Orchard Audio’s New PecanPi®+ DAC and Streamer Feature AKM’s Latest Flagship Chips

Orchard Audio introduces the PecanPi+ DAC and PecanPi+ Streamer, further expanding the highly reviewed line of PecanPi® products. The PecanPi+ DAC leverages Asahi Kasei Microdevices’ (AKM) latest flagship AK4499EXEQ digital-to-analog converter (DAC), and AK9141EQ ΔΣ modulator chips. The 4499 utilizes the latest multi-bit switched resistor DAC method, employing VELVETSOUND™ technology.

AKM’s design separates the digital processing and the digital-to-analog conversion into separate devices, minimizing the effects of digital noise within the analog output and resulting in a noticeable improvement in both sound quality and signal to noise ratio. The PecanPi+ design fully explores the benefits of the latest technological advancement in audio reproduction, providing pure, unaltered audio that wholly reproduces the source material. The AKM chips are coupled with extremely low noise power supplies, an ultra-low jitter clock, and the latest high-performance audio operational amplifiers from Burr-Brown (Texas Instruments). This enables the PecanPi+ DAC to achieve staggering performance.

The PecanPi+ Streamer is a plug-and-play high-resolution music streamer. Control music wirelessly using your phone, tablet, or computer. The device can also be connected to any digital transport utilizing S/PDIF. The PecanPi+ DAC is ideal for do-it-yourself (DIY) enthusiasts.

Preorder pricing is available thought the end of March.

Specifications: PecanPi vs. PecanPi+

Specification PecanPi PecanPi+
Signal-to-Noise Ratio: XLR output (A-wt)​ 130dB​ 133dB​
Signal-to-Noise Ratio: RCA output (A-wt)​ 124dB​ 128dB​
Dynamic Range: XLR output​ 125dB​ 129dB​
Dynamic Range: RCA output​ 122dB​ 124dB​
SINAD: XLR output​ 110dB​ 116dB​
SINAD: RCA output​ 110dB​ 112dB​
Bit/Sample Rates​ Up to 24-bit / 192Khz​ Up to 32-bit / 384kHz​

In my opinion, the arrangement of the boards in the steel case makes it possible to install an isolator or recklocker board. Now I am curious if you have heard from customers who have done just that.

Can the sound be topped?

At the moment I’m getting the best out of the device by switching off WLAN and Bluetooth, using a Raspberry 3 model B and plugging in USB terminators (Terra-Berry DAC2 Review - #61 by judydudi). The power supply is from https://www.osaelectronics.com/product-category/power-supplies/

Please note that the PecanPi and PecanPi+ DACs already have extremely good reclocking internally adding an external one will not do anything for you.

I also do not see any need for an isolator, that will only help in the event of improper grounding causing ground loops which somebody should not have any way, if an isolator is required in my opinion something else is wrong.

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I have however head from customers subjectively that replacing the standard 9V power supply that I provide with something better helps, but I have not been able to measure any difference using different power supplies.

wonderful. Many thanks for the info Leo.
Then I can let go of these thoughts out of my mind and just enjoy the great sound!

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