Wow! Can you tell me why you used a Receiver Pi?
Please post your updates on your StationPi project. My goal is to build or buy a media player and use a Gustard X16 DAC via LVDS (I2S).
I am vacillating between a building DIY StationPi project using Ian Canada's parts, or buying a complete kit (see link below), or buying a ready-made media player with DAC such as the Matrix Mini Pro3 (linked below). I posted a layout for my proposed Station Pi project in post #5782 on this thread.
AUDIOPHONICS EVO-SABRE DAC Kit DIY DAC 2xES9038Q2M Fully Balanced & Streamer for Raspberry Pi 4 - Audiophonics
Matrix Audio - Mini-i 3/Mini-i Pro 3
I have never done a DIY computer-based project before and my knowledge about computers and software is negligible. In addition to that, I am an old man and live in India where I do not have any peers to seek advice from. Heck, most of my peers are dead.
Hence I would prefer a kit of some sort or at least a lot of guidance about what hardware parts and software I would need.
What do you guys think about this Dune like media player? It looks too good to be true. I see it has only 2GB of DDR4 RAM (vs 8GB for an RPi4) and I don't think it can play MQA or DSD.
Media player-R11(UHD Audiophile) - EWEAT
The other options from companies like Auralic, Aurender, etc are all outside my budget. Even the ES9038 MUSIC SERVER II from GuangHao (linked below) is a bit too expensive. Besides I am not quite sure of how I can import this and what support it has.
ES9038 Music Server II
Awesome work. My goal is to build a media player using a RPi4 + FiFoPi + TransportPi (on a StationPi board).
Given that the TransportPi offers LVDS I2S/DSD digital output why did you choose the BridgePi + Amanero as well as the TransportPi?
The D70 that I have seen as LVDS (I2S) inputs. Are you using LVDS or USB to connect to the D70?
What are the challenges you guys faced with such a DIY project? I worry about spending money building a Frankenstein that will never work. I started a thread about this here
https://www.diyaudio.com/forums/pc-...-player-hi-res-audio-video-3.html#post6476197
The hope is to build a box that looks like one of the boxes from Aurender ( https://aurender.com/n20/ ) with a nice screen. I wish there was a kit project that did this. The Audiophonics EVO-SABRE kit (linked to earlier) is the only one that comes close.
Where would I get a nice screen (say 2" x 5") that would go with an RPi4 + FiFoPi + TransportPi?
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@navin :
ReceiverPi receives the digital signals from these 2 devices USB Amanero & Chromecat Audio via HDMI and S / PDIF ports.
Google Chromecast Audio Media Streamer - Black | eBay
CSR8675 Bluetooth 5.0 receiving USB digital interface to AES fiber coaxial HDMI | eBay
https://www.diyaudio.com/forums/dig...mate-weapon-fight-jitter-582.html#post6473048
ReceiverPi receives the digital signals from these 2 devices USB Amanero & Chromecat Audio via HDMI and S / PDIF ports.
Google Chromecast Audio Media Streamer - Black | eBay
CSR8675 Bluetooth 5.0 receiving USB digital interface to AES fiber coaxial HDMI | eBay
https://www.diyaudio.com/forums/dig...mate-weapon-fight-jitter-582.html#post6473048
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Ditto. Best of luck in your projects as well... Your post really helped give me confidence that I'm on the right path with these S/PDIF transformers. I will pick up a Newava if there is something I need from DigiKey.
@Ian, no rush. If you have a few minutes, can you take a look at the LL1572 to confirm NO possible way to work with the TransportPi PIN layout?
https://www.lundahltransformers.com/wp-content/uploads/datasheets/1572_1573_1589.pdf
I already given up on the LL1572, but may revisit the upgrade in the Summer when I work on my second FiFoPi/ReclockPi streamer.
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Thanks for taking the time to reply but I am still confused. I am running a station Pi with:
5v into station pi J3
3.3v into station Pi J5
Why do we need the other 2 X3.3v power supplies?
Ian what is the ideal number of power supplies and do I need to connect separate psu's to the fifopiq3 and the transport pi directly If I am already supplying 3,3v to J5?
No worries. You don't need 2 other 3.3V. I just wanted to optimise and take advantage of the Group Buy, so I decided I might as well add power and SuperCaps to the TransportPi. You only need 1 other 3.3V. Power to the TransportPi is optional as it gets power via GPIO by default.
I believe the other 3.3V (StationPi J5) is needed to power the GPIO of the Audio HAT's. Without the StationPi (Traditional Way), feeding 5V into the FifoPi helped power the GPIO. With the StationPi (Modern Way), something has to help power the GPIO now that the power is separated from the RPi power. The clean power on the FiFoPi J5 3.3V is mainly dedicated to power the clocks? So how do the Audio HAT GPIO's get power... How is the TransportPi going to get power? Not through the clean power FiFoPi J5 3.3V or isolated RPi StationPi J3 5V...
