Need a basic USB DAC, Raspberry Pi or dedicated DAC?

[Giuanniello]

I am gonna arrange a second music setup, have a pair of JBL4311b sitting there and can dedicate it either a KT88 power amp or some solid state solution but I will need a DAC so the options are either to buy a basic thing with USB input to use a MacMini to stream or to something with a Raspberry Pi3+ I have sitting in a drawer.

 

The goals are to spend the least and to have the less cables around, if I use the Pi my guess is I need a DAC board and a case (besides external power source), all I wanna do with it is to convert digital audio from either a computer (an old MacMini) and a TV to listen the audio off a movie through the stereo speakers.

 

Suggestions?

 

Grazie

[DuckToller]

How about the SMSL D-6 or SMSL SU-6. USB C for the dongle and digital for the TV. 169 Euro chez Amazon.
Remote control, Display. RCA and balanced output (D-6 only)
I have one on order, so right now I can't report.

[eiffel]

You have a few options if you go the Raspi route:

 

• https://www.hifiberry.com
• https://www.inno-maker.com/product/hifi-dac-pro/
• https://www.raspberrypi.com/products/dac-pro/

[Giuanniello]

On 12/19/2022 at 5:12 PM, DuckToller said:

How about the SMSL D-6 or SMSL SU-6. USB C for the dongle and digital for the TV. 169 Euro chez Amazon.
Remote control, Display. RCA and balanced output (D-6 only)
I have one on order, so right now I can't report.

 

Good suggestion but to me the plainest the better, I have a Caiman SEG DAC which with it's LEDs just showing power and input bothers me, the less the better and, if possible, also built in power adapter as to minimise cables.

@eiffelthose are good suggestions, grazie, so far it seems cases are available for the Pi4, have to find out which Pi3 version I have then figure which board could do it, I wanna simply either stream from the Pi to the preamp straight away or from a MacMini to the Pi/DAC and then to preamp

 

Merci
 

[DuckToller]

57 minutes ago, Giuanniello said:

 

Good suggestion but to me the plainest the better, I have a Caiman SEG DAC which with it's LEDs just showing power and input bothers me, the less the better and, if possible, also built in power adapter as to minimise cables.

@eiffelthose are good suggestions, grazie, so far it seems cases are available for the Pi4, have to find out which Pi3 version I have then figure which board could do it, I wanna simply either stream from the Pi to the preamp straight away or from a MacMini to the Pi/DAC and then to preamp

 

Merci
 

Here is a DAC hat with simple black case for the PI4.

[Giuanniello]

On 12/22/2022 at 6:29 PM, DuckToller said:

Here is a DAC hat with simple black case for the PI4.

 

Mine is a P3+ so I need a case to fit that along with a DAC HAT eventually, dunno if the game is worth, saw a Schiit which can get power off the USB port, very plain design and no extra cables or bricks, I have to figure if it is available in the EU or wait for somebody coming off the US to get me one, to me the less whistles and bells the better, I am sick of feeling like it is xmas all year long with all of those LEDs  :-D

[DuckToller]

Merry Xmas!
https://www.proaudioitalia.it/pdf/schiit_listino.pdf

[Giuanniello]

19 hours ago, DuckToller said:

Merry Xmas!
https://www.proaudioitalia.it/pdf/schiit_listino.pdf

🤙

[sakso136]

On 12/25/2022 at 1:35 PM, Giuanniello said:

🤙

I have one for sell ,lemme know

 

[Giuanniello]

Without to start a new thread I hope this gets some attention, I am sick of my Beresford DAC, I need something better than that and before I go the commercial route this is what I'd like to understand if feasible and conveniente vs commercial products.

 

I need a single box which does both music server so that I can get rid of the MacMini and then a DAC with at least one spdif and one USB, built in PSU, non headphone amp, no preamp capabilities, the best performing options in a single box.

