USB DAC compatibility List

Name: Pioneer N-50A
Receiver: C-Media CM6632A
DAC: Dual ESS Sabre 9011S
Async: YES
Working with Volumio: YES
Tested Versions and Platforms: 2.389 + Raspberry Pi 1 Model B rev. 2 and Pi 3 Model B
Harware Mixer on Volumio: NO
HW Mixer string: N/A
Comments: 16/44.1 up to 24/192 PCM working. Native DSD not supported.
Buying Link: Discontinued

Name: Melin Audio, Convertisseur DSD01
Receiver: Xmos XU216
DAC: ESS ES9018K2M
Async: YES
Working with Volumio: YES
Tested Versions and Platforms: ALL
Harware Mixer on Volumio: YES
HW Mixer string:
Comments: 44.1-384khz and DSD64 DSD128. Great DAC ! It sounds fantastic with Volumio !
Buying Link: melin-audio.com/convertisseurdsd/index.html

Hi,

Name: Denon PMA-2500NE
Receiver: USB XMOS
DAC: TI PCM1795 (DSD64/128/256 capable)
Async: Capable of Async Playback YES
Working with Volumio: Not fully, DAC is recognized as PMA-2500NE, PCM OK, DoP OK, but Native DSD is converted as PCM384Khz :frowning:
Tested Versions and Platforms: Sparky via USBridge - 2.348
Harware Mixer on Volumio: NO
HW Mixer string: N/A
Comments: PCM is working, DoP is working(Denon report DSD in the front screen), Native DSD is not working
Buying Link: At your hifi store…

Thanks for patching :sunglasses:

Name: Topping D50
Receiver: Xmos XU208
DAC: 2 x ESS ES9038Q2M
Async: YES
Working with Volumio: YES
Tested Versions and Platforms: ALL
Harware Mixer on Volumio: YES
HW Mixer string:
Comments: 768khz and DSD515 native. Great DAC ! It works like a charm with Volumio.
Link: en.tpdz.net/products_detail/productId=37.html

Name: Luminare with DAC
Receiver: Xmos 500 MIPS
DAC: ???
Async: YES
Working with Volumio: YES
Tested Versions and Platforms: 2.394 on X86
Harware Mixer on Volumio: YES
HW Mixer string:
Comments: Ultimativ Headphone Amp for STAX and dynamic Headphones with optional DAC. DSD (only DSD64 tested) native and PCM until 384 kHz.
Link: audiovalve.info/de/shop/hea … rto-kopie/

Name: RME ADI-2 DAC
Receiver: not published --> non Xmos
DAC: AK4490
Async: YES
Working with Volumio: YES
Tested Versions and Platforms: X86
Harware Mixer on Volumio: YES
HW Mixer string:
Comments: 768khz and DSD512 native and via DoP. Really good DAC and headphone amp with a lot of features.
Link: rme-audio.de/en/products/adi_2-dac.php

Name: Pro-Ject USB S DAC BOX (the original)
Receiver: Audion Silver Night 300 B Stereo Tube
DAC: 24bit/96kHz D/A- Texas Instruments TLV320DAC23, 8 x Oversampling design
Async: (? - )
Working with Volumio: Yes - Use DS over PCM along with Hardware (or None) Mixer type.

Tested Versions and Platforms: Rasberry Pi 3 (A) and Volumio 2.389
Harware Mixer on Volumio: YES
HW Mixer string:
Comments: Uses a self-configuring USB port which seem to demand a RPi-reboot after each adjusting/changing the Playback Mixer Type.
Buying Link: lefflers.se

box-designs.com/main.php?tec … lt&lang=en

Name: SMSL SU-8
Receiver: USB XCore200 Xu208
DAC: ES9038Q2M x2
Async: YES
Working with Volumio: works fine with PCM up to 192khz, it does NOT work with DSD/USB
Tested Versions and Platforms: RPI-3B, Volumio 2.444
Hardware Mixer on Volumio: NO
HW Mixer string: N/A
Comments: RCA-Out (2V), XLR-Out (4V), Remote Control, 7 filters for music coloration, DSD only cracks and pops, not capable
Buying Link: Amazon

For some reasons, it plays via USB very very quiet under Volumio and plays normal under desktop PC. Awful under USB anyway, Foobar or others, often stops playing and then shows “Could not initiliaze driver”. If I were to operate this unit under USB I would send it back. No way.

Name: Accuphase DAC-40
Receiver: Accuphase E-470
DAC: USB DAC
Async: ?
Working with Volumio: YES
Tested Versions and Platforms: Raspberry PI 3 B+ (with Allo BOSS I2S DAC)
Hardware Mixer on Volumio: NO
HW Mixer string: N/A
Comments: All DAC-40 supported features
Buying Link: ?

This is pretty much the one thread that shows up when googling if the Benchmark Dac1 USB will work with USB from a RaspberryPi, and there is a previous comment it doesn’t, however it DOES work straight out of the box, I simply selected it in the list of DACs (Benchmark Dac 1 turned up when it was connected), and turned off i2s and voilà, sound! USB is limited to 96kbit/s / 24bit (USB 1.1 bandwidth), lower than spdif @195kbits/s. As if anyone could tell the difference?

