The BentoIO AMH2 Pro is an Audio/MIDI HAT compatible with both Raspberry Pi 4 and Pi 5. It features high-quality stereo audio output and MIDI input/output in a compact “wing” form factor.
The board features stereo line-in and line-out through 3.5mm TRS jacks using PCM1863 ADC and PCM5242 24-bit DAC. Additionally, there is a headphone out and a set of MIDI I/Os via TRS-A jacks. It is fully compatible with Raspberry Pi OS and works with ALSA, JACK, and PulseAudio. The board is designed so that it keeps the heatsink exposed for better thermal management, especially with the Terioto CMX1 carrier board for ultra-low-profile setups.
BentoIO AMH2 Pro Specifications:
- Compatibility – Raspberry Pi 4 Model B or Raspberry Pi 5
- Audio Input – Stereo Line-In via 3.5mm TRS jack, based on PCM1863 ADC
- Audio Output – Stereo Line-Out via 3.5mm TRS jack, based on PCM5242 DAC
- Headphone Output – 3.5mm TRS jack with TPA6130 headphone amplifier
- MIDI I/O – 2x TRS-A 3.5mm jacks for MIDI In & Out
- Audio Resolution – Up to 24-bit DAC/ 192kHz ADC
- GPIO Header – 40-pin Raspberry Pi-compatible
- Misc – Unpopulated connectors for UART, SPI, I2C, and power
- Power Supply – Powered via Raspberry Pi GPIO header
- Dimensions – 85 x 85 x 11 mm
- Weight – 45 grams
- Form Factor – “Wing” layout with lateral offset to expose Raspberry Pi CPU and heatsink
While writing, I noticed that the datasheet of the PCM5242 mentions it’s a 32-bit DAC, but the product implements it in 24-bit mode. I also found out that the IQaudio audio boards came out back in 2020, and are using the same DAC in 24-bit mode as well. After a little bit of searching and wisdom from Lord Grok, it turns out that while the chip can handle 32-bit audio input, the real-world output is usually limited to 24-bit due to board design, noise limitations, or input source formats.
Manufacturers generally stick with 24-bit specs because it’s the practical limit for most audio systems, and 32-bit resolution doesn’t come with additional benefits for users, kind of like how in smartphone displays, more PPI doesn’t always mean better quality. Also, most audio files and equipment max out at 24-bit/192kHz, so advertising 32-bit may be confusing or seem misleading. The extra bits often help with internal processing, like better filters, not necessarily better output quality.
In terms of software, this Audio/MIDI HAT for Raspberry Pi is fully compatible with Raspberry Pi OS and works with standard Linux audio frameworks, including ALSA, JACK, and PulseAudio. This allows for low-latency audio processing and integration with digital audio workstations (DAWs), MIDI sequencers, and real-time audio applications. Drivers for the PCM1863 ADC and PCM5242 DAC are natively supported in Linux, so compatibility shouldn’t be an issue.
Previously, we have written about the 52Pi NVdigi Expansion Board with HiFiBerry Digi+ audio, Sonocotta’s HiFi-Amped Audio HAT, and the Pineboards HatDrive! Piano, which adds audio capabilities along with NVMe storage or other features like a Class D amp. But this board is a bit different and is designed for high-quality audio and MIDI input/output.
The BentoIO AMH2 Pro Audio HAT is priced at $69.00 on Tindie and Terioto’s website for 49,58 € (~$58.09). The Tindie store page mentions documentation, but that redirects you to Terioto’s support page, where no information about the audio HAT is available at the time of writing.
Debashis Das is a technical content writer and embedded engineer with over five years of experience in the industry. With expertise in Embedded C, PCB Design, and SEO optimization, he effectively blends difficult technical topics with clear communication
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