uh, what a pity, I still have my 210J ! Well I have too the RPI3. Both needs helper like reclocking and clock buffering, but their board is less noisy than most micro computers and their internal smps regs. Bits don't care of electric noise untill they are going to a dac chip.
I like the brands than work around cheap solution to have quieter streamer, like Allo... and certainly all the dedicated above for audio.
While micro computer certainly allow more option (powerfull DSP, datawarehouse for multimedia fast enough, more taps for active crossover. But it will ask more monney to make their electrical noise quieter.
I like the brands than work around cheap solution to have quieter streamer, like Allo... and certainly all the dedicated above for audio.
While micro computer certainly allow more option (powerfull DSP, datawarehouse for multimedia fast enough, more taps for active crossover. But it will ask more monney to make their electrical noise quieter.
I came across this article the other day when reading up in the Raspberry supply chain woes.
https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/202...y-readily-available-raspberry-pi-alternative/
The article links/embeds this video:
https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/202...y-readily-available-raspberry-pi-alternative/
The article links/embeds this video:
I used Pis for several years; they're fun little things with a lot of support and vibrant development of add-ons and software - great if you want to tinker, too. But they are getting scarce and much more expensive, which IMO defeats their main selling point for what is really quite a basic unit, unless you specifically need that. Personally I would only buy one now if needing compatibility with (say) HATs or a pi-specific OS. In fact some such audio-centric OSs (like volumio) have official alternatives to PIs so even there one isn't necessarily constrained to PIs.
If you don't need that compatibility, I would suggest maybe considering a modest laptop; mine was a pre-used fanless one, for example. It could of course be used closed up and unobtrusively (as a server or renderer etc) in exactly the same way as a headless Pi, and yet if/when wanted was actually a complete machine with monitor, keyboard, (effectively) a UPS, even a power button by default. I was using USB DACs in any case (more choice than pi-specific hats) and was starting to feel constrained by pre-rolled OSs. It is more work to set up your own OS and music applications, and not for everyone, but also much more flexible.
The only reason I moved on from a laptop is a change in circumstances. I now always have my main (fanless) PC on when at home, so may as well use that for music instead. But if it needed to be left on 24/7 just for music, a small laptop would still be preferred.
If you don't need that compatibility, I would suggest maybe considering a modest laptop; mine was a pre-used fanless one, for example. It could of course be used closed up and unobtrusively (as a server or renderer etc) in exactly the same way as a headless Pi, and yet if/when wanted was actually a complete machine with monitor, keyboard, (effectively) a UPS, even a power button by default. I was using USB DACs in any case (more choice than pi-specific hats) and was starting to feel constrained by pre-rolled OSs. It is more work to set up your own OS and music applications, and not for everyone, but also much more flexible.
The only reason I moved on from a laptop is a change in circumstances. I now always have my main (fanless) PC on when at home, so may as well use that for music instead. But if it needed to be left on 24/7 just for music, a small laptop would still be preferred.
If you choose a thin client or fanless PC with an external power supply (such as Intel NUC) then it's easy enough to build an external supply if you want, since the power requirements are pretty modest. I used Salas' L'Adapter for mine. Works very well.
Of course this increases cost, but like the video pisted above says, you get a real PC, not just a board like the Raspberry Pi.
Of course this increases cost, but like the video pisted above says, you get a real PC, not just a board like the Raspberry Pi.
SMPS noise isn't an inherent problem, but it can occur if the PSU is not good or if you're unlucky. Don't forget that many (most?) people use SMPS with raspberry PIs too, albeit slightly smaller. I've had more problems with ground noise getting through to laptop's analogue outputs. But some laptops use PSUs that are only two-pin, so are not grounded to begin with, and I've had no issues with those.
The use of external DACs is also the way forward IMO. Even with PCs I wouldn't go back to using internal sound-cards; preferring to keep the analogue stage out of the case. One can still get ground loops with some designs, but there shouldn't be general noise transferred across if the USB of the DAC is competently designed.
The use of external DACs is also the way forward IMO. Even with PCs I wouldn't go back to using internal sound-cards; preferring to keep the analogue stage out of the case. One can still get ground loops with some designs, but there shouldn't be general noise transferred across if the USB of the DAC is competently designed.
