Roon Endpoint + DAC: Small, Good?

[watchnerd]

The last time I rolled a Roon endpoint from scratch was about 3-4 years ago.

I used a Raspberry Pi, one of the Roon-recommended distros, and a digital IO hat. No DAC.

Now I'd like to make a new one, but this time with a DAC built in.

Small size and quality is important. No full size PCs or NUCs. Something small enough to be tossed behind a book case and primarily administered/configured over the network.

Budget is flexible.

What's the best bang for the buck?

 

[BDWoody]

Have you tried a CCA?

 

[watchnerd]

Have you tried a CCA?

I haven't.

But I thought they were digital-out only?

And aren't they discontinued?

 

[BDWoody]

I haven't.

But I thought they were digital-out only?

And aren't they discontinued?

Nope... Dual purpose jack.

Yes, discontinued, but available and still supported and updated regularly.

 

[watchnerd]

Nope... Dual purpose jack.

Yes, discontinued, but available and still supported and updated regularly.

Thanks.

Does it support RAAT?

Or do they use some other protocol to talk?

 

[Soniclife]

Thanks.

Does it support RAAT?

Or do they use some other protocol to talk?

It's something Google, but roon just works with it, unless you want it synced with another zone. The analogue out has been measured by Amir, it's good enough unless you want to be paranoid, I use it in my headphone system.

 

[BDWoody]

Thanks.

Does it support RAAT?

Or do they use some other protocol to talk?

It is some kind of custom fix thing...but supports gapless (which matters to me) and gives me all the other EQ capabilities, etc.
It doesn't sync with other RAAT devices, but will with other CCA's, and some other CC devices.

 

[watchnerd]

It is some kind of custom fix thing...but supports gapless (which matters to me) and gives me all the other EQ capabilities, etc.
It doesn't sync with other RAAT devices, but will with other CCA's, and some other CC devices.

Hmmm, I was hoping for a RAAT-capable device so I could group it with others and create zones in Roon.

 

[BDWoody]

Hmmm, I was hoping for a RAAT-capable device so I could group it with others and create zones in Roon.

You can group/sync in Roon with multiple CCA's (using 7 for that exact purpose), just not mix and match with RAAT devices.

 

[watchnerd]

You can group/sync in Roon with multiple CCA's (using 7 for that exact purpose), just not mix and match with RAAT devices.

The later, mixing and matching with other RAAT devices, would be ideal.

Not a deal breaker, though.

 

[JustJones]

Hifi berry DAC+ , running Ropiee?

https://www.hifiberry.com/shop/boards/hifiberry-dac2-pro/

 

[BDWoody]

The later, mixing and matching with other RAAT devices, would be ideal.

Not a deal breaker, though.

I agree it would be better.
It's easier for me since I stocked up at the 2/$30 closeout. I just run the toslink into whatever I don't run analog into in all of my systems so everything can be isolated or grouped as desired.

It works remarkably well.

 

[watchnerd]

Hifi berry DAC+ , running Ropiee?

https://www.hifiberry.com/shop/boards/hifiberry-dac2-pro/

How good is the DAC?

There are at least half a dozen different DAC Hats out there.

 

[JustJones]

The Hifi Berry DAC + was measured here, whether the DAC2 Pro would be better , no idea.

https://audiosciencereview.com/foru...w-and-measurements-of-hifiberry-dac-pro.8555/

 

[watchnerd]

The Hifi Berry DAC + was measured here, whether the DAC2 Pro would be better , no idea.

https://audiosciencereview.com/foru...w-and-measurements-of-hifiberry-dac-pro.8555/

Thanks.

They also have the XLR versions.

Although I thought Allo were the new hotness in Pi DACs.

 

[Zensō]

I know you’re asking about DAC HATs, but one thing to consider is that the USB output issues inherent in older Rpi‘s are now solved with the Rpi4. You could run USB straight out of the Rpi into a Modi or Atom DAC.

 

[watchnerd]

I know you’re asking about DAC HATs, but one thing to consider is that the USB output issues inherent in older Rpi‘s are now solved with the Rpi4. You could run USB straight out of the Rpi into a Modi or Atom DAC.

More boxen?

Atom, maybe. But I'm never buying Schiit again.

 

[watchnerd]

Hifi berry DAC+ , running Ropiee?

https://www.hifiberry.com/shop/boards/hifiberry-dac2-pro/

Here is the list of DAC Hats supported by Ropiee:

• Allo BOSS DAC
• Allo DigiOne
• Allo DigiOne Signature
• Allo Katana DAC
• Allo Piano DAC
• Allo Piano DAC 2.1 a)
• Audiophonics ES9028Q2M
• Dion Audio LOCO DAC-AMP
• Dion Audio LOCO-V2 DAC-AMP
• HifiBerry AMP/AMP+/Amp2
• HifiBerry DAC/DAC+/DAC+ Pro/DAC+ DSP
• HifiBerry DAC2 HD
• HifiBerry DAC2 Pro
• HifiBerry Digi/Digi+/Digi+ Pro
• IQaudIO Pi-DAC(+/Pro/Zero)
• IQaudIO Pi-DigiAMP+
• IQaudIO Pi-Digi+
• Justboom AMP HAT, DAC HAT
• Justboom Digi HAT
• Orchard Audio ApplePi DAC
• Orchard Audio PecanPi DAC
• Pi 2 Design 502DAC P.4
• Pi 2 Design PI2AES
• Raspberry Pi DAC (I2S Generic)

Wow.

 

[watchnerd]

I think I've narrowed it down to either:

• HifiBerry DAC2 HD
• HifiBerry DAC+ Pro XLR

ASR reviewed the DAC+ Pro XLR here:

https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...d-measurements-of-hifiberry-dac-pro-xlr.8569/

Only a $40 price difference between the two, so money isn't really a factor.

The DAC itself is supposedly better on the DAC2 HD.

Thus it's more of a question about whether I want XLR or not (I do have devices and inputs that use it).

There is some additional commentary on the DAC2 HD here:

https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/hifiberry-dac2-hd-anyone-use-it.15958/