Note: Diretta shown outlined in red.
Here are my thoughts so far after having the Diretta in my system for about 4 days now:
Installation and Setup
While not plug-and-play, the installation and setup were pretty straightforward. The instructions were well laid out and comprehensive. For my system, the installation was simply unplugging the Ethernet connection from the optical converter, unplugging the USB from the MSB Pro USB module, inserting the Host and Target Pi computers, and turning them on. Roon recognized the Diretta right away, and I was off and running (listening). Other than an issue with the host website, upgrading to the full Diretta license went well, with the program playing all the various high-resolution files I have, up to and including 8x DSD. David[Snyder], your availability, and guidance were a great help and much appreciated.
Listening and Sonics
First off, it's apparent to me that the Diretta units need at least several days to settle in, so I'll skip my first impressions and dive into my observations today. The first thing I noticed was an improvement in clarity. Lyrics are more easily understood, and cymbals sound crisp and clean. Next, the separation and ability to distinguish instruments and vocals are improved. An example of this is at 2 minutes 24 seconds into the track "Make US Stronger" by Ghost Rider on the album Part of the Dream compiled by Vini Vici. Before installing the Diretta, it was a struggle to understand what the person was saying; with the Diretta installed, the dialog is much clearer.
Tone and texture are also improved, yielding, for lack of a better description, a more musical presentation. Lastly, but not least, openness and soundstage are wonderful. Altogether, the Diretta has made improvements in sound quality, which is making listening to music more enjoyable and has me looking forward to my next listening session.
Wrap
The sonic improvements in my system from the Diretta are not small or subtle. The improvement and difference compared with my Sonore opticalRendu Deluxe with optical converter are readily apparent upon switching between them, and the Diretta is a bargain!
Equipment
Analog
Stereo:
Ortofon A95 cartridge
Spiral Groove Centroid Arm
Spiral Groove SG 2.2
Mono:
Shelter 501II
Technics SL1200G turntable
Boulder 1008 Phono Preamp
Digital
Roon, Qobuz and files on an SSD source material
Sonore Sonic transporter i7 CDR with 2T SSD streamer
Renderers:
Sonore Opticalrendu Deluxe with Optical converter
Diretta system with Raspberry Pi Host and Target computers
DAC:
MSB Premier with Pro ISL USB
Amplification:
Backert Labs Rhumba Extreme 1.3 preamp
Xkitz active crossover
David Berning ZH230 amplifier for tweeters
David Berning ZH270 amplifier for woofers
Speakers:
Spatial Audio Labs Sapphire M5 open baffle
JL Audio Fathom F112 subwoofer
Power:
Two 20A dedicated circuits with 10 gauge wire with 20A Furutech outlets
Tripp Lite HG1000IS isolation transformer to Inakustik 3500P conditioner for front-end components
Power amps plugged directly into outlets
Cables:
Anticables Level 3 power cables
Cardas Clear Beyond phono cable
Inakustik Reference USB cable
Various RCA and XLR interconnects
Blus Jeans BJC CAT6a Beldon bonded pair ethernet cables