Pi 2 Design Digital Audio Streamers

Mercury V3 Digital Audio Streamer New Price $499!

​Mercury V3 FAQ

​​Q: Do all Mercury outputs work simultaneously?
A: Yes, all digital audio outputs deliver the same audio data at the same time. This includes the RJ45 I2S and I2S over HDMI.

Q: What power supply comes with Mercury ?
A: Mercury is designed to operate with a nominal input voltage 12V (+/- 10%). We provide a High Quality Meanwell switching power supply.

Q: But aren't switching supplies bad ?
A: Mercury is designed with a highly effective noise filter on the 12V input. This circuit reduces the supply noise by a factor of 100!

Q: What size is the power jack on Mercury?
A: Mercury V3 has a 2.5MM x 5.5MM DC Jack. The Meanwell supply uses 2.1mm. A 2.1mm to 2.5mm Adapter is included and is located in the power supply box.

​Q: What pinout is supported by the I2S over HDMI?
A: Mercury V3 supports the PS Audio and GD-Audio pinouts. The SWAP switch on the back of the unit selects between these two options.

Q: What Operating Systems does Mercury support?
A: Mercury supports all known Raspberry PI OS's. We provide pre-configured images for Volumio, Ropieee and Moode. Others may be available upon request.

Q: Where is the WiFi/Bluetooth antenna?
A: The front panel of Mercury V3 is made of black, matte finish acrylic. This material easily passes the RF signals from the Raspberry Pi 4 PCB antenna. For greater range an external USB dongle can be used.

Q: What performance will I get from the DAC option?
A: The DAC option uses a 24-Bitt ES9033Q DAC with built in Line Level (2.1V) drivers. THD+N is -106dB (20hz - 20Khz) typical and -104dB worst case.
​
Q: When will the DAC option be available?
A: The DAC option is being released as part of an upcoming Kickstarter Campaign. Details will be release in early September
mercury_v3_hw_reference_manual_1.1.pdf
File Size: 968 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Preconfigured images for Mercury V3

Moode 9.0.6
Notes:
​SSH Login: name=moode, pwd=moode
Access Point: ssid=moode.local, pwd=Moode9.0.6

​Volumio 3.742
Notes:
​SSH Login: name=pi, pwd=raspberry
Access Point: ssid=volumio.local, pwd=volumio
​​
Ropieee 2024.4.2
Notes:
​SSH Login: name=pi, pwd=raspberry
​
​​

Mercury V3 Features

The Mercury Streamer V3, designed and manufactured by PI 2 Design, is a Raspberry Pi 4 based device designed for Professional, Studio Grade, Digital Audio Streaming.  The Mercury Streamer converts the Raspberry Pi 4 I2S Interface to High Definition Professional Digital Audio Coax, OPTO and Balanced XLR. These multiple, simultaneously active digital audio outputs allow the Mercury Streamer to optimally interface with virtually any High Performance DAC on the market.
 
The major features of the Mercury Streamer are as follows:
  • Raspberry Pi 4 - This Single Board Computer provides 4 High Performance ARM Cores, 4K HDMI Output, USB3 x2, USB2 x 2, Gigabit Ethernet, 4GB DRAM.
  • GIGABIT ETHERNET - A standard RJ45 provides the interface to the Pi GIGe
  • DUAL EXTERNAL USB2.0 - This connector provides two USB2.0 Host Ports.
  • DUAL EXTERNAL USB3 - This connector provides two USB3 Host Ports.
  • EXTERNAL HDMI - 4K HDMI Connector provide access to the Pi HDMI 0
  • AES TRANSMITTER – The industry standard WM8804 converts the Pi I2S stream to AES3/SPDIF formatted data at 24-Bit up to 192Khz Frame Rate
  • AES COAX OUTPUT – A 1:1 Isolation Transformer provides Bit Perfect Impedance Controlled Digital Audio Data @ 1V AES Standard Level.
  • AES BALANCED OUTPUT – An RS-485 Transmitter with a 1:1 Isolation Transformer provides balanced audio data via the Professional XLR Connector
  • TOSLINK OPTICAL OUTPUT – Isolated Optical Transmitter
  • SPDIF COAX OUTPUT - A 1:1 Isolation Transformer provides Bit Perfect Impedance Controlled Digital Audio Data @ 0.6V Consumer Standard Level.
  • DIFFERENTIAL I2S OUTPUT – An LVDS Differential Transmitter drives the I2S Bus over an HDMI Connector. Pinout support most I2S DAC's.
  • PARALLEL I2S OUTPUT - The I2S Signals are buffered and accessible via an RJ45. Pinout conforms to the Metrun series of DAC's.
  • HIGH RESOLUTION CLOCKS – A pair of Ultra-Low Noise NDK NZ2520SDA oscillators drive the WM8804 in non-PLL mode for the lowest possible noise.
  • ULTRA-LOW NOISE LDO’s – Two Ultra-Low Noise, High PSRR devices are used to separately power the WM8804 and the NDK Clock’s.
  • LINEAR PRE_REGULATOR - LT2941CT Low Noise 5V pre-regulator allows the critical Clock/AES power chain to be 100% linear when an external linear PSU is used.
  • INPUT PSU FILTER - This circuit reduces input switch noise by 100:1 allowing the use of external switching supply with results similar to Linear.
  • LOW NOISE PCB LAYOUT – 4-layer Split Ground PCB with noise reduction techniques refined from years of High-Speed Mixed-Signal Design work.
  • EXTRUDED ALUMINUM ENCLOSURE – Rugged, Aircraft Grade Aluminum, Anodized for Scratch Resistance
  • PRE-PROGRAMMED 32GB SD CARD - Mercury V3 comes with a 32GB SD Card loaded with Volumio 3.x (other OS's TBD)
  • 24-BIT STEREO ANALOG OPTION – A Dual RCA Connector provides the Analog Output from the ES9033Q I2S DAC. -106dB THD+N Typical, -104dB max. 

