raspberry pi

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bikerjay

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Joined 2024
#1
I'm not really trying to transform the 'pi. I just to make it store and play music. I have the RPi 4 with 8gb ram. Is there any downsides to using it as a media player? The major upside for me is space. I'm using a big clunky PC in a ATX mid tower that is hooked up to my JVC Audio/receiver/dac/amp now. I'd really like to clean that area up nice and neat. I'd like to hear some dos/donts from people who are using one. I'm not looking to make chicken salad from chicken s**t but I would like a good sounding system. TIA
 
#2
I've used one and it should work fine. Like all things audio, it can be taken to the nth degree in the details of implementation. Things like the USB is somehow shared with the wireless, GPIO signals coaxed into I2S perhaps not so good, and fixes have been designed for that. Maybe the 4 doesnt have the USB share problem.

I find using an inexpensive ebay Dell laptop works as well driving a USB to I2S converter. My Pi sits on a shelf, along with its new HiFi berry amp card, which replaced the old one I stupidly smoked / destroyed. It was fun getting it to work as a player and listening for a time. I probably should have sold it when the market for these was ripe, but I'm sure I missed that window by now.
 
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#5
Lots of people use a Raspberry Pi running either Volumio or Moode Audio into a USB DAC. If you're not picky, the Behringer UCA-202 works well enough, for about $35. There might be better cheap UISB DACs available these days. Add a couple of USB thumb drives and you'd be in business.

I think the only downside to using an RPi instead of a WinPC is ease of use. If you're familiar with Linux then the RPi route is definitely easier than if you're only comfortable with a WinPC or a Mac.
 
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#6
Or piCorePlayer. I used the free version of Volumio at first, and later switched to piCorePlayer when I got a Qobuz subscription.

There is some piCorePlayer setting I had to put to a non-default value because otherwise it would randomly stop playing long songs. I don't remember the details.
 
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#7
bikerjay said:
I'm not really trying to transform the 'pi. I just to make it store and play music. I have the RPi 4 with 8gb ram. Is there any downsides to using it as a media player? The major upside for me is space. I'm using a big clunky PC in a ATX mid tower that is hooked up to my JVC Audio/receiver/dac/amp now. I'd really like to clean that area up nice and neat. I'd like to hear some dos/donts from people who are using one. I'm not looking to make chicken salad from chicken s**t but I would like a good sounding system. TIA
Click to expand...

Why do you even need a PC? Use the Pi as "streamer" and player... I ended up using an external DAC (over USB). Input that into the AUX inputs of the receiver.

Or, honestly, even simpler, right now I got a Chromecast laptop with USB/OTG to a DAC and that goes into the preamp as AUX. Right now that's playing Tidal HiFi Traffic in the living room... I can also play foobar on it. A cheap Android tablet or my Android cell phone also work great.

I found the tablet is the best user GUI but I've yet to find a reliable way to provide power and signal in a single USB port, the Chromebook helps with that. The Android needs a stand alone display/keyboard/mouse and those are fun in the home office but not in the living room / den systems.
 
#9
rongon said:
Lots of people use a Raspberry Pi running either Volumio or Moode Audio into a USB DAC. If you're not picky, the Behringer UCA-202 works well enough, for about $35. There might be better cheap UISB DACs available these days. Add a couple of USB thumb drives and you'd be in business.

I think the only downside to using an RPi instead of a WinPC is ease of use. If you're familiar with Linux then the RPi route is definitely easier than if you're only comfortable with a WinPC or a Mac.
Click to expand...
The only PC with windows in my home is my gamer and thats just for convenience sake. Both my laptops and of course the RPi all have a Linux distro
 
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#10
tonyEE said:
Why do you even need a PC? Use the Pi as "streamer" and player... I ended up using an external DAC (over USB). Input that into the AUX inputs of the receiver.

Or, honestly, even simpler, right now I got a Chromecast laptop with USB/OTG to a DAC and that goes into the preamp as AUX. Right now that's playing Tidal HiFi Traffic in the living room... I can also play foobar on it. A cheap Android tablet or my Android cell phone also work great.

