Cable not included
DB25 to 8 XLR male
Connect to the balanced XLR inputs of active monitors, power amplifiers or studio equipment.
Male DB25 at the board → 8 male XLR plugsTHE MULTICHANNEL HAT FOR RASPBERRY PI 5
8xOUT STUDIO
Small board.
Big sound.
Eight outputs.
8xOUT STUDIO brings eight balanced analogue outputs to your Raspberry Pi 5 through a studio-standard DB25 connector. Connect XLR or 1/4-inch TRS equipment using a matching TASCAM / AES59 breakout cable.
Plug-and-play on Raspberry Pi OS. Automatically recognized, with no extra board driver to install. Select its eight outputs in CamillaDSP or another Raspberry Pi audio application that supports eight-channel ALSA playback.
Exceptional conversion starts with two ESS SABRE ES9081Q DACs: 124 dB dynamic range and −110 dB THD+N typical DAC performance.*
Powered by your Pi. USB ports stay free. Audio and power use the 40-pin header, with no separate power supply for the audio board.
Original price was: 109,90€.89,90€Current price is: 89,90€.
Preorder. Estimated dispatch from 16 November 2026, subject to final production and software checks. Not for immediate dispatch.
Estimated dispatch from 16 November 2026. Not for immediate dispatch.
*ESS specifications, four-channel differential mode; DNR A-weighted. Not complete-board measurements. Breakout cable not included.
01 / THE BOARDRASPIAUDIO STUDIO SERIES
8Balanced analogue outputs
ESS SABREDual ES9081Q converters
DB25TASCAM / AES59 analogue
3 MODESSoftware, fixed or hands-on
THE SOUND STARTS HERE
ESS SABRE.
Twice the foundation.
Two ES9081Q DACs, each configured for four differential channels. A dedicated conversion stage for every balanced output, without turning your Pi into a rack of hardware.
124 dBTypical DAC dynamic range, A-weighted*
−110 dBTypical DAC THD+N*
4 + 4Differential channels across two DACs
*ESS component specifications in four-channel differential mode, not measurements of the complete board. ESS ES9081 datasheet ↗
QUIET POWER FOR PRECISE CONVERSION
Dual SABRE DACs.
Dedicated low-noise power.
Two ESS SABRE ultra-low-noise regulators supply the analogue stages. A carefully designed power foundation supports low-noise conversion and the DACs' dynamic-range potential, without claiming an unmeasured whole-board result.
A STUDIO CONNECTION. NOT A CABLE PUZZLE.
Eight channels.
One familiar connector.
A female DB25 with the TASCAM / AES59 analogue pinout. Connect to your setup using a matching DB25-to-XLR or DB25-to-TRS breakout cable.
Your connections. Your choice of cable.
One connector on the board, eight individual outputs for your setup. Choose the breakout that matches your equipment.
Cable not included
DB25 to 8 TRS jacks
Connect to balanced 1/4-inch (6.35 mm) TRS inputs on monitors, mixers or other line-level equipment.
Male DB25 at the board → 8 male TRS plugsChoose TASCAM / AES59 analogue wiring. Each plug carries one balanced audio channel. Illustrative cable examples; confirm the pinout with your cable supplier. Cables sold separately.
Standard studio wiring.
Hot, cold and ground for each channel.
Line level, not speaker power.
Connect to active speakers or an amplifier.
Choose the right breakout.
Analogue TASCAM pinout, not a computer or AES/EBU cable.
Breakout cables, Raspberry Pi, amplifiers and speakers are not included.
HARDWARE CONTROL, RIGHT WHERE YOU NEED IT
Mode selector + onboard master level adjustmentONE BOARD. YOUR WAY TO CONTROL IT.
Choose who
sets the level.
Let your Pi take control, keep a fixed reference, or adjust all eight outputs together on the board.
01 / LOW-LEVEL SOFTWARE CONTROL
Your Raspberry Pi is in charge.
Send commands from your Pi to control attenuation directly in both DACs. Integrate level control into your player, automation or custom application. This is not an automatic volume slider in every Linux mixer; ALSA or application integration is separate.
