CuBox Project X

[Kunter]

Hello Kunter,

i plan to build my own music server/streamer based on HummingBoard i4Pro (top of their products) and using SPDIF coax wich provides galvanic isolation (if i well understood).

I would like to use an internal mSata SDD to serve all my audio files (to avoid usb cable and powering external drive).
OS would be on SD card or on SSD small partition.

The board will be powered with a linear power supply.

I hope SQ is optimised in this way, am i wrong?

My goal is to beat or equal my Auralic Aries with USB key. Just the clock of the last would be a factor of nicer SQ but not verified.

Dear fabien44

I do not have experience with the HummingBoard series. Checked the specs, seems ok. I think mSATA is definitely a plus.

However:

1. The best board of the series is i2eX (i4Pro is Cubox, if I am not missing anything) and it has only 2 cores vs. the 4 cores of Cubox. Multiple cores help with the sound quality if you are wisely using them.
2. SPDIF Coax quality is very much dependent on its implementation. I cannot comment whether it will be good or bad... But it does  have proper USB connection so you will be able to compare.
3. mSATA is good, but the SSD sends a lot of power crap back to the line. mSATA means it will be powered by the board so it might be sensitive to the noise coming back. In my case, if I connect my external SATA SSD to the same power supply, I cannot get the best sound.
4. for the power supply, I am at luck with good battery converters. I currently have the PPA battery supply for the cubox and its just great. I could not compare with linear supply.
5. I am also playing around with a CubieTruck right now, and I really like what I hear. Not at the level of the cubox, hence my comment on the number of cores (cubietruck has 2 as well...)
6. I would run the system with a really fast sd card and not use the sata bus from SSD for continuous reads on system. residing data and system at the same physical place is a no no. a real strong one.

Best of luck with your project. Write back with your comments and experience.

Cheers