Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Thread Like Summary - Tinkering with Diretta

Surprised is an understatement......

In the thread about new firmware for the XE and DSP9, I mentioned here that I was trying a spare raspberry pi directly into my 8KXE USB input. I was doing that out of absolute frustration with Roon problems that result in my ID41 constantly getting disposed of and reset by Roonserver. But that’s another story.

HH OldDdogCan mentioned another solution using rPi's David Snyder’s 3-tier Diretta solution

I hadn’t even heard of it let alone tried. I had a look at the website and on first read it made some sense. I’d even say that some aspects even sounded a bit Meridian-like in the approach. I’ll leave those so inclined to read it and see if you detect the same.

Anyway, a week later I had purchased a couple of new Raspberry Pi’s, cases, MicroSD cards and a USB-Ethernet adapter. In the grand scheme of running a Meridian system….(~£200) i.e. peanuts.

I’d previously put together a couple of older pi v3 units to run Riopeee for extra Roon zones. I’m not in any way expert with command windows or coding but following good instructions is ok. Putting together two new pi v5’s and copy/pasting the fairly lengthy and detailed guide is all that it needed.

I have always dismissed USB from any source as nowhere near as good as the ID41 in the 818/806 units. I’ve had modified SB+, 206, 596, 598, G98, Project DAC and probably a few others I don’t even recall now. ID41 was my benchmark. The Riopeee pi USB into XE was improved with the newer firmware and FIFO changes in the XE but it was still not as good as either the SB Touch spdif or the ID41.

Long story short - nearly 2 weeks in and I can honestly say that I have never heard a source as good as this....ever. I am utterly amazed at what this Diretta pi solution is doing. The detail, fluidity, rhythm, clarity, punch….just about every dimension I can think of is immediately and obviously better. And, it's not just my ears.....everyone here is hearing the same.

There are some big threads on the Roon form about this solution where the usual BS arguments go on. You know….. subjectivist vs objectivist; you didn’t ABX blind test, it can’t work, expectation bias, mass delusion, etc etc. I really don’t care as what I am hearing through the XE USB input is just stunning. I simply have not heard a digital source sound as good as this.

I must thank OldDogCan for the initial pointer but much kudos is due for David Snyder for putting together such a detailed and easy to follow installation guide. He’s been super helpful also as I ask a few learner questions.

It might seem a bit daunting to some I am sure, but if you have an inclination to tinker or try things, then I would 100% recommend giving the Diretta/Pi solution a try.

This is outperforming the ID41 in every department and I really didn’t expect to be saying that. I am really quite thrilled with it.

YMMV.

Don’t know. My 598 and Oppo machines are sitting idle these days because I’ve ripped the discs that aren’t available through streaming services, and prefer the convenience of file playback. Lazy.