 

I am not aware of the Pi HATs world, I guess I need a DAC (with the desired inputs and unbalanced outputs), an I2s board, maybe reclocker, PSU and then some kind of storage to host music (I have a spare 500GB 2.5" SSD in a drawer), on-off switch, input selector and a dimmable display, that's all I want out of such a think, is there any source where to see how to put this all together and suggestions on boards etc?

 

Grazie

[DuckToller]

In case your budget went north:

https://www.audiophonics.fr/en/streamers/eversolo-dmp-a6-streamer-2xes9038q2m-wifi-dlna-airplay-2-roon-bluetooth-50-aptx-hd-32bit-768khz-dsd512-mqa-p-17643.html

 

The Eversolo got pretty good reviews.

[Giuanniello]

1 hour ago, DuckToller said:

In case your budget went north:

https://www.audiophonics.fr/en/streamers/eversolo-dmp-a6-streamer-2xes9038q2m-wifi-dlna-airplay-2-roon-bluetooth-50-aptx-hd-32bit-768khz-dsd512-mqa-p-17643.html

 

The Eversolo got pretty good reviews.

It sure looks very good on paper, aesthetics not my cup of tea but I need no balanced outputs and wanna use at least the Pi and SSD I already own and then build onto them, DAC, I2S and whatever else necessary to get an audiophile grade DAC to suit my setup.

 

Grazie anyways

[DuckToller]

https://www.audiophonics.fr/en/open-source-streamers/audiophonics-raspdac-mini-lcd-kit-diy-streamer-for-raspberry-pi-4-dac-es9038q2m-p-15148.html

 

https://www.audiophonics.fr/en/power-supply/power-supply-adapter-100-240v-ac-to-5v-3a-usb-c-with-switch-p-13760.html
 

allows SPDIF,  USB B / C , SE RCA out
 

You can put your SSD in an external housing and concect via USB C to your PI inside.

In case that isn't audiohile enough 4 u,  you have the choice to select upmarket:
https://www.audiophonics.fr/en/open-source-streamers/rasptouch-i-sabre-es9038q2m-streamer-with-touchscreen-32bit-384khz-dsd128-p-12181.html

 

https://www.audiophonics.fr/en/hifi-power-supply/audiophonics-psu-hc-linear-regulated-power-supply-rasptouch-7v-5a-60va-p-11598.html

 

https://www.audiophonics.fr/en/network-audio-players-raspdac/audiophonics-evo-sabre-pack-diy-balanced-dac-2xes9038q2m-streamer-for-raspberry-pi-4-p-14639.html

 

alternativ
https://www.audiophonics.fr/en/diy-enclosures-and-cases/audiophonics-kit-aluminium-case-and-accessories-for-evo-sabre-dac-black-p-14656.html

+

https://www.audiophonics.fr/en/dac-and-interface-modules/audiophonics-evo-sabre-balanced-dac-2x-es9038q2m-usb-gpio-raspberry-pi-spdif-bluetooth-xlr-rca-p-14562.html

+

https://www.audiophonics.fr/en/screens-vu-meters/white-spi-iic-256x64-oled-312-screen-p-14604.html

+

https://www.audiophonics.fr/en/tools/twh-01-set-of-allen-keys-for-btr-screws-made-in-japan-p-1555.html

+

https://www.audiophonics.fr/en/tools/twh-01-set-of-allen-keys-for-btr-screws-made-in-japan-p-1555.html

 

I would say this is the most common option for your requirements, Audiophonics build quality is quite good, and the product is established and well thought. It may allow you to get your SSD also inside the bigger case (however - I dunno - about the heat absorbtion - you may need some heatsink)

[Giuanniello]

I wouldn't want a ready to go option but rather build one to suit my needs (no balanced outputs, spdif, good output quality, no thrills and bells), I wanna put it into a case which matches the power amp and preamp I had built and I will add a built in power supply so what I need to know is which boards/hats would do it to obtain the required inputs (spdif and usb) and sound quality

 

Grazie