Allo Boss2 Review (Stereo Streamer)

[rongon]

Yes, the WiiM Pro Plus looks like a nice streamer. Lots more features than a Boss2 Player or similar.

I've been running two Raspberry Pi based players since sometime in 2017 (wow, seven years already). One is a RPi3B with a Boss 1.0 for my bedroom headphone-only setup (with a little single-ended triode amp using last-gen, high-gm RF pentodes strapped triode and Edcor output transformers). The other is a RPi4 with a Topping D10 in my living room system. I find the Boss DAC has a 'darker' sound than I get from the Topping D10. The Topping is more impressive sounding ('Oh my, listen to all those details in the recording!') while the Boss is easier going ('mellow'?) but I hear less of the little stuff going on in the mix. I'm trying to decide which I prefer.

Moode has worked well for me, but the Raspberry Pi SBCs have been a bit problematic. Both RPi's uSD cards went bad during a power outage, and sometimes the Pi in the bedroom loses its WiFi connection to the router. I find that the latest Moode versions are much easier (I think they're on version 9.0.2 now). There's a web-based SSH built in, and the Raspberry Pi Imager makes preparing the uSD card a lot easier.

 

[Barrelhouse Solly]

I've had a Boss 2 for a couple of years. I've been using Moode for 10 years or so. Currently Moode works with the Boss2 although the current version does not support the OLED display. Tim Curtis at Moode says that Allo has not supported the Boss 2 for quite a while. The dtoverlay associated software for the Pi has been patched by independent developers. I'm expecting that Allo products aren't going to work with the Raspberry Pi OS for much longer.

 

[Tim Curtis]

Not sure what version of moode u are using but the OLED script has been an integrated component for quite a while now. Last time I tested it on a Boss 2 for the 9 series releases it worked perfectly.

Allo was really innovative producing some fantastic products. I suspect their business was destroyed due to economic and job losses resulting from the Pandemic. Allo's demise is bad for everyone because we end up with less competition and fewer choices.

 

[Barrelhouse Solly]

Not sure what version of moode u are using but the OLED script has been an integrated component for quite a while now. Last time I tested it on a Boss 2 for the 9 series releases it worked perfectly.

Allo was really innovative producing some fantastic products. I suspect their business was destroyed due to economic and job losses resulting from the Pandemic. Allo's demise is bad for everyone because we end up with less competition and fewer choices.

It worked fine in 9.02, stopped working in 9.03. I've tried reinstalling Moode. It's not a big deal to me. The only thing I've ever used the display for is for seeing whether the Boss 2 is on. I've tried the controls and don't find them useful.

 

[Tim Curtis]

I'll investigate.

 

[Tim Curtis]

The integrated OLED script works perfectly on my end with release 9.0.3. No issues whatsoever.

20240627 185139 worker: --
20240627 185139 worker: -- Special configs
20240627 185139 worker: --
20240627 185139 worker: Plexamp: not installed
20240627 185139 worker: RoonBridge: not installed
20240627 185139 worker: Allo Piano 2.1: not detected
20240627 185139 worker: Allo Boss 2: OLED started, OLED script ok
20240627 185139 worker: IQaudIO AMP*: not detected

20240627 185139 worker: --
20240627 185139 worker: -- Audio configuration
20240627 185139 worker: --
20240627 185139 worker: Audio device: 1:Allo Boss 2 DAC
20240627 185139 worker: ALSA card: has not been reassigned
20240627 185139 worker: MPD config: update not needed
20240627 185140 worker: ALSA output: I2S
20240627 185140 worker: ALSA mode: Default (plughw)
20240627 185140 worker: ALSA mixer Master
20240627 185140 worker: ALSA volume: 68% (-41.00dB)
20240627 185140 worker: ALSA maxvol: 100%
20240627 185140 worker: ALSA loopback: off
20240627 185140 worker: MPD mixer Hardware
20240627 185140 worker: Audio formats: S16_LE, S24_LE, S32_LE
20240627 185140 worker: CamillaDSP: off
20240627 185140 worker: CDSP volume: 0dB
20240627 185140 worker: CDSP volrange: 60dB

 

[mash]

I have my Boss 2 running on v9 and everything works fine including the display.

I have a series of different Roon endpoints, including RPIs running RoPieee and a Matrix Audio Mini 3. Despite the driver issue (which was a hassle but didn't really affect my use of the box) the Boss 2 has been a great device. Sad to see Allo go.

 

[Barrelhouse Solly]

The integrated OLED script works perfectly on my end with release 9.0.3. No issues whatsoever.

View attachment 377715

20240627 185139 worker: --
20240627 185139 worker: -- Special configs
20240627 185139 worker: --
20240627 185139 worker: Plexamp: not installed
20240627 185139 worker: RoonBridge: not installed
20240627 185139 worker: Allo Piano 2.1: not detected
20240627 185139 worker: Allo Boss 2: OLED started, OLED script ok
20240627 185139 worker: IQaudIO AMP*: not detected

20240627 185139 worker: --
20240627 185139 worker: -- Audio configuration
20240627 185139 worker: --
20240627 185139 worker: Audio device: 1:Allo Boss 2 DAC
20240627 185139 worker: ALSA card: has not been reassigned
20240627 185139 worker: MPD config: update not needed
20240627 185140 worker: ALSA output: I2S
20240627 185140 worker: ALSA mode: Default (plughw)
20240627 185140 worker: ALSA mixer Master
20240627 185140 worker: ALSA volume: 68% (-41.00dB)
20240627 185140 worker: ALSA maxvol: 100%
20240627 185140 worker: ALSA loopback: off
20240627 185140 worker: MPD mixer Hardware
20240627 185140 worker: Audio formats: S16_LE, S24_LE, S32_LE
20240627 185140 worker: CamillaDSP: off
20240627 185140 worker: CDSP volume: 0dB
20240627 185140 worker: CDSP volrange: 60dB

Interesting. I'll try another fresh install.

