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Raspberry Pi DAC add-on

4ever7

4ever7

AK Subscriber
Subscriber
Hello everyone

Just reaching out to the larger community to see if anyone has tried (or have thoughts) on the various raspberry pi DAC (or S/PDIF) add-on boards?

I wanted to build a raspberry pi DIY streaming server and just exploring the different options. A DAC add-on board would be ideal since it will give me a compact all-in-one kit to directly connect to my vintage receiver

any feedback is appreciated
 
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I have the following HATs: Hifiberry DAC, Allo Piano 2.1 with Kali Recklocker. These RPi4 combos sounding beautiful for the money. All driven with linear power supplies.
I'm using the Rpi4 + SMSL Sanskrit 10th MKII (dac is using lps) too and I think these combination is unbeatable for the price.
You can consider the new Allo Boss2.
 
Allo Boss and now BOSS2. If you have a External DAC then PI2AES.
https://www.pi2design.com/
4ever7 said:
Hello everyone

Just reaching out to the larger community to see if anyone has tried (or have thoughts) on the various raspberry pi DAC (or S/PDIF) add-on boards?

I wanted to build a raspberry pi DIY streaming server and just exploring the different options. A DAC add-on board would be ideal since it will give me a compact all-in-one kit to directly connect to my vintage receiver

any feedback is appreciated
Click to expand...
I agree with "vrobec" and "pappylon"....Allo Boss or Boss2 is the way to go. I have tried 4 different DAC HATS and Allo is the better DAC HAT. If you purchase a external DAC...This board is the BEST (PI2AES)... https://www.pi2design.com/
 
If you can live with using a USB DAC: I use a Dragonfly Red with a RPI3B for Spotify connect and bluetooth. Works great. Spotify now at last sounds good. You can pick up used Dragonfly reds at reasonable prices, I think b/c people are upgrading to Cobalts.
 
vrobec said:
I have the following HATs: Hifiberry DAC, Allo Piano 2.1 with Kali Recklocker. These RPi4 combos sounding beautiful for the money. All driven with linear power supplies.
I'm using the Rpi4 + SMSL Sanskrit 10th MKII (dac is using lps) too and I think these combination is unbeatable for the price.
You can consider the new Allo Boss2.
Click to expand...

RPi/Hifiberry DAC combo sounds better to me than the RPi/Schiit Bitfrost via coax or USB. Why, I don’t know. The Hifiberry is a small fraction of the price of the Bitfrost.
 
I run my Pi streamer on Volumio and a USB connected Khadas Tone Board (Version 1). I also have a HiFiBerry Pro DAC and an Allo Boss DAC. All 3 work very well feeding a Parasound Zamp Ver 3 and a pair of KEF Q150 speakers as an unobtrusive living room setup as dictated by SWMBO.
 
I've tried the moderately priced dac hats. I prefer my audio-gd USB dac over all of them.
The dac cost a couple of hundred used. Hats also seem to have a higher noise floor in
My system. I am still thinking of trying a pecan pi dac.
 
keitht said:
I've tried the moderately priced dac hats. I prefer my audio-gd USB dac over all of them.
The dac cost a couple of hundred used. Hats also seem to have a higher noise floor in
My system. I am still thinking of trying a pecan pi dac.
Click to expand...

USB DAC's are the best solution if you have Raspberry Pi4. As I said I have a few HAT's but performance wise the little SMSL Sanskrit 10th MKII is the best.
 
vrobec said:
USB DAC's are the best solution if you have Raspberry Pi4. As I said I have a few HAT's but performance wise the little SMSL Sanskrit 10th MKII is the best.
Click to expand...
I'm pretty happy with the (USB) SMSL M100 DAC - love the sound, and the display!

Pi4+DAC.jpg
 
Except for the Carver TFM-25, its all wall warts and low power gear, but I feel ya. ;)

The Apple Airport isn't even plugged in -
 
I have a DAC2 HD on a pi4 through some dahquist DQ-10s - still looking for the best amp to drive them but very happy with the DAC so far.
 
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