Raspberry Pi-compatible USB DAC - recommendations requested

[DaveCochrane1]

Since my USB DAC will not be recognised by my RPi 4B (tried with piCorePlayer and Volumio - it seems to be a driver issue) I'm now looking for a new DAC.

So, can anyone recommend an RPi-compatible USB DAC for me? The specs would need to be as follows:

* Proven to work with RPi
* £600-£1000 retail price range
* Native DSD64 at minimum (preferably DSD128)
* 24/192 PCM at minimum (preferably 24/384 or 32/384)
* No built-in power amp, no extras, JUST a USB DAC

Any suggestions or lists would be highly appreciated!
P.S. I've already done much troubleshooting with some very kind support on this platform and determined that my current DAC just will not work with the RPi.

[cfuttrup]

Hi Dave

There's a list of USB DAC's here:

http://www.raspyfi.com/raspberry-pi-usb-dac-and-raspyfi-supported-dacs/

P.S. RaspyFi is Volumio, so I think these should work.

Best regards,
Claus

[cfuttrup]

Hi Dave

I can recommend the Orchard Audio PecanPi DAC/Streamer. When you buy it, you get the DAC and the Raspberry Pi in a single package. You can select the version with Volumio (other options are piCorePlayer, etc)
... but it's not a USB DAC.

https://orchardaudio.com/product-category/pecanpi/

Cheers,
Claus

[DaveCochrane1]

Hi Dave

I can recommend the Orchard Audio PecanPi DAC/Streamer. When you buy it, you get the DAC and the Raspberry Pi in a single package. You can select the version with Volumio (other options are piCorePlayer, etc)
... but it's not a USB DAC.

https://orchardaudio.com/product-category/pecanpi/

Cheers,
Claus

Looks ok for what it is but doesn't do DSD and as you said it is not a USB DAC, so... I also already have a Raspberry Pi so just need a USB DAC, no extras.

[Eyerex]

Not sure if you can still buy them but I use a Meridian Explorer 2 which works with picoreplayer plus others without any problems

[Man in a van]

Since my USB DAC will not be recognised by my RPi 4B (tried with piCorePlayer and Volumio - it seems to be a driver issue) I'm now looking for a new DAC.

So, can anyone recommend an RPi-compatible USB DAC for me? The specs would need to be as follows:

* Proven to work with RPi
* £1000 maximum retail price
* NOT a Topping E30 (excellent for the price, but...)
* Native DSD64 at minimum (preferably DSD128)
* 24/192 PCM at minimum (preferably 24/384 or 32/384)
* No built-in power amp, no extras, JUST a DAC

Any suggestions or lists would be highly appreciated!
P.S. I've already done much troubleshooting with some very kind support on this platform and determined that my current DAC just will not work with the RPi.

I don't know why one would be so prejudiced , but here goes notthing

https://www.electromod.co.uk/products/ToppingUK/topping-dacs/Topping-E30II-Dac/

Please expalin the

butt....

ronnie

[DaveCochrane1]

I don't know why one would be so prejudiced , but here goes notthing

https://www.electromod.co.uk/products/ToppingUK/topping-dacs/Topping-E30II-Dac/

Please expalin the

ronnie

Thought that was quite implicit! I wanted to avoid responses recommending a very popular DAC that I don't want.

I'm considering going for the Audiolab M-Dac Plus as it's Linux compatible, which hopefully equates to RPi-compatible!

[slartibartfast]

Thought that was quite implicit! I wanted to avoid responses recommending a very popular DAC that I don't want.

I'm considering going for the Audiolab M-Dac Plus as it's Linux compatible, which hopefully equates to RPi-compatible!

Well you didn't explain why you didn't want it...

[Jeff07971]

I'm considering going for the Audiolab M-Dac Plus as it's Linux compatible, which hopefully equates to RPi-compatible!

But by your own specifications you don't want one of these. It has a power amp (for the Headphone output) and a preamp so is not "Just a DAC"

How about a Topping D10s or D10 Balanced ?

Jeff

[DaveCochrane1]

But by your own specifications you don't want one of these. It has a power amp (for the Headphone output) and a preamp so is not "Just a DAC"


Jeff

Thanks for letting me know!

[DaveCochrane1]

Well you didn't explain why you didn't want it...

That's right, I didn't; that's for a different thread. If you want you could start a thread on the subject of why anyone could possibly not want a Topping DAC.

[slartibartfast]

That's right, I didn't; that's for a different thread. If you want you could start a thread on the subject of why anyone could possibly not want a Topping DAC.

I am guessing it is too cheap and not "audiophile" enough for you but willing to be proved wrong.

[Howard Passman]

I've been super happy with the Audiolab M-DAC+ I replaced my Transporter with a pi and this DAC and as mentioned, very happy.

[d6jg]

I’m using a Khadas Tone Board 1 in a case from Audiophonics which is a perfect match for Pi4 in a Lincoln Binns Pi Pro case.

[DaveCochrane1]

Thanks for the various responses. I've updated the original post because specifying "£1000 maximum" to be fair also includes £29.95 bargain bin dacs! So I've updated it to £600-£1000. I'm after a mid-end device. I don't wish to downgrade from my current DAC, I just want to find an equally good (or better) DAC that works with my Rpi4! 😊