A high-fidelity DAC HAT for the Argon ONE V3 that eliminates audio hum and noise at the source with a built-in ground loop isolator.
The Argon BLSTR DAC with Ground Loop Isolator (SKU: ARG-BLSTR-DAC) is a Digital-to-Analogue Converter HAT designed as a dedicated add-on for the Argon ONE V3 enclosure. It converts digital audio signals from your Raspberry Pi into clean analogue output while simultaneously addressing one of the most persistent problems in embedded audio setups: ground loop hum. By integrating the isolator directly into the DAC board, the BLSTR eliminates the need for an external inline isolator — keeping your build tidy and your audio clean.
This board is aimed at makers, audiophiles, and home media enthusiasts who want noticeably better audio quality from their Raspberry Pi without complex external hardware. Whether you are running a music streaming server, a retro gaming station, or a home theatre PC, the BLSTR DAC provides a dedicated audio path that bypasses the Raspberry Pi's onboard audio circuitry — which is known to introduce interference — and replaces it with a purpose-built, isolated analogue output stage.
The BLSTR DAC is part of Argon 40's Nanosound / BLSTR audio accessory range and carries both CE (EMC) and RoHS certifications, confirming it meets European electromagnetic compatibility and environmental standards.
📝 Note: This product is listed as compatible with the Argon ONE V3 enclosure only. While the board follows the standard Raspberry Pi HAT form factor, physical fitment, connector alignment, and audio routing are optimised specifically for the Argon ONE V3. Using this board outside that enclosure is not officially supported. See Compatible Devices for details.
📝 Note: The full contents list could not be verified from available sources — the instruction manual PDF was not readable at the time this page was written. The items below represent what is typically included with a HAT of this type. Verify against the physical packaging before discarding any materials.
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Product Name | Argon BLSTR DAC with Ground Loop Isolator |
| SKU | ARG-BLSTR-DAC |
| Model Number | A23-018 AR-BLSTR-DAC-ARV3 |
| UPC / EAN | 860011360070 |
| Product Type | DAC HAT with built-in ground loop isolator |
| Form Factor | Raspberry Pi HAT (add-on for Argon ONE V3) |
| Dimensions | 8.8 × 8 × 4.7 cm |
| Weight | [TODO: Not documented — confirm from packaging or product team] |
| Primary Function | Digital-to-Analogue audio conversion with ground loop isolation |
| DAC Chip | [TODO: Not documented — confirm IC model and manufacturer] |
| Audio Output Connector(s) | [TODO: Confirm connector type(s) — e.g., 3.5 mm stereo jack, RCA] |
| Audio Interface Protocol | [TODO: Confirm — e.g., I²S, USB audio] |
| Supported Sample Rates | [TODO: Not documented — e.g., 44.1 / 48 / 96 / 192 kHz] |
| Supported Bit Depths | [TODO: Not documented — e.g., 16-bit, 24-bit, 32-bit] |
| Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) | [TODO: Not documented] |
| Total Harmonic Distortion (THD) | [TODO: Not documented] |
| Frequency Response | [TODO: Not documented] |
| Ground Loop Isolator | Built-in |
| Isolator Impedance / Frequency Response | [TODO: Not documented — confirm from datasheet or product team] |
| Power Source | [TODO: Confirm — GPIO 5 V / 3.3 V rail or separate supply] |
| Power Consumption | [TODO: Not documented] |
| GPIO Header | 40-pin Raspberry Pi standard HAT interface |
| LED / Status Indicators | [TODO: Confirm presence and function] |
| Certifications | CE (EMC), RoHS |
| EMC Standards | EN 55032:2015+A1:2020, EN IEC 61000-3-2:2019+A1:2021, EN 61000-3-3:2013+A2:2021, EN 55035:2017+A11:2020 |
| EMC Directive | 2014/30/EU |
| CE Test Report Number | BTF240704E00201 |
| CE Testing Laboratory | BTF Testing Lab (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd. |
| CE Certificate Issue Date | 2024-07-18 |
| EMC Test Dates | 2024-07-04 to 2024-07-09 |
| EMC Test Result | Pass |
| HTS Code | 8471.70.5095 |
| Compatible Enclosure | Argon ONE V3 |
| Compatible Platform | Raspberry Pi 4 / HAT-compatible boards |
| Product Family | Nanosound / BLSTR audio accessory range |
The Raspberry Pi 4 Model B is the fourth-generation flagship single-board computer from the Raspberry Pi Foundation, featuring a 64-bit quad-core ARM processor, dual-display support, USB 3.0, and Gigabit Ethernet.
| Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Processor | Broadcom BCM2711, quad-core Cortex-A72 (ARM v8) 64-bit SoC, 1.5 GHz (later units up to 1.8 GHz) |
| RAM | 1 GB, 2 GB, 4 GB, or 8 GB LPDDR4X SDRAM |
| Storage | MicroSD card slot (no onboard flash); USB boot supported |
| Wi-Fi | 2.4 GHz and 5.0 GHz IEEE 802.11b/g/n/ac |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.0 / BLE |
| Ethernet | Gigabit Ethernet (via USB 3.0 controller) |
| USB | 2 × USB 3.0, 2 × USB 2.0 |
| HDMI | 2 × micro-HDMI (HDMI 2.0); supports up to 4Kp60 |
| GPIO | 40-pin standard GPIO header |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Recommended PSU | 5.1 V, 3.0 A (15.3 W) USB-C power supply |
| OS Support | Raspberry Pi OS (32-bit and 64-bit), Ubuntu, and other HAT-compatible Linux distributions |
| Dimensions | 85 × 56 mm |
Source: raspberrypi.com — Raspberry Pi 4 Model B product page
⚠️ Warning: The Raspberry Pi 5 is not listed as a compatible platform for the Argon BLSTR DAC. The Argon ONE V3 enclosure is designed for the Raspberry Pi 4. Do not attempt to use this product with a Raspberry Pi 5 without explicit confirmation from Argon 40 support.
