Kali The Goddess of Time
Every SBC has a crystal that it used to send digital signals to your DACs.
The accuracy of this crystal is very important in how well the DAC will transform the digital signal into analog sounds. Simply put: a better crystal means a better sound! Most SBCs use a very cheap crystal with lots of jitter in order to save costs.
Furthermore, there are 2 kinds of frequencies for digital files: 44.1Khz (wave files) and 48khz (streamed music). Some SBCs (like RPIs) can output only 48Khz, so imagine the degradation of the sound that was recorded at a different frequency.
Kali will solve both of those problems
First, it has a very low jitter NDK crystal feed by LDOs in series for ultra quiet power supply. Second, the FPGA will read the incoming stream, will buffer the DATA 0.7s while discarding the incoming clocks. Using the NDKs it will reclock the buffered data OUTSIDE the fpga (since fpgas introduce about 200ps of jitter) and provide a MCLK/BCLK that is direct from crystal, providing a jitter-free (almost) to your DAC.
Meanwhile, it will clock the file using the correct crystal (there are 2), fixing the problems outlined in the beginning.
Works great with Piano
Kali will not work if your DAC is a master. Dac has to be slave. We highly recommend our Piano 2.1 – they were designed to work perfectly toghether!
The million dollar question (actually $95): how does it sound?
Well, the music will “open up”. The stage will sound bigger, more tri-dimensional. You will hear sounds, words, instruments that were drowned before in a sea of digital mud.
Is it worth it?
Do you enjoy a better wine/microbrewery beer, or anything will do? Do you have some medium/good speakers or you are using the cheapest PC speakers? Do you love music or just want to hear some beats? We can’t answer the question for you. It’s your choice.
Kali needs to be powered from 5V (cannot be powered from SBC) and also note that Kali will power the SBC + DAC.
- Kali is compatible with Sparky and RPI
- Reduces jitter to less than 4 pico seconds
- The basic design includes FPGA based FIFO board
- With 45.1584/49.1520 MHz Ultra Low Phase Noise Oscillators
- I2S input: 44.1 KHz, 48 KHz, 88.2 KHz, 96 KHz, 176.4 KHz, 192 KHz , 352.8KHz,384KHz- 16bit, 24bit or 32bit
- I2S output: 44.1 KHz, 48 KHz, 88.2 KHz, 96 KHz, 176.4 KHz, 192 KHz , 352.8KHz,384KHz – 16bit, 24bit or 32bit
- FIFO Memory: 4MB SRAM
- LED indicators (Power, Full, Lock, Empty, Sample Rate, Mclk)
- DC power supply: (5V/3A) with Filter circuits
- Multi-frequency output capability to support the full I2S working range from 44.1 KHz to 384 KHz
- Automatically switching frequencies according to the input I2S signals
- Extremely fast and very low propagation delay Flip-Flops are added on I2s signals output from FPGA, for synchronization with MCLK before sending to DAC
- Ultra-low-noise voltage regulators for optimal audio performance
- Integrated EEPROM for automatic configuration (with write-protection)
- Purchase stand-alone Kali unit or get the Vana Player bundle (Sparky + Kali + Piano 2.1 + Volt + CM + 5V Adaptor + Acrylic Box)
Technical Specifications
| LED indicators | Power, Full, Lock, Empty, Sample Rate, Mclk |
|---|---|
| DC Power Supply | (5V/3A) with Filter circuits |
| Operating Temperature | -25C to 85C |
| Board Size | LWH = 58mm * 77.54mm * 23.8mm |
| Board Weight | 120g |
Support & Downloads
- Download Product Brochure
- Kali I2S Pinout to DAC Boards
- Kali I2S Pinout From SBC
- Kali Jumper Settings
- Kali Tech Manual
- Vana Tech Manual
- Images, Drivers & Resources
All Allo products are FINAL SALE. We are not able to provide support on these items. For support, please visit Allo’s customer support forum.
Fast Shipping with Professional Packaging
Due to our longstanding partnership with UPS FedEx DHL as well as other major international carriers, we are able to provide a range of shipping options. Our warehouse staff is highly trained to package your goods exactly according to the specifications we provide. Your items will go through a thorough examination and will be safely packaged prior to being sent out. We deliver to thousands of customers every day from all over the world. The fact that we are determined to become the largest online retailer in the world is obvious. Warehouses and distribution centres can be located in Europe as well as in the USA.
It is important to note that orders with multiple items are subject to a processing period that is based to the particular item.
Prior to shipping, our team will perform an extensive inspection of the products you have ordered. Most orders today are shipped in 48 hours. The expected delivery time will be between 3 and 7 days.
Returns
Due to the multiple parties involved such as the factory and the warehouse, we cannot completely manage our stock. The actual levels of stock can change at any moment. It's possible that you may not receive your order once the order has been made.
Our policy is for 30 days. If 30 days have gone without a trace since the purchase however, we're unable to give you a return or exchange.
You are able to return a product in the event that it is not used and still in the same state as when you first received it. The item must be returned in its original packaging.
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