Super glad you are reviewing his products, just discovered this brand, sounds like a good way to go! Thanks!

@abxaudiophiles

Ай бұрын

Still some of my favorites.

Dude, loved your description of the music sounding tense! That is exactly what I seem to 'feel' whenever I listen to DACs vs analog. Yes, it's clean, detailed, etc., but I always seem to relax less when listening to digital. Can't wait for the detailed reviews. This might be what I'm looking for.

@abxaudiophiles

7 ай бұрын

Exactly. We’re excited to do some follow up reviews.

I did not imagine my love for the EVERSOLO coming to a close... Until I met Orchard Audio and had a slice of their PECAN PI..... Come check out this very good streamer DAC. One step into the orchard and you will be enjoying the fruits. Remember, these DAC streamers are hardline ethernet only, No WIFI integration unless you get an extender or mesh, which OA links on their website - orchardaudio.com/

Nicely done as always Sir! To top it all, the money goes to charity, well done. Love from Scotland. Jim🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🙂

@abxaudiophiles

7 ай бұрын

Many thanks!

I just read every single comment...so much snark by people, jeezo. And clearly a lot of folk really not understanding what this product is bringing to the table... mainly it gets out of the way! I personally couldn't be happier that there are people out there tinkering away and coming up with solid, stable, super straightforward "boxes" that have absolutely zero fluff added and sound fantastic! If there is one thing I cannot stand, it's over designed gimmicky jazzed up stuff...I swear, seeing these huge screens being stuck on streamers these days brings me out in hives! Dont get me started on multi coloured LEDs. Im sure the Eversolo stuff sounds great, but I find them so ugly, just like all the other clones doing that same aesthetic. THIS little unit is right up my alley! I'm in the Netherlands and we have a very strong fondness for cottage industry/DIY HiFi, much like my native UK. I'd love to try one out somehow. Fingers crossed Orchard Audio somehow eventually find an EU distributor. I'm tempted to try and help set something up!

@abxaudiophiles

7 ай бұрын

Well said and my thoughts exactly. One thing that makes the boutique builders special is their direct to customer structure. It keeps the cost down for us consumers and gives us a much higher impact with our dollars spent. I don’t think Leo has any plans to utilize third party. You’ll just have to purchase from his website and pay the extra cost in shipping. Which still saves the consumer a ton vs the 100% markup from a dealer. 😊😊😀😀

How are you doing? I see you using the black and orange Belden cable, what is your experience with it? I bought it and it seemed to kill detail clarity in my system.

@abxaudiophiles

7 ай бұрын

They for sure did not add any, I have not dug very deep with them yet.. :) I still prefer my Pine Tree Audio Rainbow Braid.

This what I’m talking about; taking Audiophiles to the next level.

@abxaudiophiles

7 ай бұрын

Thank you.... :) This was a fun one to make... LOL

This review captured the Orchard Audio essence. I have had my system for about 18 months: NAS-Orchard Pican Pi-Moode-Orchard Starcrimson Monoblocks-KEF LS50. That's about $4k all in and it sounds great. Performance/Price is awsome. My room is small but if I do upgrade it will the speakers, I'm keeping my Orchard. For large digital libraries Moode is best. You cannot brows 2TB using the scroll wheel. Volumio makes you do that.

@abxaudiophiles

7 ай бұрын

Great info and feedback!! Thanks for sharing and I tried to capture what OA is, glad I got close. 😊😊😊

Great review as always If you choose roon endpoint How do you connect to streaming services like Amazon music and work it with your phone. Thanks

@abxaudiophiles

7 ай бұрын

When you open ROON, you log into your streaming service within the app and you’re up and running.

@ericschwartzberg5083

7 ай бұрын

Thanks James

@abxaudiophiles

7 ай бұрын

You are welcome.

That clarity you mentioned in the sound is something I heard the first time I heard a Cary CD player. I started crying in the store. Not sobbing. (I'm a guy!) But weeping. (That somehow sounds worse, doesn't it?) Either way, the sound was perfection. So you have me intrigued here. Very intrigued.

@abxaudiophiles

7 ай бұрын

When we get an experience that draws out emotion, it’s powerful. This same thing happened to my co reviewer when we were auditioning the Pecan Pi+ with the Starkrimson Ultra GaN amp… Both reviews coming soon.