It looks to be a trend with Ian's products migrating more to 3.3V so one can bypass the LDO. Now instead of relying on having to use 5V so the RPi can get power via the FiFoPi 5V, one can just power the FiFoPi -> GPIO -> TransportPi with 3.3V directly via the StationPi J5. Could be completely wrong. Just IMO. Again, anyone please correct if I'm wrong. I'm here to learn and try to do things the proper way to achieve MAX SQ.
I'm new to this hobby and have not unsealed my StationPi yet, so have zero experience in the matter ATM. Ian maybe still recovering from the massive GB, so you may want to check out the discussion here in the meantime:
https://www.diyaudio.com/forums/dig...mate-weapon-fight-jitter-574.html#post6415640
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Thanks. I would like to learn more about this project.
What is the AD1865R you refer to in your earlier picture (post #5812)? Is that the DAC? If it is the DAC what is the device sitting above this DIY project? It looks like a DAC too.
I posted a proposed layout of an RPi4 based media player in my post #5782 but need to understand more before I jump in and order parts for a project that might not work. I know nothing about PCs and Software.
Asynchronous I2S FIFO project, an ultimate weapon to fight the jitter
Any guidance would be appreciated. I am also toying with the idea of buying a ready-made meda streamer/player/server from Cambridge Audio, Dune, etc. Discussion linked below.
RPi "compatible" Media Player for Hi-Res audio as well as video
@navi
Yes, AD1865R received transport Pi signal via coaxial .
R2R Decoder AD1865R NOS double parallel DAC board Vinyl LP sound style L22-29 | eBay
Yes, AD1865R received transport Pi signal via coaxial .
R2R Decoder AD1865R NOS double parallel DAC board Vinyl LP sound style L22-29 | eBay
@navi
Yes, AD1865R received transport Pi signal via coaxial.
Sir, I am now very confused.
You have an RPi, FiFoPi, TransportPi, ReceiverPi and AD1865R all in one box.
The ReceiverPi receives a signal from
(1) ChromeCast via HDMI and
(2) from CSR8675 (BT and USB) via CoAx (SPDIF)
and sends this signal via FiFoPi to RPi?
The TransportPi takes the signal from the FiFoPi (via the GPIO)
and sends it via CoAx (SPDIF), BNC, TosLink, or I2S (LVDS) to a DAC
The AD1865R is an R2R DAC and takes a signal via CoAx (SPDIF) and converts to analogue.
Is this signal chain correct?
ChromeCast / CSR8675 >> ReceiverPi >> RPi >> FiFoPi >> TransportPi >> 1865R
I assume the ReceiverPi, RPi, FiFoPi and TransportPi are connected via GPIO.
@navi : As you ask
You have an RPi, FiFoPiQ3, TransportPi, ReceiverPi and AD1865R all in one box (YES)
The ReceiverPi receives a signal from :
(1) ChromeCast via CoAx to ReceiverPi (short pin 17 and pin 18 [J4 20pin of ReceiverPi]).
(2) Box (USB Amanero + Bluetooth CSR8675) via HDMI to ReceiverPi (short pin 15 and pin 16 [J4 20pin of ReceiverPi]).
And both send signals for FifoPiQ3 .
The TransportPi takes the signal from the FiFoPiQ3 (via the GPIO)
and sends it via CoAx (SPDIF), BNC, TosLink, or I2S (LVDS) to a DAC (YES)
The AD1865R is an R2R DAC and takes a signal via CoAx (SPDIF) or I2S and converts to analogue (YES)
Is this signal chain correct?
ChromeCast / Box (USB Amanero + Bluetooth CSR8675) >> ReceiverPi >> FiFoPiQ3 >> TransportPi >> 1865R (YES)
I assume the ReceiverPi, RPi, FiFoPiQ3 and TransportPi are connected via GPIO (YES)
You have an RPi, FiFoPiQ3, TransportPi, ReceiverPi and AD1865R all in one box (YES)
The ReceiverPi receives a signal from :
(1) ChromeCast via CoAx to ReceiverPi (short pin 17 and pin 18 [J4 20pin of ReceiverPi]).
(2) Box (USB Amanero + Bluetooth CSR8675) via HDMI to ReceiverPi (short pin 15 and pin 16 [J4 20pin of ReceiverPi]).
And both send signals for FifoPiQ3 .