As this discussion is about using USB dacs the host power supply is more or less irrelevant if asynchronous UAC is used which is the case with most modern USB dacs. And when the USB dac implementation is subpar USB isolators such as Intona or Topping HS02 can be used to isolate host power supply noise. No need for linear supply in the host.
Switching PSUs are almost always common-mode noise aggressors so I disagree, the host power supply matters. USB galvanic isolation mitigates the ingress of CM noise into DACs.
Even when having a Fifo you can hear difference between frontend PS. Laptop boards are not developped for noise and riplle rejection AND have also embeded integrated smps regs.
USB galvanic isolation does little to the noise generated by the USB controller. Better is to use isolation on the I2S signals.
Let’s be honest the raspberry pi foundation has abandoned the stated point of its existence (educational and experimental, accessible to everyone because of its low cost) and deserves to fade into forgotten greedy tech history. Unfortunately many small but useful use cases have been developed for the pi which are not easily ported to a standard platform. I use moode and really like it but the long term viability of such systems will be based on how well they see and handle the demise of the pi. Since a very direct competitor to the pi never materialized, perhaps it was an unsustainable idea from the beginning. I could be wrong, without a someone filling the void the pi foundations greed and short sightedness may still prevail
Yes...using several fifo and isolators of Iancanada I experienced difference with linear low nouse and smps supplying tje frontend before. Even the difference between a toroudal ans a well made c core traffo is hearable...so i modestly disagree.
For me, because I don't want the [kids', family's, etc.] music tied to my phone*. I might have it turned off, it may be in another room, it may be in my pocket as I go into another room, I may need to go to the store, etc.
* (or my wife's phone, and I really don't care for the situation where we have to keep swapping who's phone is connected to what player. Having a web-interface to control via any generic phone/browser is useful.)
* (or my wife's phone, and I really don't care for the situation where we have to keep swapping who's phone is connected to what player. Having a web-interface to control via any generic phone/browser is useful.)
OK, I will bite. Name one way it is better other than simple convenience? Even if you use headphones, the audio out from most cell phones is only passable. You will always need a DAC output to render decent quality Audio. A cell phone can make an OK controller, but I prefer a small tablet (Nexus 7) for the display and control. Great way to repurpose old tech.
As I know nothing about your setup I cannot comment on what you hear and why. But in bit-perfect async UAC with galvanic isolation there is simply no plausible route for host noise to creep in.
Micro processor with memory or storage
not much different than computer or cell phone.
Easier to use phone or pad with no service.
just connect to wifi.
Likewise phone or pad has plenty of storage.
It is just a process of change, not use too.
I understand the fun of micro processor
people using them as computers never understood.
Cell phone or especially pad same thing.
Pad even possible run more conventional operating
systems.
1 year or 2 year old phones still very advanced
easy to buy, no service needed.
not much different than computer or cell phone.
Easier to use phone or pad with no service.
just connect to wifi.
Likewise phone or pad has plenty of storage.
It is just a process of change, not use too.
I understand the fun of micro processor
people using them as computers never understood.
Cell phone or especially pad same thing.
Pad even possible run more conventional operating
systems.
1 year or 2 year old phones still very advanced
easy to buy, no service needed.
The $35 pi and $50 screen seem cheaper than a new phone dedicated to this, but my first plan was actually to use the old phone as the device. I found that I used my phones until they were effectively out of software/security updates or had battery/physical issues. My wife is harder on her phones (when she stops using a phone, it usually has a nice matte finish on the screen, protector or not). The only thing I want for is to figure out how to do Pandora natively on moode. Which I guess I could solve by enabling bluetooth on the pi or possibly using the Chromium browser on the pi to log into Pandora (but that seems fiddly).
Even blueray player with network does pandora.
software / security updates are not needed.
All my phones are hard reset to factory.
Then just update app software. youtube your case pandora.
Dont need carrier updates and security malware.
factory flash, no service just wifi.
auto update turned off all access turned off.
unlocked no contract phone
brand new 19 to 49 dollar.
I have many old phone anyway.
battery life fine, after carrier malware removed ( aka "updates")
software / security updates are not needed.
All my phones are hard reset to factory.
Then just update app software. youtube your case pandora.
Dont need carrier updates and security malware.
factory flash, no service just wifi.
auto update turned off all access turned off.
unlocked no contract phone
brand new 19 to 49 dollar.
I have many old phone anyway.
battery life fine, after carrier malware removed ( aka "updates")
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