Raspberry Pi Hi-Res Soundcard DACs (to 24/192) - Sound Quality Comparisons?

[Beechwoods]

I have decided to order a Raspberry Pi B+ with the intention of running Logitech Media Server on it. I currently have LMS running on a MacMini, controlled via SqueezePlay on the Mac and iPeng on an iPad Mini, and sound out from the Mac is via Airfoil to an Airport Express with it's digi-out into a Caiman. This is great, but limited to 16/44 due to the Airport Express. I don't want to have the Mini next to my hifi and so can't go USB out direct into a DAC, and the Caiman, while great, only handles up to 24/96. I'm also on a strict (self-imposed) budget.

Going down the Raspberry Pi route will free the Mac Mini from Server duties, and there are a number of DAC's for the Pi that go up 24/192. I want a DAC that has RCA outs that can go into my pre-amp.

I'm considering the Wolfson Audio Card http://www.element14.com/community/community/raspberry-pi/raspberry-pi-accessories/wolfson_pi and the HiFi Berry DAC+ http://www.hifiberry.com/dacplus

On paper, the Wolfson has more ins and outs but I don't need anything other than the analogue RCA's. The HiFi Berry is just this, but doesn't seem to get so much said about it.

Has anyone had the opportunity to compare these two in terms of listening? I'm prepared to put up with fiddlier setups if the quality justifies it.

Many thanks for any comments!

[simon e]

There are some big threads over on the wam about different pi dac's.
Check out the iqaudio one. I believe they have a new version to fit the b+. Not sure if wolfson are developing a board to fit the new pi layout.

[Theadmans]

I use the Wolfson Card on the older Pi B (not B+). Fairly sure there is no Wolfson version for the B+.

The Wolfson Card was easy to fit (no soldering) just pushes on with a screw to keep it in place.

Sounds great either as a DAC or feeding my Bushmaster DAC via it's SPDIF coaxial output.

I do not have LMS loaded I just run the Pi as a Player (Squeezebox Touch) replacement. I used the excellent Squeezeplug project to install the SqueezeLite software which gives a clone of the SBT.

[Beechwoods]

Thank you for your replies. Having done some more research I've decided to preorder a IQaudIO.com Pi-DAC+ Which seems to be a bare bones DAC with an emphasis on playback and without the bells and whistles of the Wolfeson and with a better chip spec than the HiFi Berry.

My Raspberry Pi arrived today so I'll get LMS running on it and see how the DAC goes later.

I'll update the thread with what I find.

[keiths]

Hi Nick,

I've not compared it with any of the other RPi DACS, but I use the 'old' HiFiBerry on a Raspberry Pi B rev2 in a bedroom system (either into a DIY headphone amp, or into a Topping TP20 T-amp to Mission 760i speakers) and find it excellent.

http://www.simister.com/public/rpi.jpg

http://www.simister.com/public/rpi2.jpg