The TransportPi takes the signal from the FiFoPiQ3 (via the GPIO)
and sends it via CoAx (SPDIF), BNC, TosLink, or I2S (LVDS) to a DAC (YES)
The AD1865R is an R2R DAC and takes a signal via CoAx (SPDIF) or I2S and converts to analogue (YES)
Is this signal chain correct?
ChromeCast / Box (USB Amanero + Bluetooth CSR8675) >> ReceiverPi >> FiFoPiQ3 >> TransportPi >> 1865R (YES)
I assume the ReceiverPi, RPi, FiFoPiQ3 and TransportPi are connected via GPIO (YES)
Thanks for your quick response.
If the signal chain does not have the RPi, why do you need the RPi at all?
My idea was to have one box with
- USB Hard disk (with FLAC audio and MOV video files) connected to RPi4
- RPi4 connected to FiFoPi via StationPi
- FiFoPi connected to Transport Pi
- TransportPi connected to external DAC like Topping D90 via I2S (LVDS)
Additionally, I would have
- CD Player connected to Topping D90 via CoAx (SPDIF)
- Game Console connected to Topping D90 via TosLink
- Laptop (if needed) connected to Topping D90 via SUB
DAC would be connected to Stereo Amplifier
RPi4 HDMI out would also be connected to AVR for video streaming from Hard disk or Internet.
I am stuck with 2 parts.
1. I don't know if all the parts will work. I have no knowledge of PCs and Software.
2. How do I get the Raspberry Pi 4 to stream services like Netflix and Tidal? What do I need to install? Plex Server? And how do I install it?
I tried reading some resources like the links below but they went over my head
Question - Advice on building a raspberry pi DAC/streamer | AVForums
How to Install Plex on the Raspberry Pi 4
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Isn't I2S better for short distances than USB? My DAC will be sitting right next to my media player so the distance of the wire should be less than 12" (30 cm). I don't know if this assumption is right or wrong.
Also if you are using USB how do you incorporate an external clock like the FiFo Clock?
This is what I understood from this video.
ESP32 - Intro to I2S Episode 1, explanation with basic example outputting a square wave - YouTube
The advantage of having the DAC outside is that one can upgrade the media player or the DAC independently.
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Topping D90 is using async USB-audio and has its own precise clocks right next to the DAC. (one per samplerate family - Review and Measurements of the Topping D70 DAC | Page 15 | Audio Science Review (ASR) Forum ). Apparently quite good ones as its measurements suggest.
Oh wow. I did not know this. The link is for the D70 but I assume it is the same for the D90 as well.
Is this also true for other DACs like the SMSL SU9, Gustard X16 and Soncoz SGD1? I have not got the D90 as yet and the X16 with its 9068AS chipset looks mighty interesting. I found this on the same ASR website.
New Gustard Twin Shootout: A18 (AK4499) vs X16 (ES9068AS) | Audio Science Review (ASR) Forum
AK4499 Shootout: Topping D90 vs Gustard A18 | Audio Science Review (ASR) Forum
Thank you again!
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Right, the same for D90 Topping D90 Preliminary Impression/Measurment | Page 3 | Audio Science Review (ASR) Forum
Since you know so much about these DACs how are the Gustard DACs compared to the Topping?
I ask only because the Gustad X16 which measured very well on that ASR website sells for a lot less than the Topping D90 and is a little cheaper than the D70 as well.
GUSTARD DAC-X16 Balanced DAC 2x ES9068AS Accusilicon XMOS MQA Bluetooth 5.0 32bit 768kHz DSD512 Black - Audiophonics
TOPPING D90 MQA Balanced DAC AK4499 XMOS XU216 I2S 32bit 768kHz DSD512 Bluetooth 5.0 Black - Audiophonics
TOPPING D70S MQA Balanced DAC 2x AK4497 I2S XMOS Bluetooth 5.0 LDAC 32bit 768kHz DSD512 Silver - Audiophonics
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I do not have any special knowledge, these are more or less technical basics. I do not have any of the DACs you mention and cannot thus comment on their quality. But the ASR measurements seem very relevant and credible.
Regarding a specific USB DAC brand - please create a new thread as such discussion would be quite off topic to this thread. Thanks.
Regarding a specific USB DAC brand - please create a new thread as such discussion would be quite off topic to this thread. Thanks.
Yes . Have it in chain
RPi >> ReceiverPi >> FiFoPiQ3 >> TransportPi >> 1865R
(A).RPi via GPIO to ReceiverPi (open pin 15 and pin 16 [J4 20pin of ReceiverPi]).
(B).Box (USB Amanero + Bluetooth CSR8675) via HDMI to ReceiverPi (short pin 15 and pin 16 [J4 20pin of ReceiverPi]).
(C).ChromeCast via CoAx to ReceiverPi (short pin 17 and pin 18 [J4 20pin of ReceiverPi]).