@RowlandvilleTexas

7 ай бұрын

I contacted Orchard today. I'm looking for that first "moment" again, like with the Cary. Hoping this streamer-DAC offers that.@@abxaudiophiles

@abxaudiophiles

7 ай бұрын

It’s an addiction for sure 🤣😊… Just tell Leo what gear you have and what your goal is. The pi and Pi+ are different animals. One is more analog and musical and one is more clarity and detail focused.

Thank you very much for your time and effort.

@abxaudiophiles

7 ай бұрын

Thank you for making such a BADASS product.... :)

Appreciate your take here James. Thank you.

@abxaudiophiles

7 ай бұрын

My pleasure!

Have you ever done a review of Pine Tree Ausio? I know you have mentioned them but was wondering if you have reviewed any specific products.

@abxaudiophiles

7 ай бұрын

I have some in the works. I have reached out to them, but they are not willing to send review units out. They say they are too small and don't have the staff.

Can I puy this unit, connect an ethernet cable and use my laptop or phone through the WiFi signal using Spotify or Tidal connect. Is it good to go. Thank you for the review.

@abxaudiophiles

7 ай бұрын

There are many software options to integrate your streaming service.

@OrchardAudio

7 ай бұрын

Yes. You can do this. Volumio charges you a fee for premium options like Tidal Connect. Spotify integration is free no additional fee needed for that

FORGOT - These are hardline ethernet only, so no WIFI integration here unless you get a cheap extender or mesh, which OA does tell you and share links to on their website

@RowlandvilleTexas

7 ай бұрын

Do you think the Ethernet vs. Wi-Fi is partly responsible for the better sound?

@abxaudiophiles

7 ай бұрын

@@RowlandvilleTexas I’ve done some pretty good comparisons in this space and it’s totally minimal in my opinion. Some streamers actually sounding better on Wi-Fi. 🤷🏻‍♂️🤷🏻‍♂️. But who knows man, such a crazy dance we all dance. Lol.

@RowlandvilleTexas

7 ай бұрын

I checked out the Orchard site. Which device did you test? Looks like a base and a "3?" @@abxaudiophiles

@amb3cog

7 ай бұрын

@@RowlandvilleTexasIME the big issue with wifi isn't the sound so much as the dropouts. Which is why I went to ethernet myself. ✌️

@amb3cog

7 ай бұрын

So for those that are interested in this, but like myself can't use a hard wired connection where my HiFi is. There is an easy alternative I've figured out. And I tried everything else already BTW. Like wifi extenders, and then later a satellite router setup. None of them, despite working fine with everything else. Would stop the dropouts, except for going ethernet which I did in the end. Well kind of anyway. See I can't get a real hard wired connection in my room. So I bought a nicer satellite router system that has extra ethernet ports in the satellites themselves. And despite it not being an actual hard wired connection. Because the signal is wireless from the main router to the satellite. I get zero dropouts, and the system thinks it's a regular hard wired connection. So problem solved. I highly recommend that you get a system designed for a bigger place than your in too. My place is 2400 sq ft. The system is for a 4500 sq ft. And it absolutely crushes the performance of my previous system which was designed for 2500 sq ft. And it was less. Because it was a refurbished unit I bought at Woot dot com. They have them there often. It was only about $100. But was originally $500, or so I think. And a regular 5ghz one is more than fine. Don't worry about wifi 6, or higher. It's kind of useless IMHO. Especially with 4 ethernet ports in your satellite. ✌️

That intro, you are a dork, and I love it, good stuff man. I don’t get the point of any streamer above the WiiM mini, yet, but my setups are all pretty cheap. I am planning on putting together a much better 2 channel system over the next year that’ll probably total $4k or more. So, maybe this would make sense in a setup like that since most of my listening will be thru a streamer? I like bells and whistles but I’d love to give this a shot at a head to head against the WiiM mini and a J2 to see if I can tell what the fuss is about before I start to get all judgy on it…

@abxaudiophiles

7 ай бұрын

HA!!! Yea man, I love being a goofball... Glad you liked it.. We did a full shoot out with the Wiim Pro / J2 AKM4499 against the Pecan Pi Dac Streamer... There was only one choice for Kelly and I, and you know how much he loves his Wiim streamer and the J2.... Not that any of them were BAD, as I said in my review. But once you hear the Orchard Audio stuff on a system that resolves it, there was no going back for either of us... :)