Raspberry Pi commands → both DACs
02 / FIXED REFERENCE
Keep the DAC at 0 dB attenuation.
Use a fixed digital attenuation setting and manage listening level elsewhere in your system. Start with your downstream volume turned down.
0 dB digital attenuation ≠ 0 dB analogue output
03 / SCREWDRIVER ADJUSTMENT
One adjustment. All eight outputs.
Use a screwdriver to turn the small onboard trimmer. It sets the shared master level directly in both DACs through their digital attenuation controls, adjusting all eight channels together. No separate adjustment for each output, and no large external volume knob.
Screwdriver trimmer → both DACs → channels 1–8
Planned control functions. Availability depends on the release firmware and supported Raspberry Pi configuration.
PLUG-AND-PLAY ON RASPBERRY PI OS
Boot your Pi.
Start creating.
Raspberry Pi OS recognizes 8xOUT STUDIO automatically. No extra board driver to install, no DAC initialization to program. The HAT EEPROM identifies the board and the onboard ATtiny1616 handles DAC initialization, so you can focus on your audio application.
Fit the HAT.
With power disconnected, fit the board to your Raspberry Pi 5’s 40-pin header and connect your analogue breakout cable.
Boot Raspberry Pi OS.
The board is detected automatically and its eight playback channels become available to your audio software.
Choose your software.
Select 8xOUT STUDIO in CamillaDSP or another application supporting eight-channel ALSA playback. Set your channel routing, filters and listening level.
CamillaDSP. Eight outputs. Your sound.
Build active crossovers, apply EQ and room-correction filters, or route multichannel audio. CamillaDSP runs on your Raspberry Pi; 8xOUT STUDIO provides the balanced analogue outputs. Explore CamillaDSP ↗
Direct audio. USB ports stay free.
Audio travels through the Pi's 40-pin header, leaving USB ports available for your other equipment. The audio board is powered directly by the Pi: no separate audio-board power supply. Use a suitable power supply for your complete Pi 5 system and peripherals.
0.58 ms
Measured at 48 kHz.
Low latency for responsive audio projects. Initial RASPIAUDIO measurement; more tests and measurement details to follow. Latency depends on software, buffering and the signal path, not just the board connection.
Automatic recognition and eight-channel playback tested on Raspberry Pi OS with Raspberry Pi 5. Your chosen audio application must still be installed and configured. Other operating systems, channel formats and sample rates depend on their software support.
ONE OUTPUT STAGE. ROOM TO EXPERIMENT.
What will you
do with eight?
Sound beyond stereo.
Build a 7.1-channel home cinema playback system, with one balanced output per channel. Your Pi software handles decoding and routing; active speakers or external amplifiers handle the power.
Four-way stereo. Eight-way mono.
With CamillaDSP, drive two four-way active speakers or one eight-way system. Route a filtered output to each amplifier channel for crossovers, EQ and room correction.
Four stereo pairs. Eight mono zones.
Use software routing to send audio to four stereo systems or eight separate mono zones. A compact starting point for installations and multi-room projects.
Bring the Pi into your setup.
Add eight balanced playback channels to a studio workflow. This is an output board, not an audio input interface.
Application examples require suitable software and external equipment. No onboard application DSP or power amplifier is implied.
UP CLOSE, FROM EVERY ANGLE
A lot of audio.
Not a lot of board.
Explore the board, its connections and controls from six angles.
01 / 06
Everything in its place.
Two ESS DACs, a 40-pin header, a three-position mode switch and a master level adjustment.
STUDIO RENDEROpen full-size view ↗THE ESSENTIALS
Get into
the details.
Studio connectivity. Dedicated conversion. Raspberry Pi flexibility.
Read the ESS datasheet ↗- Target platform
- Raspberry Pi 5 · 40-pin HAT connection
- Audio outputs
- 8 balanced analogue line-level channels
- Output impedance
- Approximately 600 Ω per balanced output
- Converters
- 2 × ESS SABRE ES9081Q4 differential channels per DAC
- Analogue power regulation
- Two ESS SABRE ultra-low-noise regulators
- Board power
- Powered by the Raspberry PiNo separate audio-board supply. Audio and power through the 40-pin header; USB ports stay free.
