ApplePi DAC - Highest Performance Rpi DAC Launched

[orchardaudio]

Check it out here:

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1844799967/applepi-dac-highest-performance-raspberry-pi-dac

Reviews:

The Audio Beatnik

"Ok, specs are great and all, but how did it really sound? Frankly, very good, surprisingly good." and "The mid-range and truthiness of the music rivaled that of the other DACs I have on hand that cost significantly more."

Read the full review at this link:

http://theaudiobeatnik.com/applepi-dac-review-theres-art-in-this-dac-and-it-shows/

 

Volumio's Founder -- Michelangelo

"Sound-stage and spatial resolution are just excellent." and "This DAC is producing the most detailed sound to ever come out of my Raspberry PI, all the subtle nuances of my test tracks were there and clearly distinguished from everything else."

Read the full review at this link:

https://volumio.org/forum/orchard-audio-applepi-dac-review-t9633.html

[orchardaudio]

After one day we are funded 16%. It's a great start we are looking to hit 500%.

 

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1844799967/applepi-dac-highest-performance-raspberry-pi-dac

 

[orchardaudio]

6 hours ago, seeteeyou said:

I like your sense of humor

 

 

Seriously, it's a much better choice to provide an option for powering your DAC with LT3045-A instead of that $25 SMPS PSU

 

http://www.ldovr.com/product-p/lt3045-a.htm

https://www.ebay.com/itm/LT3045-A-Ultralow-noise-0-8-Vrms-LDO-linear-regulator-0V-15V-1A-Fixed-out/253378132579

 

Simply get one for $25.95 to compare the difference on your own. IMHO it wouldn't be such a good idea to invest in such a great DAC while powering it with something like that kinda SMPS PSU.

 

It will have its own power connector, so you will have the option of powering the DAC separately from the Rpi.

[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/1844799967/applepi-dac-highest-performance-raspberry-pi-dac

[orchardaudio]

7 hours ago, George Hincapie said:

Why do you need 500%? Why not 100%?

Because I want to have larger market penetration.

[orchardaudio]

With an SNR of 128dB and a THD+N of 0.0005% the ApplePi DAC blows away the competion.

 

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1844799967/applepi-dac-highest-performance-raspberry-pi-dac

[orchardaudio]

Size is not indicative of performance or quality.

 

I suggest you sign up for the tour here to find out for yourself:

http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=155479.new#new.

 

People who have listened to it, came away impressed.

http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=155479.msg1677776#msg1677776

and

http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=155479.msg1678091#msg1678091

 

[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.

 

[orchardaudio]

22 minutes ago, semente said:

 

 

AUDIOPHONICS DAC I-Sabre ES9028Q2M

Dynamic range129dB

THD+N -120dB/0.0001%

https://www.audiophonics.fr/en/diy-dac/audiophonics-i-sabre-dac-es9028q2m-kali-edition-raspberry-pi-3-2-i2s-p-12212.html

 

Dynamic range of the Apple Pi DAC is >135dB, SNR and dynamic range are not the same thing.

 

You also have to be careful when looking at the specs, they posted the specs of the ES9028, not the specs their circuit achieves.

 

In order to get the specified specs you have to run the ES9028 with differential outputs, which they are not doing. Using single ended outputs you lose 3dB right of the bat.

 

All ApplePi DAC specs are measured not theoretical.

[orchardaudio]

2 hours ago, franz159 said:

The dac is very interesting.

As mentioned already, it will be interesting to see how it will compare with competition such as the Allo Katana.

Personally (but that is just me) after two disappointing experiences with crowdfunding, mainly in terms of long delays in shipment, I will never enter any crowdfunding initiative. IMHO a promised 12-15% discount on  the projected RRP is not worth the risk from an end-user perspective. 

 

I understand I have been there, actually I am having the same issue with a different project that I backed.

 

I have everything lined up and ready to go into manufacturing already. So there should not be a delay barring any component shortages.

[orchardaudio]

2 hours ago, semente said:

 

I see.

What's the diference between balance and differential outputs?

 

Can the digital filtering be bypassed in your ApplePi?

Balanced and differential is the same thing in this case. That dac has only single ended outputs.

[orchardaudio]

1 hour ago, opus101 said:

 

How was this measured?

 

Here you go.

[orchardaudio]

55 minutes ago, opus101 said:

 

Its an FFT but you've not specified the effective bin bandwidth. So there's no way to tell the dynamic range from this that I can see. If you can do it, then do let us all into the secret.

 

Dynamic range describes the ratio of the softest sound to the loudest sound in a musical instrument or piece of electronic equipment. This ratio is measured in decibels (abbreviated as dB) units.

 

From the FFT you can derive the ratio between the softest and loudest that it can achieve.

[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.

[orchardaudio]

15 minutes ago, matthias said:

@orchardaudio

It would be nice if you show the THD+N in dB values like the other specs.

The THD+N of your DAC is 106dB, certainly not a top value.

 

Matt

Which DAC are you referring to?

 

[orchardaudio]

11 minutes ago, matthias said:

 

The Katana so far is better than 106dB THD+N.

 

Matt

 

Like I said in an earlier post, that number is what the DAC chip is capable of, I do not see an actual measured number for full Katana DAC circuit.

[orchardaudio]

13 minutes ago, matthias said:

 

Please have a look at the diyaudio link I posted above.

 

Matt

I did look and I don't see any mention of measured results.

[orchardaudio]

Like I was saying measured results less than they are advertising. You wonder what else they are hiding. Also their price will be $250 based on some of the other posts.

[orchardaudio]

1 hour ago, opus101 said:

Post #285 is where there are measured results posted, see if this takes you there : http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/vendor-s-bazaar/310338-dac-allo-ess9028q2m-rpi-post5401860.html

Like I was saying measured results less than they are advertising. You wonder what else they are hiding. Also their price will be $250 based on some of the other posts.

[orchardaudio]

7 minutes ago, matthias said:

 

No advertising so far.

But if you wonder what they are hiding, I wonder what you are hiding.

The price is for a three board stack.

 

Matt

I would say this constitutes as advertising:

https://www.audiophonics.fr/en/diy-dac/audiophonics-i-sabre-dac-es9028q2m-kali-edition-raspberry-pi-3-2-i2s-p-12212.html

 

You seem to have a vested interest in allo products.

[orchardaudio]

6 hours ago, opus101 said:

 

If the 'softest' it can produce is the noise then no, the FFT plot you shared cannot be used to quantify the noise. That's because the noise depends on the bandwidth its measured in and you've not provided that information. Do you know the effective bin bandwidth? If not then do you know how many FFT points there are in the transform and the sample rate?

 

The FFT is 65,536 points.

[orchardaudio]

8 minutes ago, matthias said:

 

I am referring to Allo Katana, not audiophonics.

I have no affiliation to Allo, just like what they are doing.

 

Matt

 

Ok, but I am pretty sure that audiophonics is did not make up specs for an Allo product they are selling.

[orchardaudio]

I am pleased to announce the support of DietPi starting in version 6.5.

 

[orchardaudio]

39 minutes ago, tubesguy said:

So limited to 192k, and no DSD?

Yes, but you can play higher sample rate files and the raspberry pi will take care of the downsampling.

[orchardaudio]

I am pleased to announce the support of Roon. The ApplePi DAC and Raspberry Pi combo can be turned into a Roon Network Endpoint.