Name: Benchmark Dac 1 USB
Receiver: no idea
DAC: Analog Devices AD1853 (according to Stereophile)
Async: I think so
Working with Volumio: YES
Tested Versions and Platforms: My RPi is a B model B+ v1.2
Harware Mixer on Volumio: NO
HW Mixer string: n/a
Comments: according to specs, the spdif/ RCA input is transformer coupled, so if one picks up spdif HAT, it doesn’t need to be transformer coupled.
Buying Link: discontinued (but well worth picking up used! Still sounds GREAT 2018, and I am using it in a high end system.)

Name: Khadas (Generic) Tone Board
Receiver: XU208-128-QF48
DAC: ES9038Q2M
Async: Yes
Working with Volumio: Yes, gets recognized under XMOS-208
Tested Versions and Platforms: RPI 3B
Harware Mixer on Volumio:
HW Mixer string:
Comments: see for Specs: khadas.com/tone-specs

No probs under Volumio. Great sound with SINAD > 120dB. Input is hierarchically regulated. If no audio signal detected on USB-C then it will automatically play on Coax, as soon as it detects an audio signal on USB-C it will overrule the coax and play this. No case available from the manufacturer. It costs US-$ 99 direct from the Shenzhen-based manufacturer. It’s not a HAT for RPI, it’s a sole DAC board. The three connectors are astonishly premium quality, well done!!

Name: Chord Qutest
Receiver: ?
DAC: Custom FPGA Implementation
Async: Yes
Working with Volumio: Yes
Tested Versions and Platforms: Volumio 2.502 on RPi 3B+
Hardware Mixer on Volumio: No
HW Mixer string:
Comments:

** Updated.

Name: SMSL M8A
Receiver: USB: XMOS-XCroe 200 Xu20
DAC: ESS ES9028Q2M
Async: YES
Working with Volumio: YES
Tested Versions and Platforms: several up to 2.513 on RPi 3B+
Hardware Mixer on Volumio: NO
Comments:

  • powered by SMSL P2 Linear Power Supply, though no audible difference to M8A original power supply
  • still needs to be configured as “DSD to PCM” to run DSD direct and vice versa

Name: Marantz NA8005
Receiver: TI TMS320C6748BZWT
DAC: Cirrus Logic CS4398-CZ
Async: YES
Working with Volumio: YES
Tested Versions and Platforms: 2.513 on x86
Harware Mixer on Volumio: No
HW Mixer string:
Comments:

  • The mixer needs to be set up on Hardware, even if the volume control doesn’t work
  • DSD works in DoP mode up to DSD 128

Name: Rotel A12
Receiver: -
DAC: WM8740
Async: YES
Working with Volumio: YES
Tested Versions and Platforms: 2.522 on Raspberry Pi 3 B+
Harware Mixer on Volumio: No
HW Mixer string:
Comments:

  • DoP works only in USB 1.0 mode

Name: FiiO X5 II (DAP + DAC combo)
Receiver: N/A
DAC: PCM1792
Async: YES
Working with Volumio: YES
Tested Versions and Platforms: Volumio 2.526 & RPi 3B+
Hardware Mixer on Volumio: N/A
HW Mixer string: N/A
Comments: needs to be configured as "DSD over PCM (Dop)„.

Name: Marantz NA8005
Receiver:
DAC: Cirrus Logic CS4398-CZ
Async: YES
Working with Volumio: YES
Tested Versions and Platforms: 2.526 on RPI 3A+
Harware Mixer on Volumio: No
HW Mixer string:
Comments:
DSD works in DSD Direct

Name: ARCAM rDAC
Receiver:
DAC: Wolfson’s WM8741
Async: YES
Working with Volumio: YES
Tested Versions and Platforms: Raspberry Pi 3B, Volumio 2.555
Hardware Mixer on Volumio: don’t know
HW Mixer string: don’t know.
Comments: Plug & Play works out of the box. Connected via USB.

Name: Khadas (Generic) Tone Board
Receiver: XU208-128-QF48
DAC: ES9038Q2M
Async: Yes
Working with Volumio: Yes, gets recognized under XMOS-208
Tested Versions and Platforms: RPI 3B+
Harware Mixer on Volumio: Yes, after Khadas Tone Board firmware update :
docs.khadas.com/toneboard/Howto … mware.html
HW Mixer string:
Comments:
DSD rendering is not working
EXTREME CARE MUST BE TAKEN as playing dsd stream result in harsh distorsion played very loud, volume control (soft and hard) being automatically set to 100% by volumio
TAKE CARE if your amp doesn’t have any volume control !!!
No pb at all when playing other stream, volume control (hard and soft) work perfectly.
Some very useful functionnality : volume control setting at startup, maximum volume reachable (great for amp without volume control).
If no audio signal detected on USB-C then it will automatically play on Coax, as soon as it detects an audio signal on USB-C it will overrule the coax and play this : works perfectly
Spotify Connect : no sound from the Tone Board for the moment (hard/soft issue ?)
Volumio is correctly discovered by spotify app.
When selected, and music launched, nothing happen…