- Output connector
- DB25 female · TASCAM / AES59 analogue
- Level control
- PI CTRL / FIXED / POTSoftware commands / 0 dB digital attenuation / screwdriver-adjustable master trimmer for both DACs. Functions planned for release firmware.
- Onboard control
- ATtiny1616 microcontroller + HAT EEPROM
- PCB footprint
- Approximately 65.05 × 56.50 mmPCB only; connectors extend beyond the outline
- DAC capability
- 32-bit / up to 768 kHz**Current Raspberry Pi configurations are generally limited to up to 32-bit / 192 kHz by the software and hardware path. Actual eight-channel rates depend on the configuration; tested rate matrix to follow.
- Initial latency measurement
- 0.58 ms at 48 kHzRASPIAUDIO measurement. More tests and measurement conditions to follow; results depend on the setup.
- Typical DAC performance
- 124 dB DNR (A-weighted) · −110 dB THD+NESS four-channel differential mode. Not complete-board measurements.
A FEW GOOD QUESTIONS
Before you build.
Is this a USB audio interface?
No. 8xOUT STUDIO is designed for the Raspberry Pi 5’s 40-pin header. Audio comes from the Pi, and the DB25 carries eight analogue outputs.
Can it drive passive speakers directly?
No. These are balanced line-level outputs. Use active speakers or separate power amplifiers. There is no onboard speaker power amplifier.
Do I need to install a driver on Raspberry Pi OS?
No extra board driver is required on Raspberry Pi OS with Raspberry Pi 5. Automatic recognition and eight-channel playback have been tested. Fit the board with power disconnected, boot the Pi, then select its outputs in your audio application. Other Pi models and Linux distributions are not covered by this claim.
Can I use it with CamillaDSP or other audio software?
Yes. Select the board as an eight-channel ALSA playback device in CamillaDSP for crossovers, EQ, room-correction filters and channel routing. Other Raspberry Pi applications can use it when they support eight-channel ALSA playback at a compatible sample rate and format. Install and configure your chosen application separately; automatic board recognition does not create your audio processing configuration.
Does the board run my crossover or room correction?
No. Your Raspberry Pi runs that software. The board provides the eight-channel digital-to-analogue conversion and balanced line outputs. The onboard microcontroller manages DAC settings rather than application audio processing.
Can I use 768 kHz on Raspberry Pi?
The DACs support up to 32-bit / 768 kHz.* Current Raspberry Pi software and hardware configurations are generally limited to up to 32-bit / 192 kHz. Actual eight-channel formats and rates depend on the OS, driver, clocks and application; 192 kHz is not a guarantee for every configuration. A tested rate matrix will follow. The 124 dB DNR figure remains a typical DAC specification, not a guaranteed whole-board measurement.
Do I need a separate power supply or USB port?
No separate power supply is required for the audio board. Audio and power use the Raspberry Pi 40-pin header, keeping your USB ports free. Your Pi 5 and connected peripherals still require an appropriately sized system power supply.
Which DB25 cable should I use?
Choose a male DB25 breakout with the TASCAM / AES59 analogue pinout. Use eight male XLR ends for equipment with female XLR inputs, or eight 1/4-inch (6.35 mm) TRS plugs for balanced jack inputs. Each plug carries one balanced channel, not a stereo pair. A DB25 connector alone does not guarantee matching wiring. See cable examples above. Breakout cables are not included.
When will my preorder ship?
Preorders are open at €89.90 (regular price €109.90). Estimated dispatch starts from 16 November 2026, subject to final production and software checks. This product is not available for immediate dispatch. Delivery time depends on your destination.
RASPIAUDIO 8xOUT STUDIO
Your Pi.
Your sound.
More possibilities.
Preorder 8xOUT STUDIO ↗Estimated dispatch from 16 November 2026