I have my music digitized and stored on a USB hard drive. I was hoping for some recommendations on the "best bang for the buck" hardware for reading and converting to a preamp-input compatible analog signal. Especially capable with both FLAC and mp3 files.
An RPi can read a USB drive, although they are not fast computers they can drive dacs from their GPIO bus or from USB. So, an RPi with software that supports mp3 and FLAC playback, and a low-cost dac can do what you seem to be asking about.
IMHO, in terms of best bang for the buck it really depends on what kind of sound quality you find acceptable. In other words, one might frame the question as, " what is best bang for buck dac in the below $50 price range?" Or whatever you want. Reason I say that is some people are very picky about sound quality and others don't much care about it. IME, 'don't much care' tends to be cheaper than 'very picky.'
Also, your post probably would fit better in the 'PC Based' forum since small computers like RPi are more frequently discussed over there.
IMHO, in terms of best bang for the buck it really depends on what kind of sound quality you find acceptable. In other words, one might frame the question as, " what is best bang for buck dac in the below $50 price range?" Or whatever you want. Reason I say that is some people are very picky about sound quality and others don't much care about it. IME, 'don't much care' tends to be cheaper than 'very picky.'
Also, your post probably would fit better in the 'PC Based' forum since small computers like RPi are more frequently discussed over there.
Your post is fine where it is. You haven't mentioned RPI etc... What is your budget and how picky are you?
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Not too picky. I just want good sound.
My budget can vary. If something costs twice as much but sounds twice as good, I'm game. If it sounds twice as good but costs 4x as much, I'm not as enthusiastic.
I'm not well-versed on RPi other than knowing what it is (Raspberry Pi?). I have no hands-on with it, or even know what is available off the shelf or diy.
My budget can vary. If something costs twice as much but sounds twice as good, I'm game. If it sounds twice as good but costs 4x as much, I'm not as enthusiastic.
I'm not well-versed on RPi other than knowing what it is (Raspberry Pi?). I have no hands-on with it, or even know what is available off the shelf or diy.
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Don't know that there is a "sounds twice as good for twice the cost" region in the price performance function of dacs. Better sound tends to cost out of proportion to the increase in how "good" it sounds. However, IME people vary greatly in how they evaluate goodness of sound.
For the most part the way it seems to me that it works with dacs is that people have some level of sound quality they find to be satisfactory. The higher that level is, the more they may have to spend on a dac to get sound that satisfies them.
To get an idea of what that means, dacs vary in price from under $100 up to several tens of thousands of dollars. Also, sometimes more expensive does not always mean better sound. Then again, sometimes it does.
When asked how picky you are, it is a question about how particular you are about the sound of a dac in order to find it satisfactory to you.
If almost any dac will do, then you are lucky. Cheap dacs will suit you just fine. If you are very picky about sound quality, then you may be talking from several hundred to a few thousand dollars, maybe more.
For the most part the way it seems to me that it works with dacs is that people have some level of sound quality they find to be satisfactory. The higher that level is, the more they may have to spend on a dac to get sound that satisfies them.
To get an idea of what that means, dacs vary in price from under $100 up to several tens of thousands of dollars. Also, sometimes more expensive does not always mean better sound. Then again, sometimes it does.
When asked how picky you are, it is a question about how particular you are about the sound of a dac in order to find it satisfactory to you.
If almost any dac will do, then you are lucky. Cheap dacs will suit you just fine. If you are very picky about sound quality, then you may be talking from several hundred to a few thousand dollars, maybe more.
You could try a Raspberry Pi with a HiFiBerry DAC+ standard. If you don't like the DAC, at least you haven't wasted too much money on it, and you can still use the Raspberry Pi with some other DAC.
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Thanks, I'll look into the HiFiBerry.
Trying to describe how picky I am isn't easy, because of that variance in how different people evaluate sound. No, I'm not chasing any sort of "audio nirvana." I do want reasonably accurate playback of the recorded instruments.
Trying to describe how picky I am isn't easy, because of that variance in how different people evaluate sound. No, I'm not chasing any sort of "audio nirvana." I do want reasonably accurate playback of the recorded instruments.
For an entry level RPi based system (for a $100ish budget) I'd recommend an RPi3 B+ and an Allo Boss DAC:
Raspberry Pi Model 3B
BOSS I2S DAC v 1.2
These, together with an 8GB SD card loaded with Moode or Volumio will get you up and running very quickly with a proven and easy to use set up with minimal outlay.
moodeaudio.org
Volumio - The Audiophile Music Player
From here, you have an upgrade path to more expensive DACs such as the Khadas Tone Board, Allo Revolution, linear power supplies etc. It can be a slippery slope, but it's very rewarding and engaging. There are a lot of people out there who have done similar ready to offer lots of advice.
Alternatively, you may find that it's not for you. In which case your outlay has been minimal, and the items you've bought have a resale value...
Raspberry Pi Model 3B
BOSS I2S DAC v 1.2
These, together with an 8GB SD card loaded with Moode or Volumio will get you up and running very quickly with a proven and easy to use set up with minimal outlay.
moodeaudio.org
Volumio - The Audiophile Music Player
From here, you have an upgrade path to more expensive DACs such as the Khadas Tone Board, Allo Revolution, linear power supplies etc. It can be a slippery slope, but it's very rewarding and engaging. There are a lot of people out there who have done similar ready to offer lots of advice.
Alternatively, you may find that it's not for you. In which case your outlay has been minimal, and the items you've bought have a resale value...
Beware of internet shills. They post all sorts of praising words for high price DACs. DAC is a matured technology and it has been for at least 20 years. Even cheap DACs sound as good as people's ears can detect now. Do a Google search on DAC double blind listening test. If someone tells you that you need to spend $### more to get good sounding DACs, ask them for evidence. If they don't give you a straight answer, run away from them.
do you have an old note book, cell phone, tablet or even one of those android tv boxes? I use an old atom powered laptop to drive an SMSL dac through an USB port, works well. I tried an ($50) android tv box with a SPDIF output and that worked too. An OTG adapter is required for phones and tablets with a usb connection.
Thanks for all the info.
I've been using a 10yo laptop. Then I got a Vista desktop and was using it as well; it crashed so I installed Lubuntu and am currently working on installing a couple of hard drives inside it. That's what prompted my question - curious what other options could be available.
I like being able to load a 5-figure playlist and setting the player to random albums or random songs.
I've been using a 10yo laptop. Then I got a Vista desktop and was using it as well; it crashed so I installed Lubuntu and am currently working on installing a couple of hard drives inside it. That's what prompted my question - curious what other options could be available.
I like being able to load a 5-figure playlist and setting the player to random albums or random songs.
For very little money you can try Shiit Fulla.
Schiit Audio: Audio Products Designed and Built in California
Schiit Audio: Audio Products Designed and Built in California