@Brian_Romska

7 ай бұрын

Cool, ya definitely liked the intro and the entire vid, also definitely looking forward to doing the side by side, I really don’t think that

Enjoyed the video I have to say though I can blame orchard audio and I can blame the raspberry pi. That's the reason I got out of raspberry type streamers, because of constant software issues and ad hoc solutions to actually be able to listen to your music. Either that or go away for a week for work and come back and have to reinstall software just to make the thing usable again. Don't get me wrong I'm glad some people have had great success with volumio and other similar software but I have nothing but bad luck with them and granted I enjoyed the sound quality when it worked. I think that's why ultimately I enjoy the blue sound ecosystem as much as I do, because it just works and it always just works and there's never any issues that I've had. I can go away for a whole month and come back and open the app on my phone and start listening to music like I never left. Are there better sounding streamers, yes, but how much crap do you want to put up with in the pursuit of good sound?, well trust me when I say I hit my limit.

@abxaudiophiles

7 ай бұрын

Good points. Although, I had more issues with the Blue Sound UI than I have with my new Pecan Pi+ Ultra streamer that was set up right at the factory. We only had issues because we were using a version that wasn’t intended for ROON. The best UI I have had to date is ROON, and the best native app I’ve used is the EverSolo DMP A-6, that app destroys the node and Wiim UI. But hey, as long as you like what you like and it leads to listening. 🥰🥰🥰😊😊

I have a BlueSound Vault 2 load with all my music , like to coax it to the the Orchard and Orchard to my Audio Space AS -i3 on to my Casta B horn speakers

@abxaudiophiles

7 ай бұрын

Very nice!! What do you like about your Orchard Audio DAC?

Thanks! I got a lot out of this.

@abxaudiophiles

7 ай бұрын

Sweet man!! I am glad it was helpful. :)

@ChadBlanchard23

6 ай бұрын

You've gotten me very excited about the Pecan Pi. How did it compare to the Plus? Or is that another video? If so, I'm hoping it might come out before Black Friday sales. It's all good, of course. Thanks again!@@abxaudiophiles

@abxaudiophiles

6 ай бұрын

@@ChadBlanchard23 They are both available now. The pi is burr brown based and more of an analog and natural vibe. The pi+ is AKM based and more clarity focus, and detail based. Slightly more neutral, with a bit better imaging. Black Friday sales for both coming up!! I’ll be doing specific reviews on each in the next couple weeks.

@ChadBlanchard23

6 ай бұрын

Thanks so much! I'm so psyched!@@abxaudiophiles

Wow, sounds like a great product. Although I like the bells and whistles, good sound for a good price is the ultimate goal. Just for us here outside the US, it probably isn't worth it. Shipment costs, import duties, no legal warranty (Europe style) etc makes it difficult. Hope it will be possible one day to buy it locally here.

@abxaudiophiles

7 ай бұрын

Fingers crossed! 😊😊👍🏼

@OrchardAudio

7 ай бұрын

I have a bunch of very happy customers in Europe. I do understand import duties make the product more expensive for people outside of the US. Unfortunately, not something I can do about it.

@obscurazone

7 ай бұрын

​@@OrchardAudioI'd try and find out who Schiit are using for their European distributor, maybe you could piggyback on their delivery chain! I really love your philosophy and approach to design - so many of us absolutely hate the "bells n whistles" bloated stuff, with huge ugly screens and blinking LEDs everywhere. All we crave is a straightforward box that is plug n play and sounds fantastic. You've hit the nail on the head it seems and I think the EU market could be huge for you.

@OrchardAudio

7 ай бұрын

@@obscurazone any time you have a distributor or dealer the price goes up because they need their margin, and they also have to pay for the customs fees. The least expensive way is direct to consumer.

@robinr5787

7 ай бұрын

@@OrchardAudio thanks for your answer, good to hear directly from you. And I understand, but is a deal breaker for me. Know that many would pay more for local support. Nonetheless, I wish you all the best and success with these products.

I’ve to believe my next and last investment in these types of devices will be the everSOLO DMP-A8, of which its cost of $2000, is where I choose to tap out.

@abxaudiophiles

7 ай бұрын

It’s a great proposition.

