Audiobyte SuperHub Streamer

Audiobyte SuperHub product description

The Audiobyte SuperHUB is a native I2S multifunctional streamer built for owners who want to bring several digital sources together in one unit and feed a single, conditioned data stream to an external DAC. It sits between your network library, USB storage, and streaming accounts on one side and your DAC on the other, handling reclocking and upsampling in the digital domain before the signal ever leaves the box. Buyers running Roon, UPnP, DLNA, or OpenHome, who want dedicated audio hardware in place of a general-purpose computer, are the primary audience for this streamer.

What does the SuperHUB replace in a computer-based streaming setup?

The SuperHUB is built to remove the need for a dedicated computer that many enthusiasts currently use to upsample standard PCM recordings into high-rate DSD. A conventional PC capable of this job tends to be bulky, draws meaningful power continuously, and sits close to sensitive audio equipment, where its switching supplies and cooling fans can introduce electrical noise into the system. Audiobyte's alternative is an FPGA-based audio engine that performs the same upsampling task inside a purpose-built unit, so a buyer no longer needs to keep a separate machine running just to convert PCM sources for DSD-capable DACs.

How does the FPGA-based audio engine perform reclocking and upsampling?

The audio engine is built around an AMD ZYNQ 7000 series system-on-chip, which combines hardware and software processing on a single die rather than splitting the job across a general operating system and separate audio hardware. This SoC, paired with a dedicated FPGA and a high-quality programmable clock, carries out the digital signal conditioning, reclocking and upsampling, before the refined stream is handed to an external DAC. Because timing control happens on dedicated silicon instead of inside a multitasking computer, the clock governing data output isn't competing with unrelated background processes for the same processor resources.

Is the SuperHUB compatible with your existing DAC and digital sources?

The SuperHUB is fitted with an I2S HDMI output and a coaxial SPDIF output for sending its processed signal on to an external DAC, so the streamer itself is not the final conversion stage in the chain; a separate DAC is required to complete playback. On the input side, it accepts AES/EBU, optical Toslink and coaxial SPDIF, alongside USB Type A and Type B connections, which lets it draw digital audio from multiple existing sources and consolidate them through one hub rather than switching cables or boxes. This mix of inputs and outputs is what allows the SuperHUB to function as a central hub rather than a single-purpose streamer.

Which streaming services and control apps does it support?

The SuperHUB is compatible with UPnP, AirPlay, DLNA and Roon Ready, alongside direct access to Spotify, Tidal and Qobuz, with CamillaDSP listed as a feature in development. A premium subscription is required for some of these services, including Spotify, Qobuz and Tidal, which buyers should factor into ongoing running costs beyond the hardware purchase. Day-to-day control runs through the unit's own 3-inch touchscreen or the Android app, with an iOS app currently in development, so buyers on iOS should confirm the app's release status before relying on phone-based control at launch.

What network setup does it need to stream from a NAS or library?

The SuperHUB is equipped with a single Gigabit-capable Ethernet port (RJ45, 10/100/1000Mbps) and communicates using NFS, SMB v1 through v3, and UPnP network protocols. This combination means it can browse and play from a network-attached storage library or shared folder directly, without routing files through a separate media server first, provided the NAS exposes one of these supported protocols. A wired Ethernet connection is the only network interface listed, so buyers planning a streaming setup should route a cable to wherever the SuperHUB is installed rather than assume Wi-Fi is available.

Why is the hardware platform built differently to competing streamers?

The SuperHUB's hardware platform is developed from scratch rather than assembled around a Raspberry Pi or other off-the-shelf computing module, which is how many competing streaming products are constructed. Audiobyte designed a new mainboard around a 10-layer custom PCB specifically to optimise the signal path between the audio and processing circuitry, rather than adapting a general-purpose board for audio use. Combined with a linear power supply in place of a switch-mode design, this custom platform is intended to keep the audio and CPU hardware working together rather than treating audio processing as an add-on to standard computing hardware.

What is the SuperHUB's chassis made from, and does it affect installation?

The SuperHUB is machined from a single block of premium aluminium, finished in sandblasted anodised silver or anodised black, and weighs 6kg with dimensions of 290 x 300 x 62mm. A solid aluminium enclosure of this weight and construction gives the unit a rigid, one-piece shell around its internal FPGA and power circuitry, which is relevant when planning shelf space or rack placement given the unit's footprint and weight compared with lighter, case-based streamers. The SuperHUB runs from 110V or 220V AC, so it can be installed on either supply without an external voltage converter.

Who should choose it over a Raspberry Pi-based streamer or a dedicated PC?

The SuperHUB is suited to buyers who already own an external DAC and want a single hub to unify AES/EBU, Toslink, coaxial and USB sources, using hardware-based reclocking and upsampling instead of a general-purpose computer. This positions it against Raspberry Pi-based streaming boxes and against continuing to run a PC for PCM-to-DSD upsampling, where the trade-off is a fixed, purpose-built hardware path in exchange for less flexibility to modify the platform yourself. Anyone who needs a built-in DAC, wireless connectivity, or an already-released iOS control app should check those requirements against the SuperHUB's Ethernet-only networking, external-DAC dependency, and in-development iOS app before choosing it over a Raspberry Pi-based alternative or a PC-based setup.