Recommend a RoPieee compatible DAC: Raspberry vs HiFiBerry vs others

Audio Gear Talk RoPieee
1

I have a HifiBerry DAC+ which I need to replace, as it stopped working after 5 years of honourable service (I had made a post here).

Can you recommend some options which you have found work well with Roon?
Any direct experience?
Any model I should avoid?

I know there are multiple models which can work, but I am specifically looking for recommendations on which ones have no or the least issues with driver incompatibility etc.

Should I go with the same HifiBerry DAC+ standard I had, or the DAC2 Pro, or change to a Raspberry Pi DAC+ ? Anything else?

  • I will connect the DAC to a small amp and some speakers
  • RCA or 3.5mm jack output will be fine
  • I will connect it to my network with a LAN cable
  • The Roon server runs on a Synology NAS with DSM7
  • I would like to be able to control the volume both from the amp and from the Roon app
  • Will I need a fan or heatsink?
  • I am based in the UK and would like something available here, without paying customs and import fees

Thanks!

2

Allo’s products available again here https://rabas.in/

I use their digital output products and a very old Katana DAC - but the Boss 2 DAC was very well reviewed.

I used to have both Allo and Hi Fi Berry but have ended up rationalising around Allo.

But if you want Hi Fi Berry I have a couple for sale in the sales area.

3

Are you committed to a Pi add on board?
I use a Schiit Modi (earlier version) with my Ropieee and am very happy with it.

4

I am completely agnostic on the brand or type of solutions.
I see on the Roon page that the Schiit Modi is Roon tested Title of Page
They don’t mention the Modi+, but I’d like to think compatibility is the same.

How do you use it with Roon? Does Roon automatically recognise it as an endpoint, so you don’t have to use RoPieee at all?
Do you flash an OS on a microsd card?
Is it plug and play or do you configure it via accessing a web interface at its IP?

5

The Modi is just a DAC. It isn’t an endpoint, the Pi is. Any Pi with Ropieee has to be connected to a DAC (internal or external) to work. Ropieee doesn’t work without some kind of DAC in the chain. The DAC itself doesn’t need to be Roon compatible. Roon sees it through the Pi/Ropieee, that is the compatible endpoint.
The Modi connects over USB to the Pi and you use the outputs of the Modi to connect to your speakers, etc.

There is nothing to setup on the Modi, just on the Ropieee Pi. The Modi is plug and play. The only “setup” is defining your DAC in the Ropieee web interface as “USB DAC”. Just like for a Pi with a Hat you have to define the DAC as a HAT in the Ropieee interface.

6

I see. Then I would prefer a Raspberry Pi solution, because it would be slightly cheaper and also less bulky: with the Raspberry I’d need to hide just a small box in the closet, whereas with the Modi I’d need two (the Modi plus a Raspberry)

7

Not trying to convince you, but the Modi isn’t a lot bigger than a Pi in a case.

8

Yes, but I would still need Modi + Pi, ie two boxes. And the combination would set me back ÂŁ155 for the Modi + ÂŁ50/60 for Pi with case.
Whereas I can get something like Pi DAC+ , Pi5, and case for ca. ÂŁ90

9

That’s not correct. USB DAC is plug-and-play and works out of the box. There is nothing to configure.

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