCastroSocolich 4 жыл бұрын

Since you have reviewed Hifiberry products in the past, Is there any chance that you are going to review the new Hifiberry DAC 2 HD?

@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel 4 жыл бұрын

I have not planned it at the moment and already have a long cue of products waiting to be reviewed. So not on short notice.

@roquesoprano913 3 жыл бұрын

👍👍👍👍⭐️

@GRAAmusic 3 жыл бұрын

have you exsperienced low audio from usb sources? the sound form my allo usbridge seem to be a bit low

@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel 3 жыл бұрын

No. Perhaps the volume of the software on the Pi is set to low.

@felixkrell890 4 жыл бұрын

I have the Allo USBridge but it goes into a minidsp for Dirac, which I really need in my room. I have also connected a Turntable and my TV into the MiniDSP. I notice a slight humming when I have my speakers turned on though - I have been looking for a solution to this, but I don't know how to integrate a DAC into a system that kind of already has one (in the MiniDSP). It would basically just have to take out the static noise in the background, as I am happy with the sound otherwise - is there an option for this? This one only seems to have one USB input. And yes, I know that my audio is already analog in my chain - I just want to know if I can get rid of the static noise of the MiniDSP somehow

@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel 4 жыл бұрын

You mention hum one time and static another time. Hum is a constant tone, normally at a low frequency, static is a crackling sound. Which is it?

@felixkrell890 4 жыл бұрын

@@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel oops, syr I didn't know the difference - its a hum, a low frequency, constant sound. It gets drowned out if I listen loudly, but is audible when watching movies or in quiet songs

@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel 4 жыл бұрын

That is called an earthing problem and is tricky to deal with. Try playing with only the Raspberry Pi connected. If the hum stays, disconnect the Raspberry Pi, connect the tv and listen if the hum is gone. You can also connect only the turntable and listen. If the hum stays (don't forget to connect the earth line from the turntable) You know it's an earthing problem between the miniDSP and the amp. Using this kind of deterministic tactics must lead to the problem. Unfortunately I don't have the time to help you further for dealing with this from a distance is very time consuming.

@felixkrell890 4 жыл бұрын

@@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel thank you! I will look into it further!

@Furax02 4 жыл бұрын

Hans - thank you. How does this compare to the Pro-ject S2?

@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel 4 жыл бұрын

Watch for yourself: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/lZmCiKR12Z6VqGw.html

@cupavivuk2704 4 жыл бұрын

@Furax02 I bought the Pro-Ject a week ago used for 150€. It has more input variants and can be used as a headphone amp and a pre amp. I would say it also looks a bit better. From the nice reviews Hans has made I think it's safe to say that the Pro-Ject is easier to use. Soundwise i can't compare but i can say the Pro Ject sounds good.

@Furax02 4 жыл бұрын

I should have clarified - I have the S2. I was curious about sound comparison, especially at this price point.