ALLO Boss

[alexeylutskov]

Using Allo Boss with Rpi 3 for a week with latest Volumio without any problems. I’m using Elac 207.2 speakers and Primare A30.1 amp, sound is great for me, much better than my previous PiFi Digy and Lavry DA10 combo.

[spbks]

Hi, is it possible to connect a “USB-to-i2s” board to the Allo Boss (for input via USB)? Thanks.

[User879]

Does anyone have the diagrams and pictures for the ALLO Boss hardware revision 1.2 (not the new version, that is hardware revision 1.4)?
Like the pictures here: volumio.org/product/allo-boss-dac/ but for the old ALLO Boss.

[TCr]

Hey Guys,

I want to buy an Allo Boss Player, but some questions first…

Could it play a whole MKA audio file with .cue, “cutted” into tracks?

My audio files are on a NAS with SMB share, will the player work with it (on wifi via router)?

Which analog interconnect cable you suggest?
(My (AV) receiver: Onkyo TX-SR805)

[volumio]

1: No, it won’t play MKA (I don’t know what it is…), but it can play .cue sheets files individually
2: Yes

[TCr]

MKA is a file extension or rather audio container like MKV video, but it contains only audio.
If the player plays .cue sheet files, should work with it.

Thank you!

[TCr]

Order placed for the Boss Player.

[volumio]

Great! Let us know how you like it

[Seven]

Hi all !
I has Pi3 + Isolator Allo + Boss DAC v1.2.
Play music file .wav, .mp3, .flac OK? But not play file .dsf.
With Isolator + Boss DAC play Dsf OK
How do play file .dsf with Isolator + Boss DAC v1.2

Thank

[sojer2005]

Hi,
What is the best route to power the Allo Boss 1.2 Player?

I am going to buy:

1. Boss Player 1.2 allo.com/sparky/boss-player.html

… this “plug and play” bundle includes 5V PSU (universal) with US/EU/UK plugs + DC to TypeC USB and DC to microUSB adapter cables.

2. IFI iPower volumio.org/product/ifi-ipower/

Should I feed Rasperry Pi 3 from 5V universal PSU provided by Allo and Boss DAC board from IFI iPower through Allo’s DC to TypeC USB adapter?

[Silvano17]

Hi, I recently bought an Allo BOSS Player (Allo BOSS DAC, Raspberry PI 3, Allo Case, Micro SD Card 8GB, 5V 2A Power Supply), which I’m really satisfied with. Volumio is fantastic, it sounds wonderful, but I would like to know if I can keep the connection to the Raspberry, via USB, of an external HD not self-powered or if I have to power it autonomously. Thanks in advance

[Fonzie]

Hello,
I would like to build a player and I sure need one with a Display, touchscreen preferred. The Allo Dacs obviously seem that they do not provide the full range of GPIO Pins. Can I attach any Screen on top of the Boss Player?

[Yatsushiro]

@Fonzie

Hello,
I would like to build a player and I sure need one with a Display, touchscreen preferred. The Allo Dacs obviously seem that they do not provide the full range of GPIO Pins. Can I attach any Screen on top of the Boss Player?

If you choose an HDMI screen with a USB interface for the touch (such as Waveshare 5" or 7" etc) then you don’t need to go anywhere near the GPIO pins.

https://www.waveshare.com/7inch-hdmi-lcd-c.htm

[aconst]

I would use the original Raspberry Pi 7" display.
It works in my IQ Audio stack and does not need the GPIO pins excepting the power supply.
If you can find which of the available pins have the 5 V required you just use the connectors provided with the touch screen.

[cuchu]

@michelangelo

As you know, since Allo stepped into the SBC related audio scene, they proved to be a constant source of satisfaction. So, when they told me they had a new “Master DAC” under works, well, I just wanted to listen to it.
The time has come and now I have their latest BOSS DAC playing with Volumio in my system.

So, what does “Master DAC” mean? Basically, a master DAC does not take the clock from the PI itself but rather uses a separate clock (oscillators, 2 are needed, one for 22hz and 24hz and their multiples). This is nothing particularly fancy, as almost any I2S DAC uses this approach.
The clever bits of their design comes from the fact that they added some clever stuff under the hood:

• 3 different power rails, with individual filtering. One for the DAC chip itself and the digital side, one for the analog stage and one for the oscillators. On paper, this should translate with very very low noise floor and better clock accuracy
• Film capacitors on the output stage to reduce distortion, coupled with a super-capacitor to enhance bass representation
• Good oscillators

Allo suggests at least 50 hours of break-in before critical listening (I guess the super capacitor is the reason they suggest this). I’m not deeply concerned of burn in generally, but I left it playing music for a couple of days before listening to it, just in case.

By listening to it, seems that Allo did it again. If we want to make it short, I love how it sounds. The bass is punchy and present but yet very controlled. This is the best bass I’ve heard from any I2S DAC.
That does not mean this DAC has a “dark” sound signature since it delivers a balanced reproduction.
Another very evident feature is that its dead silent. There is no noise whatsoever, therefore dynamics and detail are really standing out. And I mean it: the instrumental separation and level of detail is one of the best I’ve ever heard.
As for its sound signature, I think its very neutral, just with a little more bass than you would expect. Which for me, is a good thing.
Acoustic guitars and bass guitars are just fantastic with the BOSS.

To give you some comparisons, I think this can be considered a Kali + Piano on steroids: it has the same sound signature, with a bit more bass, details and overall balance but a bit less focused stereo image.

