SIDKick-pico (2023 Frenetic)

Blog Post: www.nightfallcrew.com/27/01/2...
SIDKick pico by Frenetic is a microcontroller-based C64 SID replacement. Analog inputs for paddles and mice are available just as for the original SID.
SIDKick pico uses firmware similar to its "big brother" SIDKick. However, the pico variant is based on the Raspberry Pi Pico board that uses the RP2040 microcontroller which is much cheaper and has better availability than the Teensy that is used by the normal SIDKick.
Technical features:
Dual 6581 and/or 8580 emulation based on reSID 0.16 (optional: extension for digi-playing techniques).
2nd-SID address at $d400, $d420, $d500, $d420 + $d500 simultaneously, $de00, $df00 ($d500 is not available on the C128), or any address when an external chip select signal is used (e.g. on Ultimate 64 boards).
Paddle/Mouse support.
Built-in configuration menu (launch with "SYS 54301"/"SYS 54333", also from C128-mode).
Sound output via PWM (mono) through the C64/C128 mainboard, or in stereo using a PCM5102A-DAC-board.
Flashing RGB-LED (WS2812) on GPIO 23 (installed on some Pico-clones)
My personal opinion:
My personal opinion as an inveterate purist is that no emulation or implementation will have the sound performance of the native SID (6581/8580).
I can accept as a good implementation the FPGASid and ARMSid where the developers have done a really good job.
SIDKick defends itself well and is low cost, furthermore it's Open Source, also has a nice feature that i appreciated a lot, it has integrated configuration software that can be run with a simple SYS in both C64 and 128 modes.
So my final opinion is most people will never notice any difference, but i assure you that the differences are there, so i recommend it to everyone unless you are a SID purist.
Note:
The audio output and emulation improves if you use the PCM5102A-DAC add-on card, in my test i chose not to use it because i wanted to show you a plug'n'play without too many cables, jacks and patches. Maybe it was better to include this additional module directly on the SIDKick PCB? probably yes.
The KIT was purchased from restore-store.de, fast shipping and impeccable service.
github.com/frntc/SIDKick-pico