[rustydoglim]

For people who are new to mDSD, see product info here: http://www.encore-av.com/main/products/mdsd-detail
FAQ here: http://www.nuprimeaudio.com/index.php/products/faq-prod.html#faq_9

[paulscott56]

How to make an AirPlay device for your mDSD and Rockmaster OE headphones!

Step one, gather some hardware.

You will need:

• One Onion Omega or similar OpenWRT dev board - get at http://onion.io
• One Onion Omega mini dock
• One micro USB cable
• One Encore mDSD DAC
• One set of Rockmaster OE or IE headphones

Set up your Omega as per the Getting Started Guide on the Onion Omega website to connect to wifi
Open a terminal session to the board via the web interface

Uninstall Avahi-nodbus-daemon with

Code: [Select]

opkg remove avahi-nodbus-daemon --force-depends
Next you need to update and then install the Avahi-dbus-daemon

Code: [Select]

opkg update

Code: [Select]

opkg install avahi-dbus-daemon --force-overwrite
You then need to install and configure Shairport-sync

Code: [Select]

opkg install shairport-sync
Edit the config file at

Code: [Select]

/etc/config/shairport-sync and uncomment the first stanza. Give your new AirPlay device a nice name too!

Now is a good time to plug your Rockmaster headphones into the mDSD and connect it to the external USB port on the Omega.

Then you need to reboot your Omega:

Code: [Select]

reboot
Once it has started again, simply execute:

Code: [Select]

shairport-sync
It will print out a message like the following:

Code: [Select]

start up
could not bind any listen sockets!
Which you can ignore.

Now use your favourite AirPlay app on iOS or Android to stream music to your new Airplay device!

[quibus]

As I'm surprised that there is hardly any discussion, I thought to briefly add my thoughts here.

I've read a few enthusiastic reviews of the uDSD (mainly in the European press), but it's not sold widely. As it is one of the few ultraportable USB-DACs with DSD compatibility. this one caught my eye, particularly given the incredibly low price at which it is available. I bought it at the French website Son et Video.

I'm well pleased with it: music reproduction is very clear, it can drive my headphones (B&W P7) easily. It works without any effort: just plug it in, select it (I use Audirvana) and hit play. It is my portable DAC of choice. Admittedly I'm not a very critical listener and find it difficult to distinguish DACS with normal lossless CD FLAC material. Also owning the Cambridge DacMagic XS and the Audioquest Dragonfly 1.2, there is maybe a slight difference for normal material. The Dragonfly maybe a bit warmer which for certain CDs may sound nicer, but it doesn't do hi-res above 96 kHz. It is possible that the clarity of the mDSD may be more demanding for some materials.

There are only two things with which I might quibble (but I believe could not be changed or not easily):
- the mDSD is rather wide, which may conflict with power adapter or other USB port.
- the volume control operates with two buttons (but I appreciate this could hardly be done differently in such a tiny product). I was used to the nice volume knob of the Nuprime uDSD.
 
On the whole I'm very satisfied and impressed, and keep an eye open on future products of NuPrime.

[agdev01]

I've been very happy with my mDSD which i picked up very early in the indiegogo campaign. Does everything i've asked it to do with no fuss, either connected to my work pc or my phone.

[rustydoglim]

There aren't a lot of discussion especially with the press because this is how business work where low price audiophile products don't generate much profit margin for anyone. So no advertising $. 
We published this article to explain what goes into a high-end DAC:
http://www.nuprimeaudio.com/index.php/guides/what-is-high-end-dac.html

We hope that word of mouth advertising will help to promote this DAC.

[Armaegis]

Here's my review of the mDSD: http://www.head-fi.org/t/797668/review-encore-mdsd-dac-amp-a-new-pocket-rocket-to-make-you-hum

[gordon]

I'm looking for any recommendations for an over ear headphone to use with the mDSD that I pair with an iPhone. They need to be sensitive and ideally under $200, appreciate any ideas.

[Armaegis]

I'm looking for any recommendations for an over ear headphone to use with the mDSD that I pair with an iPhone. They need to be sensitive and ideally under $200, appreciate any ideas.

Open backed or closed?
bass heavy or no?

Some blind recommendations: Sennheiser Momentum, Audio Technica M50, Sony MSR7

[gordon]

That's very helpful, am looking for closed and flat frequency if that helps surface any other ideas. Thank you Armaegis.

[Armaegis]

Closed with flat FR is actually rather tricky, as most will exhibit a midbass bloom... but here's a few options to look up:

Beyer DT150, Sennheiser HD439, Sony V6, Noontec Hammo S

[supernaut77]

Hi,
Is there some kind of Y-split usb-cable for android phones that can be used to take power from another source (adapter or PC) while using the Encore? Looking for a solution to avoid draining the phone's battery while listening to music for longer sessions.

[rustydoglim]

Use a powered USB hub if you are going to use it with the phone on your desktop.

[Armaegis]

Hi,
Is there some kind of Y-split usb-cable for android phones that can be used to take power from another source (adapter or PC) while using the Encore? Looking for a solution to avoid draining the phone's battery while listening to music for longer sessions.

Something like this...?

https://www.amazon.com/Micro-Female-Cable-Power-Splitter/dp/B00NSBVNCM/
Scroll about halfway down, someone asks about connecting to a dac and supplying power and the seller says it does work

[stanleysg]

Saw this on the France "On Magazine". Posting here with translation done by google translator.

https://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?depth=1&hl=en&prev=search&rurl=translate.google.com.sg&sl=fr&u=https://www.on-mag.fr/index.php/topaudio/tests-auditions/15444-test-encore-mdsd-un-dac-ampli-casque-super-nomade-musical-et-polyvalent&usg=ALkJrhgwqNZkxTmMvFA3aXIVkk4o3R_xxQ

[rustydoglim]

We sell a lot of mDSD to France (Europe).

[Armaegis]

We sell a lot of mDSD to France (Europe).

Do you find that product popularity varies a lot from country to country? I was just having this discussion over at the Bryston circle and they sell mostly amps in North America, but in Europe it's more preamps.

[rustydoglim]

For products that cost < $1000, there isn't a lot of variation. Everybody loves good value for money products.
Audiophiles from different countries have different taste.
IDA-16 do much better in Japan and some part of Europe, but no so much in France. The French prefer warmer sound.
IDA-8 is the best selling, still hard to beat anywhere with its combination of features and quality.