DACBerry ONE: Advanced Sound Card for Raspberry Pi
It’s time for Raspberry Pi users to enjoy high-definition audio playback, thanks to the innovative engineers from Spain. This project campaign started on Kickstarter and was funded to meet its goals. Let’s delve into the communication protocols, sound playback quality improvements, and specifications of the DACBerry One.
What type of audio jack does the DACBerry One feature?
Does it utilize the I2C bus communication protocol?
What is the maximum sound quality that this product can deliver?
What is the price of the DACBerry One?
DACBerry One: From Idea to Campaign in Half a Year
The professional engineers behind this project are from OSA Electronics in Barcelona. Before embarking on creating the DACBerry One, they thoroughly researched the market and identified an unexplored niche. Despite the broad range of multimedia applications for Raspberry Pi, there was no device dedicated to high-quality sound production. This realization inspired them to take on this project.
The journey from idea to campaign took approximately half a year. According to their Kickstarter campaign, mass production of the device is set to begin on January 19, 2017, with worldwide delivery.
Simple Installation and Unrivaled Sound Quality
DACBerry One comes in two variants: one designed for Raspberry Pi Zero, compatible with models A+, B+, 2B, and 3B. The slim PCB connects to the Raspberry Pi through a 40-pin connector, sharing the power jack. At the edge of the PCB, you’ll find a 3.5 mm audio jack, an optical SPDIF port, dual-channel coaxial input and output ports, which are selected using a two-pin jumper.
Detailed Specifications of DACBerry One
Notably, the DACBerry One doesn’t require an external power source as it draws power from the Raspberry Pi. The 3.5 mm audio jack is gold-plated to ensure a lossless signal. Additionally, it offers optional Optical TOSLINK and coaxial connectors, which can function as both input and output ports. The board is compatible with all Raspberry Pi models featuring 40-pin connectors and with other boards that support I2S communication protocols. Its design focuses on noise immunity by isolating digital circuits from analog circuits.
The DACBerry One board communicates with the Raspberry Pi using the I2S standard bus interface, a communication interface used to connect peripheral devices. The DACBerry One is capable of handling sound at up to 384 KHz with a 32-bit sampling rate.
DACBerry One: Success at Your Fingertips
Currently, DACBerry is compatible only with Raspberry Pi products. However, the manufacturer has plans to expand its compatibility to include more devices. The company’s goal is to provide high-quality sound for music and gaming while also aiming to make it an open-source project. The project has already garnered significant support within just three days of its launch. The DACBerry is priced at 35 Euros, which may be slightly higher than expected. Shipment of the product is expected to begin in March of this year.
Source: Kickstarter