 

[Barrelhouse Solly]

Fresh install did the trick. It's lighting up normally.

 

[Tim Curtis]

Nice

Boss 2 lives to see another day.

 

[amper42]

I just tore my Boss2 apart to steal the RPi4. The aluminum Boss2 case is a TOTAL wifi signal KILLER. It hurt the entire design. Inside the Boss2 case were approx. 50 screws and stand-offs holding everything together and they were packed in super tight. It's almost like they molded the case tightly around the RPI4. I needed to be really patient to get it apart and I don't expect to put it back together. I'm amazed I was able to get the RPI4 out without completely destroying it. Glad to be rid of that case!

 

[Theodore8]

Fresh install did the trick. It's lighting up normally.

Thank you for sharing. Does your Allo 2 have the external WiFi Antenna ?

 

[amper42]

Thank you for sharing. Does your Allo 2 have the external WiFi Antenna ?

Every RPi4 offers strong wifi signal. It's only when they are packaged in a poorly designed case that a USB WiFi dongle is required. The COMFAST CF-912A was used by Boss2 owners who suffered from wifi issues. It wasn't great but compared to what the Boss2 case offered for wifi it was a glimmer of hope. Once the RPi4 is out of the Boss2 case its wifi signal is fantastic.

It's funny because you can strap the Amor case on the RPI4 and it doesn't degrade Wifi at all.

Armor Case with Dual Fan for Raspberry Pi 4 Model B - Black

Discover Raspberry Pi, electronics kits, and tailored services at PiShop US – Trusted by makers, educators, and businesses for quality and support.

www.pishop.us

 

[Theodore8]

Every RPi4 offers strong wifi signal. It's only when they are packaged in a poorly designed case that a USB WiFi dongle is required. The COMFAST CF-912A was used by Boss2 owners who suffered from wifi issues. It wasn't great but compared to what the Boss2 case offered for wifi it was a glimmer of hope. Once the RPi4 is out of the Boss2 case its wifi signal is fantastic.

It's funny because you can strap the Amor case on the RPI4 and it doesn't degrade Wifi at all.

Armor Case with Dual Fan for Raspberry Pi 4 Model B - Black

Discover Raspberry Pi, electronics kits, and tailored services at PiShop US – Trusted by makers, educators, and businesses for quality and support.

www.pishop.us

Thank you for your clear reply! Indeed, I have the COMFAST CF-912A dongle.

Do I understand correctly that Allo BOSS 2 with COMFAST dongle will work correctly if I install Moode version 9 (currently 9.3.4)?

If so, I will take it back from storage and re-install Moode!

 

[amper42]

Thank you for your clear reply! Indeed, I have the COMFAST CF-912A dongle.

Do I understand correctly that Allo BOSS 2 with COMFAST dongle will work correctly if I install Moode version 9 (currently 9.3.4)?

If so, I will take it back from storage and re-install Moode!

I read a post from someone saying they have a Boss2 working with 9.0.3. It sounds like Tim Curtis has tried to support Boss2? I would suggest installing it and see if it works? You will need to do that with a fresh card install for 9.0 and higher. Sorry, I can't offer a step by step. My Boss2 went through a divorce.

The remaining RPi4 transplant from my Boss2 now has a new look:

No more Wifi issues, no need for a wifi dongle and the latest version of Moode is installed along with a 256GB SDRAM card for tons of local Hi-Res album storage. It definitely went through a weight watchers program, running stronger than ever.

 

[Barrelhouse Solly]

Thank you for sharing. Does your Allo 2 have the external WiFi Antenna ?

Yes. It gets a slightly stronger signal than the built in. The difference in this location is probably not significant but I'm too lazy to reconfigure it.

 

[amper42]

Yes. It gets a slightly stronger signal than the built in. The difference in this location is probably not significant but I'm too lazy to reconfigure it.

If you wish to noticeably improve the Boss2 Wifi signal, remove the four screws on the bottom and slide off the blue aluminum cover. It's not a great look but in that configuration the Wifi on the RPi4 internal board significantly improves and you likely won't need the wifi dongle anymore.

Taking off the DAC header and removing the RPi4 altogether from the case provided exceptional wifi enhancement. It's really hard to recommend the factory Boss2 design for anything except an ethernet connection as the RPi4 board's wifi chip performs so poorly in that case. It's like they built it for looks and didn't realize it's a wifi Faraday cage until after it was already in stock?

Another thing I noticed dramatically improved Wifi signal was to upgrade my Wifi router to a Tri-band Wifi 6 router. I already had 1GB internet but my router was older. After the new router was installed wifi performance measurably improved. All three of my RPi4 units have super strong signal simply using only the boards internal wifi chipset. It's a much bigger speed difference than I expected even for gear not rated as wifi 6 capable. The optimization going on in these new wifi 6 routers is substantial.