I have probably spent a good year and a half piecing together components to build an integrated amp for my Volumio RPi + turntable. Randomly today I said "let me see if I can run an analog input to my RPi"........... I can. It also has onboard BT which I honestly didn't know about. And there is a plugin to allow for an IR remote control. So I basically had the preamp I've been looking for this whole time.
I guess my questions are.... is anyone using a Volumio RPi as a preamp, and what is the user experience like? I already made the mistake of buying a bunch of stuff without researching, not trying to make that mistake again. All I need is an RPi screen and USB phono preamp so I might just take the leap.
Ah it's also looking like I can run a DSP plugin too. Man I feel like a dummy.
I guess my questions are.... is anyone using a Volumio RPi as a preamp, and what is the user experience like? I already made the mistake of buying a bunch of stuff without researching, not trying to make that mistake again. All I need is an RPi screen and USB phono preamp so I might just take the leap.
Ah it's also looking like I can run a DSP plugin too. Man I feel like a dummy.
RPi is a very noisy device to put inside an integrated amp, especially one with a phono preamp. You planning to shield and or isolate subsystems from each other at all?
Similar devices like the Asus Tinker Board, will have problems if placed too close to an amplifier, so some isolation may be required, as previously mentioned.
I was not. I was planning to run something like a Hifiberry DAC or USB DAC... def would not connect my amp directly to the RPi
I’ve done something similar although not with all the functionality you need -> https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/rpi4-camilladsp-tutorial.29656/.
It would be easy to add a few lines of code to switch between a CamillaDSP configuration using an ALSA Loopback as an input and a configuration using analog inputs of an ADC. To keep things simple I would use something like a MOTU M4 which is a USB ADC and DAC.
I haven’t implemented Bluetooth yet but it is something I have considered doing.
Michael
It would be easy to add a few lines of code to switch between a CamillaDSP configuration using an ALSA Loopback as an input and a configuration using analog inputs of an ADC. To keep things simple I would use something like a MOTU M4 which is a USB ADC and DAC.
I haven’t implemented Bluetooth yet but it is something I have considered doing.
Michael
It isn't exactly whether or not an amp is connected directly to RPi. Its that RPi produces conducted and radiated EMI/RFI. https://www.google.com/search?q=con...j0i22i30l5.14651j1j1&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8
That sort of electrical noise can affect connected and or nearby dacs, amplifiers, etc. Merely being connected to the same common ground can potentially cause problems. Iancanada eventually designed Station_Pi, Shield_Pi and Isolator_Pi to help with some of the problems. For ground isolation and jitter removal there is also FIFO_Pi.
The above is not to say you can't get pretty good performance from a diy project. It just means that some problems may turn up and need to be fixed before a system-in-a-box works as well as may be desired. Maybe good to do some testing by moving boards around on the test bench to see how close they can get to each other and not have a unwanted effect on sound. Maybe some subsystem is helped by putting it in a small metal box inside the main box. Things like that, etc.
That sort of electrical noise can affect connected and or nearby dacs, amplifiers, etc. Merely being connected to the same common ground can potentially cause problems. Iancanada eventually designed Station_Pi, Shield_Pi and Isolator_Pi to help with some of the problems. For ground isolation and jitter removal there is also FIFO_Pi.
The above is not to say you can't get pretty good performance from a diy project. It just means that some problems may turn up and need to be fixed before a system-in-a-box works as well as may be desired. Maybe good to do some testing by moving boards around on the test bench to see how close they can get to each other and not have a unwanted effect on sound. Maybe some subsystem is helped by putting it in a small metal box inside the main box. Things like that, etc.
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Unwanted by whom? Without the specifics, such term is meaningless but effective FUD spreader. Very common in boutique audio sales pitch.
I'm running an RPi via USB into a tube preamp DAC now without issue. System is in a kitchen so I don't need a super low noise floor. If noise is an issue I'll address it then....... my questions are more about the functionality of RPi with BT, DSP and as an input switching device.
Okay. Most questions relating to RPi software and or DSP are probably better posted in the 'PC Based' sub-forum. The people who know the most about that stuff tend to hang out over there. Hardware interfacing questions are probably best asked about here in the 'Digital Line Level' sub-forum. There may be some crossover between sub-forums but that's sort of the way things tend to be organized here.
You are more likely to get useful responses if you are very specific about what you are trying to do, what exact hardware you have (which part number Bluetooth module, which version of RPi, etc.), your experience level and or design/construction/programming skills, how much research you have done so far, if you are stuck at some point and need specific help, if you are looking for tutoring in general, if you already tried something and its not working, etc. OTOH, people who ask very vague questions may not get any responses at all. Reason is because the subject matter is vast, nobody can explain it all in one post.
You are more likely to get useful responses if you are very specific about what you are trying to do, what exact hardware you have (which part number Bluetooth module, which version of RPi, etc.), your experience level and or design/construction/programming skills, how much research you have done so far, if you are stuck at some point and need specific help, if you are looking for tutoring in general, if you already tried something and its not working, etc. OTOH, people who ask very vague questions may not get any responses at all. Reason is because the subject matter is vast, nobody can explain it all in one post.
Mark, that is the best and most succinct explanation I've heard. Mind if I quote it elsewhere (on other forums) or link ?
