Allo Piano 2.1 support

[AncientMariner]

Hello there,

I'm looking for a way to use Camilla DSP to do crossover for subwoofer and room correction.

The only hat I found with 4 channels is the Allo Piano 2.1.

I'm aware this is an older card and Allo seems to have seized to exist. However, I have the possible option to acquire such a card.

So my questions are:
- Is it worth getting/using the Allo Piano 2.1 in 2024?
- Is there still support for it?


Alternative routes seems to be a lot more costly (external audio interfaces).

Thanks

[Tim Curtis]

Obviously there's no support from Allo and so if the driver breaks or has issues with newer Linux kernels you would be relying/hoping that some dev will volunteer to try and get it fixed. Myself and others worked with the Pi kernel devs to get some of the Allo drivers working in the 6.1 and 6.6 series kernels but I don't have the bandwidth for that going forward.

If the card is not too expensive I would just go for it and see if you can achieve your CamillaDSP config. If it doesn't work out then put in the drawer labeled DIY Audio with the other "experiments" :-)

[AncientMariner]

Obviously there's no support from Allo and so if the driver breaks or has issues with newer Linux kernels you would be relying/hoping that some dev will volunteer to try and get it fixed. Myself and others worked with the Pi kernel devs to get some of the Allo drivers working in the 6.1 and 6.6 series kernels but I don't have the bandwidth for that going forward.

If the card is not too expensive I would just go for it and see if you can achieve your CamillaDSP config. If it doesn't work out then put in the drawer labeled DIY Audio with the other "experiments" :-)

Thank you very much for your reply!

It doesn't cost that much (around 50 bucks), the problem is the store won't ship it outside France (probably why they still have stock at all since it's impossible to find anywhere else). So it will be some trouble getting it to me which I'm trying to figure out if it's worth.

Before posting, I of course did a forum search and read this thread, which I see you replied to as well:
https://moodeaudio.org/forum/showthread.php?tid=6487

But I could not figure out if it the problem was resolved and if the Piano is currently working?

If it's working now, I'm willing to deal with issues down the road. But if it's already not working I would probably rather look for another solution.



Too bad that Allo is not around anymore. They seemed like an enthusiastic company. Hopefully they will be able to restructure somehow.

[Tim Curtis]

I ran quick test and the Piano 2.1 still causes Linux to remain in the "starting" state instead of "running" as was reported in the Thread you referenced.

That would make it a no-go for me.

[AncientMariner]

I ran quick test and the Piano 2.1 still causes Linux to remain in the "starting" state instead of "running" as was reported in the Thread you referenced.

That would make it a no-go for me.

Yes, that sound like it will be too complicated for me.

Thanks a lot for your time! Much appreciated!

[Sunfish]

I've spent serious time investigating and experimenting to get the Piano 2.1 working with the new kernel. So far no luck. Also other programs with the new kernels stop working at the moment the dtoverlay for the Allo Piano is in the config.txt.
My advise is to try another Dac. I'm looking for the I-sabre ES9038Q2M as that one is apparently also working with the Allo Kali.

Regards
Wim

[DRONE7]

Allo had some grand ideas but abandoned support for devices once released and configured them for only the current not extant linux kernels.
Every device I purchased from them has fallen by the wayside through lack of vendor support..some latterly some almost immediately after release.
They had some excellent attempts and were well reviewed with items often being sold out and back-ordered months ahead so not sure just why they collapsed. Income seems to have been secure given demand worldwide but perhaps they were just too broad in range or too heavily invested in 'Sparky' or just too uninterested in supporting their product.

[Tim Curtis]

Allo had some grand ideas but abandoned support for devices once released and configured them for only the current not extant linux kernels.
Every device I purchased from them has fallen by the wayside through lack of vendor support..some latterly some almost immediately after release.
They had some excellent attempts and were well reviewed with items often being sold out and back-ordered months ahead so not sure just why they collapsed. Income seems to have been secure given demand worldwide but perhaps they were just too broad in range or too heavily invested in 'Sparky' or just too uninterested in supporting their product.

Allo's business like many others around the world was destroyed by the bad economics and job losses caused by the Pandemic. 

That left us with fewer choices for innovative, "high-end" I2S audio devices. There are only a handful of vendors left in that space now. The majority of vendors are selling overpriced, poorly documented, average quality boards.

[nosferatu_cat]

That's why, especially since the Pi 4, I've been more interested in stand alone DACs.  The best of the current generation of under $100 DACs performs well below the limits of human audibility for noise and distortion.  A lot of people call DACs "solved."