@anmic3590

6 ай бұрын

Hi! I’m also at this point, looking forward to receive the dmp-a8. In the meantime, I’m still trying to find better alternatives for my stereo system. I do have the node x coax through fiio k9 pro ess for my empyreans headphones, but for my stereo is still hard to find the best streamer/dac in this budget. Not really interested in the preamp part, but only streaming tidal and get the best sound of it on my focal aria 948 with pioneer c73/m73 amps.

@abxaudiophiles

6 ай бұрын

@@anmic3590 all great stuff. 👍🏼😀

@anmic3590

6 ай бұрын

@@abxaudiophiles Thank you! I think I should stop researching. :) Now I included in the equation the Naim Uniti Atom Headphones Edition for my Empyreans (with the fiio and node moved to stereo system) or to save more and get the Nad M33 instead of Eversolo A8 and change the preamp/amp class a/b from Pioneer if the M33 would sound better. So it’s getting complicated, with no option to test all of these. :)

@abxaudiophiles

6 ай бұрын

@@anmic3590 - That’s always the frustrating part! Not being able to test. I would suggest anything you can get on Amazon do so, as their return policy is insane good.

I like burr-brown chips as well.

@abxaudiophiles

7 ай бұрын

Lot to love there. 🥰🥰😊😊. And it’s much more about the DAC network and the way it’s built and the parts I used that squeezes all the musical juice from that chip…. That’s what OA does so well.

You are reviewing both the ES and Orchad as streamer+dac, would you comment any as streamers only ..thnks

@abxaudiophiles

7 ай бұрын

Only because that is what they are, they are streamer dacs. As streamers alone if you were to isolate the streaming sections, I doubt you would hear any difference between the two.

@OrchardAudio

7 ай бұрын

@@abxaudiophiles Technically you could connect a USB DAC to it, to bypass the internal DAC if you wanted to.

@abxaudiophiles

7 ай бұрын

@@OrchardAudio Yes, technically you can, but we did that and ran all the way up to the Schuman Ladder DAC $1,500, and the Pi DAC was still better. 🤷🏻‍♂️🤷🏻‍♂️. When it’s good, it’s just good. Beating out the ARES II and the Ladder Schuman - 🤣🤣 I’ll cover that more thoroughly in my following reviews. 😉😉

this would be a no go with my Anthem avm90.

@abxaudiophiles

6 ай бұрын

What leads you to that conclusion?

First opinion after watching review ..this black box with that small knob looks like very amateur final product, no hard feelings, just opinion...and its a Pi stuff in it, I dont understand advantages for sound but ok. I understand that sound counts, but i think many of us are visual type of persons. Remote ..I believe remote control is also not possible, because of sound quality.. About that black friday talking.. shame, review looked even more like commercial. Not to forget...I order something and I want it later to use the other services etc ...it not possible. No comment what is the best sounding "product"...and all that without dsd playing posibility in 2023...

@bolhabolha-kw7tw

7 ай бұрын

Agree

@KGB007keylogger

7 ай бұрын

Understand patriotism, but no thanks.

@ZagorjanAles

7 ай бұрын

What a joke 😂. You don't even know whats the volume with that knob.

@abxaudiophiles

7 ай бұрын

It is all about preference and what your goals are.. If the best sound performance possible is your goal, then you know the answer. If that other stuff is, then you know your answer... Simple. :) Great feedback tho! Appreciated.

@abxaudiophiles

7 ай бұрын

And regarding the Black Friday reference. Not sure why I would not mention a way for our viewers to save money!! LOL These are NOT paid or influenced reviews, that's not what we do here..... But if anyone wants to waste money, ignore the BF reference.

No chance ill keep my eversolo forever ...u can have that black box mate...looks .like a fiat uno

@abxaudiophiles

5 ай бұрын

All good with that my friend... Gotta do what works best for you :)

Pretty much describing delta sigma vs r2r dac.

@abxaudiophiles

7 ай бұрын

In a general way for sure. But it’s much more about the DAC network design, parts used, and implementation that squeezes all the music out of the DAC chip. I’ve heard bad and good or each style. 😊😊

If those two streamers were 2 women and I was choosing based on looks, come on guys…. you were thinking the same, I would have picked the Eversolo. 😂

@abxaudiophiles

6 ай бұрын

100% correct. 🤣🤣

@OrchardAudio

6 ай бұрын

In early 2024, we will be releasing a version of the streamer that will have much better looks. Stay tuned. The plan currently is to Debut it at the Florida Audio Expo in February.

