10-19-2022, 12:42 PM
@doobster
There are a variety of passive heat dissipation techniques for the Pi4B that keep it from over-temperature throttling but adding a HAT to the board complicates life. The combination can get pretty toasty in tight quarters. I run one Pi4B in an Argon One case with no fan and a USB DAC. The case gets noticeably warmer than ambient but not unpleasantly so. Just now, at idle, the CPU temp is 39 Celsius in 21 C ambient air.
As for sound quality of different DACs, it’s so subjective I wouldn’t venture an opinion. Some people (me included) like amirm’s Audio Science Review site; others hate it as too focused on measurements. Nevertheless, I’d start there to collect a short list of ca $100 “recommended” DACs to consider.
Several years ago I bought a Khadas Tone Board v1 for about that price. It’s my only USB DAC and I’m quite satisfied with it. No case and no extra features such as a display at that price. If I were to get another DAC I’d probably consider the Topping offers.
Regards,
Kent
There are a variety of passive heat dissipation techniques for the Pi4B that keep it from over-temperature throttling but adding a HAT to the board complicates life. The combination can get pretty toasty in tight quarters. I run one Pi4B in an Argon One case with no fan and a USB DAC. The case gets noticeably warmer than ambient but not unpleasantly so. Just now, at idle, the CPU temp is 39 Celsius in 21 C ambient air.
As for sound quality of different DACs, it’s so subjective I wouldn’t venture an opinion. Some people (me included) like amirm’s Audio Science Review site; others hate it as too focused on measurements. Nevertheless, I’d start there to collect a short list of ca $100 “recommended” DACs to consider.
Several years ago I bought a Khadas Tone Board v1 for about that price. It’s my only USB DAC and I’m quite satisfied with it. No case and no extra features such as a display at that price. If I were to get another DAC I’d probably consider the Topping offers.
Regards,
Kent
