first thx you for taking the time and reviewing the Katana V1.2.
A few point to clarify.
Katana v1.2 was designed with 2 PSUs only in mind. Of course , having multiple PSUs might (will) push the sound even further , but most reviewers, including Michelangelo, tested the V1.2 with 2 PSUs only, one for RPI and one for Katana stack (versus 3 PSUs on first Katana)
Isolator will keep the same PSUs count. 2 only. No drivers , no complexity. As many of you have found , isolation betwen SBC and DAC results in a deeper blacker background. However if your speakers/amp are not very good, it might not be required (but can be added at any time)
Fatiguing sound , was in fact traced back to the fact that opamp rails were oscillating when music was playing (on a fixed load there was no oscillation). Bu using a few capacitors (audio grade) the oscillation was nullified . No noise detected with our test equipment. So to be clear , fatiguing sound was fixed and tested.
At last, respectfully , I have to disagree with Michelangelo on the “hyper detail” and audiophile preferences .DACs do not create details. A DAC should be transparent to the music recorded ( music has all the details present) . Katana v1.2 is very transparent , it will serve you what was recorded. If you want a DAC that masks some of the details… hold on , why would anyone want that ?? Why veil the music …
A string is pinched, a cymbal decaying , raspy voice at the end of a track…all details.
Katana will deliver them. Music as it was recorded.
I was wondering if you had any updates on the Nirvana? I have yet to upgrade to a LPS and was shopping around. I couldn’t find any recent updates on Nirvana from you. Is it still in development?
Nice! Out of curiosity, should we expect the Nirvana to be able to power the full stack (i.e, would we plug it into both the Katana ucontroller and the Isolator)?
This is not Nirvana but our LPS with 2x 5V output at 3A and 1A
On LPS last test data shows we have reached 80nV of noise 0-30Khz (audio band). That makes it the lowest noise power supply in the world.
Nirvana new PCB will reach next week and we will test. We are expecting at least 3uV of noise on this SMPS
SMPS will never be as good as a properly designed LPS. Also the price point for the 2 PSUs is different . At last the LPS has 2x5V output while SMPS will only have one.
I just got my set of Katana sound quality + isolator, I am using SMPS to feed RPI and Katana, already very very good sound quality, very GOOD JOB from Allo!! Can sell this DAC in such low price!
Time to gather some market research. I would prefer a ‘Katana lite’ , re-use the Katana DAC board with a new micro controller-output board using monolithic opamps( less heat than class A). Isolator can still be an option, and the new dual LPS from Allo would provide clean power. Now you have a simple to use streamer-DAC thats plug&play. There are plenty of DAC’s in the price range (Khadas tone board, Topping D10/30/50 etc.) that perform well, Allo needs to differentiate itself from the competition.
