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Highest Performance Raspberry Pi DAC Coming Soon.

PostPosted: 23 Mar 2018, 00:13
by orchardaudio
Orchard Audio will soon be releasing the highest performance DAC for Raspberry Pi, via Kickstarter, for $175USD

Check out the first review here:
http://theaudiobeatnik.com/applepi-dac-review-theres-art-in-this-dac-and-it-shows/

Specs:
SNR: 128dB
THD+N: 0.0005%
Dynamic Range: >135dB

Image

Re: Highest Performance Raspberry Pi DAC Coming Soon.

PostPosted: 23 Mar 2018, 12:41
by janui
Hi orchardaudio,

Interesting design for a modern DAC. Like many of the old NOS DAC’s using the TDA154x chips you seem to be using the TI PCM1794 in parallel to improve the dynamic range and the SNR and THD+N. No mention of it, but I would also expect crosstalk to be improved with your design. It’s an old concept that worked well with the non-overclocking TDA154x chips (introduced in 1985, some people still say that there is nothing better). However, I have a couple of concerns for a DAC with this hefty price-tag:
    - Bit rate maxes out at 200kHz, I would have expected 384kHz or even higher.
    - It will not support 32bit audio data, only 16bit and 24bit.
    - The component count on the board is very high. This increases complexity, the risk of defects and possible causes of quality reduction. These are real challenges specifically for production consistency.
    - It is questionable (not only for this board) whether balanced outputs are justified. With long cable runs, then yes. But for short distances, a set of quality RCA cables will provide equally good results.
So, the big questions are how does it sound? And, how does it measure up?

It would be really interesting to blind test your DAC against a HiFiBerry DAC+ Pro (RCA version). This would compare the parallel effects against higher bit rate, bit depth and component count with a board which costs 25% of the price.

I would also be interested in seeing your test results. Independently measured test results for the HiFiBerry DAC+ Pro (RCA version) are published here: http://archimago.blogspot.com/2016/10/m ... berry.html

janui

Re: Highest Performance Raspberry Pi DAC Coming Soon.

PostPosted: 23 Mar 2018, 13:21
by orchardaudio
janui wrote:I would also be interested in seeing your test results.


Please see the attachments.

Re: Highest Performance Raspberry Pi DAC Coming Soon.

PostPosted: 23 Mar 2018, 13:22
by orchardaudio
Here is a comparison between ApplePi DAC and others.

Re: Highest Performance Raspberry Pi DAC Coming Soon.

PostPosted: 09 Apr 2018, 16:11
by orchardaudio
Check out another review of the ApplePi DAC by Volumio's founder Michelangelo:
https://volumio.org/forum/orchard-audio ... tml#p47446

Re: Highest Performance Raspberry Pi DAC Coming Soon.

PostPosted: 10 Apr 2018, 21:20
by orchardaudio
The Kickstarter project has launched:
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/18 ... rry-pi-dac

Re: Highest Performance Raspberry Pi DAC Coming Soon.

PostPosted: 12 Apr 2018, 02:48
by orchardaudio
On day one we are 16% funded. Off to a great start!
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/18 ... rry-pi-dac

Re: Highest Performance Raspberry Pi DAC Coming Soon.

PostPosted: 12 Apr 2018, 18:18
by orchardaudio
With only two days into the project we already have more than 50% funding. We are aiming for 500%.

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/18 ... rry-pi-dac

Re: Highest Performance Raspberry Pi DAC Coming Soon.

PostPosted: 15 Apr 2018, 01:47
by orchardaudio
I will be doing a demo of the ApplePi DAC and the CRISPIN amplifier in Long Island, NY on April 28th, There is room for a few more people. If you would be interested in attending send me a PM to get full info.

Re: Highest Performance Raspberry Pi DAC Coming Soon.

PostPosted: 19 Apr 2018, 14:05
by orchardaudio
The Kickstarter project is now fully funded.

Get your ApplePi DAC product at a discount.

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/18 ... rry-pi-dac