I found the tablet is the best user GUI but I've yet to find a reliable way to provide power and signal in a single USB port, the Chromebook helps with that. The Android needs a stand alone display/keyboard/mouse and those are fun in the home office but not in the living room / den systems.
Click to expand...
the Pi right now is streaming my security cams. The PC is put together from old gaming components I had laying around. This started out as a budget build and was just that, for awhile. Now, It's not good enough.. Because for no reason. It sounds pretty good for what it is. I just want more
 
#12
bikerjay said:
the Pi right now is streaming my security cams. The PC is put together from old gaming components I had laying around. This started out as a budget build and was just that, for awhile. Now, It's not good enough.. Because for no reason. It sounds pretty good for what it is. I just want more
Click to expand...

For PCs, I got rid of all towers a while back, then migrated to laptops, now I use Dell micro form factors with USB-C and nice USB-D docking stations when needed.

For portability I use the Chromecast or Android tablets. Even my Android phone will do great in the car or with a USB DAC -and headphones.

The Pi's have become projects indeed. They're fun, I use one strictly for writing code because it has the tools that I need. I also kept one PC that runs Ubuntu.

@RAndyB the problem that I have using the Pi as a player with hardware on its hat, it noise and choice. Using the USB interface allows me to plug it into devices that don't see the noise... plus better devices that are larger than the Pi itself...
 
#13
DonnyopDAC_klein.jpg


My DAC is also bigger than the Raspberry Pi 3 that drives it most of the time. The Raspberry Pi is screwed to one side of its enclosure (on the inside).
 
#14
RAndyB said:
The Pi does a good job as an audio player. There are also plenty of sound cards to help get the audio stream out in the format you need. What inputs does the amp. have? you mention DAC.
Click to expand...
The JVC is acting as both amp and DAC. It has inputs for days but only 2 digital ins. It does a good job but between it and the tower, I'm taking up a lot of space. I have the RPi streaming my IP security cams right now and that got me to thinking it could work in a sound sytem as well.
 
#16
I use a Rpi 3a+ with an InnoMaker DAC hat that has a nice Hi Z headphone drover in addition to the RCA outputs. Also a power filter board, fed from a 5V 5A power supply. Running PiCorePlayer. There's a bit of setup, you have to enter the Wi-Fi info either by connecting a keyboard and monitor to the Rpi or editing a file in the root of the SD card. Then you have to set up Logitech Media Server on the Rpi, set your permissions for your streaming services, maybe set up another server for that, and you're good to go! I have a 2nd set up in my shop, it works as a satellite without needing to set up another LMS. Ez Pz.

IMG_20241016_095224447.jpg
 
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#17
Hello there....I came across this chat as I'm looking for a perfect and simple streamer solution as well. Or improve the one I currently have. I'm currently running pi-4b (8gb mem) with dietpi, mpd and upmpdcli running on it. Control point is Linn Kazoo using a Qobuz Studio subscription. Current mpd.conf is
Code: 
audio_output {
        type            "alsa"
        name            "SMSL USB AUDIO"
        device          "hw:0,0"
        mixer_type      "none"
        mixer_device    "default"
        mixer_control   "PCM"
        mixer_index     "0"
}

and configged upmpdcli like this (ie: here the one lines I atually changed)
Code: 
# Enable UPnP AV services (0/1).
upnpav = 0
# Enable OpenHome services (0/1).
openhome = 1

# MPD parameters

mpdvolume_enable = 1
volume_max = 100

# Use external command to manage the the sound volume (0/1).
externalvolumecontrol = 1
# Command to run for reading the sound volume.
getexternalvolume = /usr/local/bin/get-volume.sh
# Command to run to set the volume.
onvolumechange = /usr/local/bin/set-volume.sh

The get-volume.sh and set-volume.sh script i made to directly control alsa with amixer making sure the digital signal is not touched. Well at least it's what they say....

get-volume.sh
Code: 
#!/bin/bash
amixer get 'SMSL USB AUDIO ' | grep -o -m 1 '[0-9]*%' | tr -d '%'

and set-volume.sh
Code: 
#!/bin/bash
amixer set 'SMSL USB AUDIO ' $1%

It's important (found out after lots of trial an error) the the mixer control you point amixer to is exactly as it is. I'm using a SMSL Sanskrit 10-th edition MK-III usb dac and apparently it shows like this when I execute the amixer scontrols command.
Code: 
root@DietPi:~# amixer scontrols
Simple mixer control 'SMSL USB AUDIO ',0
Simple mixer control 'SMSL USB AUDIO ',1

After all the above the setup is working really nice with excellent volume control in Linn Kazoo as well as in Lumin.

Interested in what you guys think of this setup and what I ca improve of-course...

thx in advance

reg

willem
 
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