{"id":43267,"date":"2019-01-08T14:37:12","date_gmt":"2019-01-08T12:37:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.max2play.com\/?p=43267"},"modified":"2019-01-08T14:37:12","modified_gmt":"2019-01-08T12:37:12","slug":"overview-of-raspberry-pi-sound-card-specs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.max2play.com\/en\/2019\/01\/overview-of-raspberry-pi-sound-card-specs\/","title":{"rendered":"Overview of Raspberry Pi Sound Card Specs"},"content":{"rendered":"[spb_text_block pb_margin_bottom=“no“ pb_border_bottom=“no“ width=“1\/1″ el_position=“first last“]\n

In our sound card comparison, different terms regarding the performance features and built-in components of our sound cards appear which may not be familiar to everyone. That’s why we have categorized these terms and collected them in three easy-to-read tables. For each one you can find short descriptions in the tables which simply explain their essential characteristics. If you have any questions or feedback, feel free to leave a comment below.<\/p>\n[\/spb_text_block]\n[blank_spacer height=“30px“ width=“1\/1″ el_position=“first last“]\n\n\n\n\n\n
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Core Components<\/h3>\n<\/td>\n

<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Sound Chip<\/strong><\/td>\nintegrated circuit for sound output on computers<\/td>\nThe heart of the sound card with D\/A converter and interfaces to the rest of the system. The sound chip enables the sound output and directly affects the sound quality. It specifies sound parameters such as maximum sampling rate and bit depth. If necessary, values such as filters and the dynamic range can be adjusted.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Clock<\/strong><\/td>\nensures correct timing during operation<\/td>\nSubmits pulses at a specific frequency. Consists mostly of an oscillator with quartz crystal, from whose frequency higher and lower frequencies are generated by synthesis. Thus, a constant output signal in frequency and amplitude is ensured.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n\n
Headphone amplifier<\/strong><\/td>\naffects volume when using headphones<\/td>\nAdditional amplifier for operating headphones, which directly affects the maximum volume.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
GPIO<\/strong><\/td>\ngroup of multiple pooled contacts, slot for HAT sound card<\/td>\nGeneral contact pins on an integrated circuit whose behavior can be determined by programming.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

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Other Components<\/h3>\n<\/td>\n

<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Filter capacitors<\/strong><\/td>\nabsorbs voltage peaks, ensures an even current flow<\/td>\nLow AC impedance capacitors for diverting high frequency noise. Attenuate transient voltage pulses, caused by (e.g.) switching operations.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Film capacitors<\/strong><\/td>\nBlock voltage spikes and high (spurious) pulses in the higher frequency range<\/td>\nDue to the lower series resistance they have excellent pulse and current carrying capacity and a very high insulation resistance.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n\n\n
Audio filter<\/strong><\/td>\nfilter certain frequencies<\/td>\nAudio filters can amplify, transmit or attenuate some frequency ranges.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
EEPROM<\/strong><\/td>\nfor storing smaller amounts of data, usually preset by the manufacturer<\/td>\nA nonvolatile electronic memory device that stores data in which the information must be preserved even without applied supply voltage.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Inductor<\/strong><\/td>\nprotects the board from destructive voltage spikes and high inrush currents<\/td>\nA passive two-terminal electrical component that stores energy in a magnetic field when electrical current flows through it.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n\n\n
Switch Mode Transformer (DC-DC Transformer)<\/strong><\/td>\nconverts the voltage level of a DC power source into another (after converting it to high frequency AC power)<\/td>\nUsed for galvanic isolation when operating a switching power supply to an AC line. Improves the voltage balance between transmitter and receiver circuits.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
DC-DC Converter<\/strong><\/td>\nconverts the voltage level of one DC source into another<\/td>\nElectrical circuit that converts a DC voltage supplied to the input into a DC voltage with a higher, lower or inverted voltage level.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Jitterbuffer<\/strong><\/td>\nminimizes the clock skew<\/td>\nSignal is held in a buffer to ensure trouble-free operation if the original signal is affected by jitter. (e.g. NB3L553 in Allo BOSS DAC)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n
\n

Interfaces, Parameters and Software<\/h3>\n<\/td>\n

<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Sampling rate<\/strong><\/td>\nFrequency of converting an analog to digital signal<\/td>\nFrequency with which an analogue signal (time-continuous) is sampled (measured) in a given time and converted into a time-discrete signal. Unit: Hertz<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Bit depth<\/strong><\/td>\ndetermines the dynamic range of the signal<\/td>\nNumber of bits used in quantizing the analog signal per sample. Unit: Bit<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Sampling of a time-continuous signal:
\nAllocation of the voltages to a bit value after each sampling interval.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Output Power<\/strong><\/td>\nPower sent to the speakers in watts.<\/td>\nPower that is delivered at the output terminals of a power source continuously or as a time-limited overload. The output power of the amplifier determines among other things the achievable volume. (Amp related value)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Signal-to-noise ratio (SNR)<\/strong><\/td>\nEvaluation score assessing the quality of the audio signal<\/td>\nMeasure for the technical quality of the wanted signal, which is overlaid by a noise signal. Ratio of the mean power of the wanted signal to the mean noise power of the interfering signal. Unit: Bel<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
I2S<\/strong><\/td>\nInterface for the transmission of digital audio data<\/td>\nInterface for communication between integrated circuits with serial digital audio data.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
ALSA (Advanced Linux Sound Architecture)<\/strong><\/td>\nstandard sound architecture for Linux systems<\/td>\nBasic component of the sound system under Linux. Provides the core modules that can be used to address the sound adapter.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

[spb_text_block pb_margin_bottom=“no“ pb_border_bottom=“no“ width=“1\/1″ el_position=“first last“] In our sound card comparison, different terms regarding the performance features and built-in components of our sound cards appear which may not be familiar to everyone. That’s why we have categorized these terms and collected them in three easy-to-read tables. For each one you can find short descriptions in the tables which simply explain […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13459,"featured_media":43233,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_bbp_topic_count":0,"_bbp_reply_count":0,"_bbp_total_topic_count":0,"_bbp_total_reply_count":0,"_bbp_voice_count":0,"_bbp_anonymous_reply_count":0,"_bbp_topic_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_reply_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_forum_subforum_count":0},"categories":[187],"tags":[1122,1205,1109,2619,1336,1208,2620],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.max2play.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/43267"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.max2play.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.max2play.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.max2play.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/13459"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.max2play.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=43267"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.max2play.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/43267\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":43274,"href":"https:\/\/www.max2play.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/43267\/revisions\/43274"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.max2play.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/43233"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.max2play.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=43267"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.max2play.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=43267"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.max2play.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=43267"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}