Last, my personal favorite feature of this DAC is that it delivers an engaging musical representation. I found myself repeatedly beating my foot following the rhythm of the music, and
I got really involved in the emotional part of music during my listenings. I know some of you might think I’m talking audiophile’s bullshit, but this part of the musical message
for me is quite important and recognizable. Mark Wheeler from TNT, can surely describe such phenomenon better than me, and he calls it PRaT ( tnt-audio.com/edcorner/prat_e.html ).
Altough this term was introduced in the good old days of turntables, it describes quite well the ability of a system to foster appreciation and enjoyment of music.
And the BOSS does exactly that.

Allo, bravi!

The playlist of the test

Bob Dylan - Blowing in the Wind
Waldeck - Get Up… Carmen
Metronomy - The look
Red Hot Chilli Peppers - I could have lied
Rodriguez - Sugar man
Rino Gaetano - Cogli la mia rosa d’amore
Alabama Shakes - Don’t wanna fight
The Alan Parsons Project - Mammagamma
Whomadewho - Every minute alone
Led Zeppelin - Since I’ve been loving you
Pink Floyd - One of these days
Sebastian Tellier - La ritournelle
The Offspring - Pay the man
Tom Waits - Clap Hands
The Beatles - I want you (she’s so heavy)
The Rapture - In the grace of your love

Hi! Thank you much for your review and recommendations. I’ve read the 24 pages and I still have a question:
How do you power the Rpi and the Boss? Wich psu do you recommend?

It seems the best way (in terms of sound quality) is powering the Rpi and the Boss separatedly.

To power th Rpi I have the Raspberry Pi Universal Power SUPPLY raspberrypi.org/products/ra … er-supply/

To power the Boss I don’t know between these two options:

Allo 5v power supply (13€)
allo.com/sparky-eu/5v-power … #downloads

Ifi Ipower (51,40€)
volumio.org/product/ifi-ipower/

I hope somebody could answer. Does the Ifi Ipower make a huge improvement? Dies it worth the money?

Thanks a lot!

[DipterePow]

Hi everyone!
I’ve got an “ALSA failed to open…” error message with my Boss DAC. I looked for the forum to find a solution but I did not find something really clear. It seems this problem could come from the PSU: if there is not enough volts to feed the Boss it can’t read audio files. Ok, that makes sense. But what is the ideal electrical voltage needed? 5,05V, 5,12V…? I looked for the internet but I did not find the information.
Notice I use a DIY double PSU for my system: this toroïdal: https://www.audiophonics.fr/fr/transformateurs-toriques/transformateur-torique-60va-2x8v-p-10640.html
and this regulator: https://www.audiophonics.fr/fr/alimentations-regulees/module-d-alimentation-lineaire-regulee-double-dc-lt1083-24v-5a-p-11793.html
Boss DAC is feed separately and nothing else is connected to this output. My micro usb cables are optimized for more than 3,5 AMP(tested on the RPi 3B+ which feeds a touchscreen and a group of three 5V fans).

In parallel to this it could be that my DAC connection is not good: I deported my DAC from the RPi to have access to the GPIO. So I connected the PINS rated as ponds used by the DAC to the GPIO on the Boss tech manuel (blue highlighted lines)

I don’t think I’ve forgotten anything(these 6 PINS are well connected), but as they say, “error is human”…
Can someone help me to find the issue?..
Thanks in advance!

[rost21A]

Hello
I also use separate power supplies, it works perfectly. (see signature)
5.05V are good!
Does the streamer work normally with a normal power supply on the RPI (+ BOSS)?
If you supply the rpi and the BOSS separately with 5V, did you remove the connection Jumper J2.S on the BOSS next to the USB port?
Which software version do you use?
Is the BOSS Dac configured correctly in Volumio?
Did you make adjustments in the software?

regards
rost21A

[DipterePow]

Hi,

Does the streamer work normally with a normal power supply on the RPI (+ BOSS)?

No. I’ve got the same “Alsa” error message.

If you supply the rpi and the BOSS separately with 5V, did you remove the connection Jumper J2.S on the BOSS next to the USB port?

Yes.

Which software version do you use?

The latest.

Is the BOSS Dac configured correctly in Volumio?

I tried all the configs: nothing works. I’m scared my DAC is Out of order… I would like to test with PSU connected to J19 5V and GND pins but i’m not sure it’s a good idea…

Did you make adjustments in the software?

Yes but it didn’t work at first launch. Before I make any changes. And I just added xinput at the moment(I try to flip my touchscreen).

Thanks a lot for your help

EDIT: The power LED is ON.

[DipterePow]

Here is my config.txt

[code]initramfs volumio.initrd
gpu_mem=32
max_usb_current=1
hdmi_group=2
hdmi_mode=87
hdmi_cvt 800 480 60 6 0 0 0
hdmi_drive=1
dtparam=audio=on
audio_pwm_mode=2
dtparam=i2c_arm=on
disable_splash=1
hdmi_force_hotplug=1
display_rotate=3

Volumio i2s setting below: do not alter

dtoverlay=allo-boss-dac-pcm512x-audio

[/code]

[arete]

should anyone be interested, here’s my not-so-expensive diy linear power supply for the allo boss 1.2

power goes through this:
AC 220V -> EMF filter > AC220V (about 9 eur)
filtered AC 220V -> R-core transformer -> AC 9V 1.65a (about 20 eur)
AC 9V -> LM317 regulated power supply -> DC 5V (about 6 eur)
dirt cheap electrical box (5 eur)
cables and ancilliary elements (let’s say another 10 eur)
grand total 50 eur sharp

disclaimer

• I don’t have the best of amps or speakers (NAD 3020i and a pair of wharfedale diamond 9.1), but this sounds fuller, more bassy and with a wider stage than my previous hifiberry dac+)
• don’t have measuring devices to see the actual noise of the LPS, but it does sound delicious to my ears, and makes my flac files more enjoyable.
• had to remove the allo boss 1.2 jumper to power the rpi and the boss separately

cheers!