The Raspberry Pi 5 is the fifth-generation flagship board from the Raspberry Pi Foundation, featuring the custom Broadcom BCM2712 SoC and a significantly updated I/O architecture.
| Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Processor | Broadcom BCM2712, quad-core Cortex-A76 (ARM v8.2-A) 64-bit SoC, 2.4 GHz |
| RAM | 4 GB or 8 GB LPDDR4X SDRAM |
| Storage | MicroSD card slot; M.2 HAT+ via PCIe FFC connector (with optional M.2 HAT) |
| Wi-Fi | 2.4 GHz and 5.0 GHz IEEE 802.11b/g/n/ac |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.0 / BLE |
| Ethernet | Gigabit Ethernet |
| USB | 2 × USB 3.0 (5 Gbps), 2 × USB 2.0 |
| HDMI | 2 × micro-HDMI (HDMI 2.0); supports up to 4Kp60 |
| GPIO | 40-pin standard GPIO header |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Recommended PSU | 5.1 V, 5.0 A (27 W) USB-C power supply (official Raspberry Pi 27 W PSU recommended) |
| OS Support | Raspberry Pi OS (64-bit), Ubuntu, and other ARM64-compatible Linux distributions |
| Dimensions | 85 × 56 mm |
Source: raspberrypi.com — Raspberry Pi 5 product page
⚠️ Warning: The instruction manual PDF for this product was not available at the time this page was written. The steps below represent a general HAT installation procedure for an Argon ONE V3 add-on and must not be used as a substitute for the official manual. Always follow the printed or digital instructions included with your product.
⚠️ Warning: Always power off and disconnect your Raspberry Pi and Argon ONE V3 from mains power before performing any hardware installation. Connecting or disconnecting HATs while the board is powered can permanently damage your Raspberry Pi.
[TODO: Replace all steps below with the verified procedure from the official instruction manual once it is available]
Power off and unplug your system.
Shut down your Raspberry Pi operating system gracefully, then disconnect the USB-C power cable from your Argon ONE V3.
Open the Argon ONE V3 enclosure.
Follow the Argon ONE V3 assembly guide to access the internal GPIO header. [TODO: Link to Argon ONE V3 wiki page once path is confirmed]
Locate the 40-pin GPIO header on your Raspberry Pi 4.
The header is the double row of pins along one edge of the board. Ensure no pins are bent or obstructed.
Align the Argon BLSTR DAC with the GPIO header.
Position the board so that the 40-pin connector on the underside of the BLSTR DAC lines up exactly with the 40-pin GPIO header on your Raspberry Pi 4. Check the alignment carefully before applying pressure — misalignment can bend pins.
Seat the BLSTR DAC onto the GPIO header.
Apply firm, even pressure to press the board down until it is fully and evenly seated. Do not rock or twist the board.
Secure the board.
[TODO: Confirm whether mounting screws or standoffs are used and document the fastening procedure]
Connect the audio output cable.
[TODO: Confirm the audio output connector type and routing within the Argon ONE V3 enclosure — e.g., whether the DAC output connects to the Argon ONE V3's audio port or routes separately]
Reassemble the Argon ONE V3 enclosure.
Follow the Argon ONE V3 enclosure instructions to close and secure the case.
Reconnect power and boot your Raspberry Pi.
Plug in the USB-C power cable and power on. Proceed to the Software & Configuration section.
📝 Note: If at any point the board does not sit flush, or if you feel resistance when seating the GPIO connector, stop immediately. Check for bent pins or misalignment before proceeding.
📝 Note: No software configuration steps were documented in any available source at the time this page was written. The information below reflects standard practice for Raspberry Pi DAC HATs and must be verified against official Argon 40 documentation before following.
[TODO: Confirm all steps below with Argon 40 support or the official instruction manual]
After booting with the BLSTR DAC installed, you can check whether the system has recognised a new audio device:
aplay -l
This lists all detected playback hardware. Look for an entry corresponding to the BLSTR DAC (the exact device name [TODO: confirm]) in the output.
Many I²S DAC HATs require a device tree overlay to be enabled in /boot/firmware/config.txt (Raspberry Pi OS Bookworm) or /boot/config.txt (older releases). The specific overlay name for the BLSTR DAC is not confirmed — do not edit this file until you have confirmed the correct overlay name from Argon 40.
# Example only — DO NOT USE until correct overlay name is confirmed
# sudo nano /boot/firmware/config.txt
[TODO: Document the exact config.txt changes required, including the correct dtoverlay= line]
If the DAC is detected but not set as the default output device, you can set it system-wide using ALSA. First, find the card number from the aplay -l output, then create or edit your ALSA configuration:
sudo nano /etc/asound.conf
Add the following, replacing <card_number> with the card number shown by aplay -l:
# Example only — confirm card number and device name before using
defaults.pcm.card <card_number>
defaults.ctl.card <card_number>
Save the file and reboot:
sudo reboot
After rebooting, test playback with a WAV file using aplay:
aplay -D hw:<card_number>,0 /usr/share/sounds/alsa/Front_Center.wav
You should hear audio through the connected speakers or amplifier with no hum or background noise.
[TODO: Confirm compatibility with and configuration steps for