Suptronics X400: how to get a good sound for $ 24

Good sound - this is something that everyone needs. Of course, everyone has an idea of ​​the sound quality. There is one film fans, music lovers - both, at audiophiles - the third. Today we will try to find a middle ground for a minimal cost.

As the home entertainment center is very fashionable and convenient to use Raspberry Pi and other similar fees for developers. This is not surprising: the board cheap and versatile. In addition, you can install a specially developed version of Linux to create a home media center. But the same Raspberry Pi scales well due to input-output universal interface.

Improve your small server can be by a variety of expansion cards. Today we will focus on one of the most interesting. This device is unpretentious gray box with nothing telling name X400 Raspberry Pi will transform into audiophile unit in three steps.

Characteristics

What is the X400? O expansion card for high quality analog audio signal into two channels (normal stereo). Receiving from the Raspberry Pi a digital signal via GPIO-connector, X400 own it decodes and amplifies without software operating system (that is, does not put additional sound distortion, the sound output the way it saved in the file). Thus, based on this card, you can build an interesting multimediaserver a knob that for smooth (Analog) changes in volume, which is lacking in many digital gadgets (it gives more accurate change volume).

Also, it uses a IR receiver that can be used for remote management of media devices. So, having a universal remote control (supplied with such set-top boxes), can be run on the server-based Raspberry old-fashioned, very convenient. But ordinary users buy separate receiver.

Operation

Stereo does not make the device interesting (though interested should know that even the Raspberry Pi in the latest revision has disgusting analog output audio stream). But the X400 is really worthy of attention. Fee based on high-quality DACs Burr-Brown and has a headphone amplifiers and main outputs.

All chips used have perfectly proved in the mid-segment of the audio devices. And we considered the board to audiophile standards, despite the apparent low volume. Yes, 20W very little... However, these 20 watts can rock the disco at 30 square meters with virtually no sound distortion.

All of these devices have a problem with quality catering. It was bad food leads to sound shake (jitter) is a major source of distortion. But here, it has a built-stabilizing circuit, which is not only to avoid lowering sound quality, but also energized Raspberry Pi, get rid of the additional interference on the part of the main board.

Unfortunately, screening is not provided, but it is easy to make yourself.

Installation and Setup

The installation process is pretty entertaining. The main part - dock GPIO pads, that is literally inserted into the audio card Raspberry Pi (incidentally, a GPIO pin board - working, so you can connect anything else).

After this it is sufficient to connect a "tulip" or pads (RCA), speakers or headphone output use. Now turn over power through a separate connector next to the GPIO block. And with trembling hands include Raspberry Pi... and acting on this manual developers.

conclusions

As a result, we get a great stereo, combined with the video receiver or multimediaserverom based Raspberry Pi. Cheap ($ 24 worth himself X400 and another $ 36 - Raspberry Pi 3) And very cool sounds.