MERCURY V3 BLOCK DIAGRAM

    Pi 2 Design Streamer Questions

Available Products

Mercury V3 Streamer

$499.00

Raspberry Pi 4 based Digital Audio Streamer. 4GB DRAM, 2.4g/5g WiFi, Bluetooth. Chosen OS pre-installed on 16GB SD-Card, Meanwell GST40A12-P1J PSU included. Power Cord included for US shipments only.


Now in production, lead time approximately one week or less.
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PI2AES 2.0 - PRO AUDIO SHIELD

$299.00
PI2AES 2.0, Professional Studio Grade Audio I/O Shield. Includes Clear Acrylic Case
​
FEATURES

 
  • FORM FACTOR – Raspberry Pi ® Shield Size w/40-Pin mating connector.
  • AES TRANSMITTER – The industry standard WM8804 converts the RPi I2S stream to AES3/SPDIF formatted data at 24-Bit up to 192Khz Frame Rate
  • COAX OUTPUT – A 1:1 Isolation Transformer provides Bit Perfect Impedance Controlled Coaxial Transmission of the Digital Audio Data
  • SPDIF OPTICAL OUTPUT – Isolated Optical Transmitter Drives Consumer Level DAC and AVR
  • BALANCED OUTPUT – An RS-422 Transmitter coupled with a 1:1 Isolation Transformer allows the transmission of balanced audio data via the Professional Audio Standard XLR Connector
  • DIFFERENTIAL I2S OUTPUT – A DS2063 Differential Transmitters is used to drive the I2S Bus over a standard HDMI Connector. The Pinout is Selectable Between the PS Audio and Gustard Standards.
  • HIGH RESOLUTION CLOCKS – A pair of Ultra-Low Noise NDK NZ2520SDA oscillators allow the WM8804 to operate in non-PLL mode for the lowest possible noise.
  • ULTRA-LOW NOISE LDO’s – Ultra-Low Noise LT3045 LDO (0.9uV noise and 80dB PSRR) is used to power the WM8804 AES Transmitter, while a 2nd LT3045 LDO powers the NDK Clocks.
  • LOW NOISE PCB LAYOUT – Constructed with 4-layer Split Ground PCB with noise reduction techniques refined from years of High-Speed Mixed-Signal Design work


PI2AES 2.0 includes a PI3 and 4 compatible clear acrylic case.


Raspberry Pi Not included

Leadtime is typically 1 to 2 business days after receipt of order.
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PI2AES-LITE, PRO Audio HAT

$249.00 $199.00

The PI2AES-LITE, designed and manufactured by PI 2 Design, is a professional I/O

Shield designed to bring Professional Studio Grade Audio to the Raspberry PI ® 3, 3+

and 4 series of Single Board Computers. This HAT compatible board converts the

Raspberry Pi ® I2S Interface to High Definition AES Coax, S/PDIF and Toslink Digital

Audio Outputs.



PI2AES-LITE includes a PI3 and 4 compatible clear acrylic case.


Leadtime is typically 2 to 3 business days after receipt of order.
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Clear PI2AES 7" LCD Acrylic Case

$35.00
Acrylic case designed specifically for our PI2AES Pro Audio Shield and Raspberry Pi 3, 3+ and 4. Includes all necessary hardware for assembly.

​Does not include LCD or LCD cables.
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More Information

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