I recently received my 502DAC Pro after a few months delay. It is working well with the Rasberry Pi and the included perspex case was a useful addition.
I’m currently using the balanced digital out into an external dac and integrated amplifier with no complaints so far. On initial testing I couldn’t detect any great difference in sound quality between using the analogue outputs direct to the amplifier or using either of the coax or the balanced digital outputs into the external dac. But this is in a fairly modest system mainly used for the TV and I need the external dac for the TV audio so it is staying for now.
The 502DAC Pro is currently out of stock at pi2design.com. Are there plans for an additional manufacturing run?
Hello there, anyone tried to install roon server on this device? I dont need hdd/ssd for music, as i use tidal with roon.
My aim is to have only one device for digital music, i dont want to use some PC/Mac + 502DAC.
So my dream setup: router -> pi2 502dac AES output (with roon server) -> External DAC -> AMP -> Speakers.
And i will control it from iPad.
ps. @Michael_Kelly @Michael_Kelly1 there was a question about 502AES. There is a huge demand to have one device with AES output, as there is no competitors on the market, sonore/sotm provide usb output.
Is there any updates about it?
Roon Server will not run on a Raspberry Pi - no way no how - It does run Roon Bridge very well however…try Ropieee or DietPi or even other basic linux distros with the Roon Bridge installation script.
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The current 502DAC already has AES/EBU output via ¼” Connector (an XLR Adapter is provided).
So with a separate RoonServer on PC/Mac/Linux (which can be in a separate room), your solution already exists.
Instead of RoonServer on the Pi3, it will run RoonBridge (as @wizardofoz hinted above).
In addition to the last couple of posts, I would also say that, even if you understand that you cant install Roon server on this device, the reality is that you can’t install ANYTHING on THIS device. The Pi 2 Design 502DAC is a raspberry pi hat that is installed on a raspberry pi. The installing of software happens on the raspberry pi, not the 502DAC. Maybe you understood this already, but they way I read your post, it sounds like you thought software gets installed on the 502DAC.
Thanks guys for the answers, yes, i understand, that this is just extension to the Pi device.
Nothing is perfect in this world 
I was hopping to reduce boxes in my setup, but im ok to have custom PC + Pi as a digital source!
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We have strong community of 502DAC users here http://dastereo.ru/t/pi2-design-502dac-nas-vseh-spasla-arm-shpyapa/16304
502 is best availabe PI-hat on the market!
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Agreed, it’s really well designed 
Ultra low noise linear regulator (LT3042) powering the low phase noise NDK clocks. Isolated digital outputs too. No surprise why it sounds so good!
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