Highest Performance Raspberry Pi DAC Coming Soon.

Build/modify/repair equipment and improve systems performance by yourself

Highest Performance Raspberry Pi DAC Coming Soon.

Postby orchardaudio » 23 Mar 2018, 00:13

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
orchardaudio
 
Posts: 27
Joined: 23 Mar 2018, 00:01
Location: Succasunna, NJ

Re: Highest Performance Raspberry Pi DAC Coming Soon.

Postby janui » 23 Mar 2018, 12:41

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
User avatar
janui
 
Posts: 699
Joined: 20 Dec 2014, 12:55
Location: Ollanda

Re: Highest Performance Raspberry Pi DAC Coming Soon.

Postby orchardaudio » 23 Mar 2018, 13:21

janui wrote:I would also be interested in seeing your test results.


Please see the attachments.
Attachments
FB_IMG_1521806977728.jpg
Frequency Response
FB_IMG_1521806977728.jpg (69.51 KiB) Viewed 5643 times
FB_IMG_1521806961897.jpg
THD+N over Frequency
FB_IMG_1521806961897.jpg (64.78 KiB) Viewed 5643 times
FB_IMG_1521806938511.jpg
Dynamic Range and Noise Floor
FB_IMG_1521806938511.jpg (72.02 KiB) Viewed 5643 times
Last edited by orchardaudio on 23 Mar 2018, 13:24, edited 1 time in total.
orchardaudio
 
Posts: 27
Joined: 23 Mar 2018, 00:01
Location: Succasunna, NJ

Re: Highest Performance Raspberry Pi DAC Coming Soon.

Postby orchardaudio » 23 Mar 2018, 13:22

Here is a comparison between ApplePi DAC and others.
Attachments
FB_IMG_1521806911153.jpg
Raspberry Pi DAC Comparison
FB_IMG_1521806911153.jpg (41.72 KiB) Viewed 5641 times
orchardaudio
 
Posts: 27
Joined: 23 Mar 2018, 00:01
Location: Succasunna, NJ

Re: Highest Performance Raspberry Pi DAC Coming Soon.

Postby orchardaudio » 09 Apr 2018, 16:11

Check out another review of the ApplePi DAC by Volumio's founder Michelangelo:
https://volumio.org/forum/orchard-audio ... tml#p47446
orchardaudio
 
Posts: 27
Joined: 23 Mar 2018, 00:01
Location: Succasunna, NJ

Re: Highest Performance Raspberry Pi DAC Coming Soon.

Postby orchardaudio » 10 Apr 2018, 21:20

The Kickstarter project has launched:
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/18 ... rry-pi-dac
orchardaudio
 
Posts: 27
Joined: 23 Mar 2018, 00:01
Location: Succasunna, NJ

Re: Highest Performance Raspberry Pi DAC Coming Soon.

Postby orchardaudio » 12 Apr 2018, 02:48

On day one we are 16% funded. Off to a great start!
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/18 ... rry-pi-dac
orchardaudio
 
Posts: 27
Joined: 23 Mar 2018, 00:01
Location: Succasunna, NJ

Re: Highest Performance Raspberry Pi DAC Coming Soon.

Postby orchardaudio » 12 Apr 2018, 18:18

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
orchardaudio
 
Posts: 27
Joined: 23 Mar 2018, 00:01
Location: Succasunna, NJ

Re: Highest Performance Raspberry Pi DAC Coming Soon.

Postby orchardaudio » 15 Apr 2018, 01:47

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.
orchardaudio
 
Posts: 27
Joined: 23 Mar 2018, 00:01
Location: Succasunna, NJ

Re: Highest Performance Raspberry Pi DAC Coming Soon.

Postby orchardaudio » 19 Apr 2018, 14:05

The Kickstarter project is now fully funded.

Get your ApplePi DAC product at a discount.

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/18 ... rry-pi-dac
orchardaudio
 
Posts: 27
Joined: 23 Mar 2018, 00:01
Location: Succasunna, NJ

support RuneAudio Donate with PayPal

Next

Return to DIY and tweaks

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 1 guest