You can’t really compare it to the WiiM Pro. $150 to something that is 3X the cost. Furthermore, WiiM Pro is Roon end point. To me Roon is useless, and why would you want to pay extra for a pretty looking UI, and you’ve got to have a PC running in order for Roon to work. I like my setup headless, and controlled via phone or tablet. However, I have heard and read nothing but good things from Orchard Audio.

@abxaudiophiles

7 ай бұрын

Wiim pro $150, Linear Power supply $140, upgraded cabling $100, Ladder Schuman $1500. That’s what we put it up against. The OA is ROON ready as well. To me ROON is far more than a pretty UI, as I run multiple systems and need to group gear for reviewing. Also the deep dive into the music is a plus for me. But you’re right, it’s not for everyone. 😊😊👍🏼🥲

You also fail to mention you must pay for additional services aka roon and Volumio…without either service this unit is a brick.

@abxaudiophiles

7 ай бұрын

Not true. Volumio is free. There are many options to integrate that don’t cost money. Go check out there website.

So you wanna tell us that No screen, Not even one led indicator for anything, No information on device, No dsd option (at least not in specs), on demand packed black box is real deal. Sound counts, yea right

@abxaudiophiles

7 ай бұрын

100%.... :) All the cost goes directly into making the best sound possible. Which for me is becoming most important. But everyone has to choose what works best for them. There is no right or wrong answer. But a $500 DAC Streamer that focuses on sound performance only and not bells and whistles can easily and quickly surpass products at twice the price whos focus in on bells and whistles. :) Thanks for watching and the feedback. I am just here to bring my real experience in this stuff. :)

@ZagorjanAles

7 ай бұрын

What is benefit of not seeing the volume set? Thats the first thing that came on my mind. In my setup that must have, probably not the only one of that kind of user. Apriciate your time for making reviews btw.

@abxaudiophiles

7 ай бұрын

Thank you, fun video to make... There is an indicator on the knob. But in most cases, people will be integrating with a preamp of sorts, so you just turn the volume all the way up, and it's basically a bit perfect bypass. I literally NEVER use the volume knob on the unit as I XLR out to my Freya+ or RCA out to my Prima Luna. And in the case of AMP direct integration, I again, use the volume maxed on the Pi and utilize the volume in ROON... And at the end of the day, what is it all about? Finding a product that fits your needs, if this doesn't, then no biggie, there are a MILLION others out there that will... Wiim mini, Wiim Pro, Wiim Pro+, Blue Sound Node, Eversolo, Topping, SMSL, Naim, AudioNote, Axxes, and a BAZILLION more.

What a bunch of rubbish.... We don't want to talk (wow amazing box) we want to see the insind.... That's what's matters 👀

@abxaudiophiles

7 ай бұрын

All viewable on their website. If you don’t appreciate my reviews there are 10,000 others to watch elsewhere. Cheers.

Orchard = overpriced. They used to be reasonably priced. People are paying $800 for a beefed up raspberry pi with a dac, linear power supply, and aluminum chassis. Nothing special. The DIY community has been making these things for years. Update an Eversolo Master Edition to Linear Power Supply and then test them side by side.

@abxaudiophiles

6 ай бұрын

We have…. The pecan pi+ betters the ARES II, Ladder Schuman, EverSolo with the LPS upgrade. All $1000+ DACs alone.. They aren’t overpriced in our experience and now the ARES and Ladder sit gathering dust.

The Eversolo is not good dude

@abxaudiophiles

6 ай бұрын

That’s not an accurate statement. Not even close to one.

@REX4340

6 ай бұрын

@@abxaudiophiles lol, ok then

@abxaudiophiles

6 ай бұрын

@@REX4340 yes, it’s ok then. 👍🏼👍🏼. I’ve heard piles of streamers and DACs this year… from $100 to $2000…. The A6 is a solid streamer DAC for sure.

@REX4340

6 ай бұрын

@@abxaudiophiles try a TEAC 701N, your perspective will change.

That's whats up !!

@abxaudiophiles

7 ай бұрын

V3!!! FIRE

@Rocker6969

7 ай бұрын

@@abxaudiophiles we need the meme !!

@abxaudiophiles

7 ай бұрын

We do!!!