Building a Raspberry Pi-based streamer - a guide for the nervous

Discussion in 'Digital: DACs, USB converters, decrapifiers' started by Kattefjaes, Feb 19, 2017.

  1. Ksaurav402

    Ksaurav402 Friend

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    But wasn't the whole point of Digione Signature HAT to reject these noise from Pi?
    Also Pi2AES measurement has been very clean with Pi3 B+
     
  2. wormcycle

    wormcycle Friend

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    Most of what is important to limit the noise on pi: procesor clock speed, voltage etc are directly configurable on 3b and 3b+ through config.txt. Slowing the memory speed, limiting multiprocessing etc all will contribute to lower noise. If it is audible is another matter. Here is a good tutorial http://archimago.blogspot.com/2017/01/measurements-raspberry-pi-3-as-usb.html
     
  3. hifiandrun

    hifiandrun Almost "Made"

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    Very good discussions above! Thank you guys for providing all the links and interpretations. A little while ago, I briefly compared PI2AES pro HAT with either a Pi3b+ or a Pi4b. My speaker system sounded better to me with the Pi4B (earlier report: https://www.superbestaudiofriends.o...uide-for-the-nervous.3969/page-19#post-271311). I was using piCorePlayer 6.00b4. Now the 6.00b5 is available.
     
    Last edited: Oct 24, 2019
  4. digitaldave

    digitaldave Acquaintance

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    Quoting @msommers from ages ago as I've got the same problem. Does anyone know if the 3-4 second delay with AirPlay pause/play can be removed or reduced to a minimum? It's driving me nuts, as I believe my old AirPort Express didn't have this. I looked around in the settings and tried reducing the audio buffer size (the minimum it would allow is 512), and also switching 'Buffer before play' to disabled, but it still has the same delay.

    Is this a problem with Rune, or do all Raspberry Pi solutions have the same issue?

    Thanks.
     
  5. StageOne

    StageOne Friend

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    The Apple Airplay protocol has a 2 second delay built in. Airplay v2 is much better but I don't know if Shairport, the open source airplay module that RPis use, supports v2 yet. I have a mix of Airport Expresses and RPis in my network and they all have the delay.
     
  6. itsikhefez

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    I'm not using AirPlay so this may not be relevant, but in the past I've used RuneAudio and Volumio and they both had horrible delays with play/pause/different song.
    I've since been using piCorePlayer with LMS, and all of these actions are instanteous... it's really so much better.
    I think it also has an AirPlay plugin so worth a try.
     
  7. digitaldave

    digitaldave Acquaintance

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    Thanks, I could have sworn the AirPort Express didn’t have a delay, but it’s been a few years since I used it.
     
  8. itsikhefez

    itsikhefez Acquaintance

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    The streamer I built previously, mentioned here: Building a Raspberry Pi-based streamer - a guide for the nervous has been working well, but I wanted something a bit more compact and wanted to use a Digi+ instead of a DAC+ for SPDIF output (for using an old DAC).

    This is the result of that.... I chose a VFD display to match the one I used on my AMB alpha20 preamp.
    Using a 9V linear power supply that is then regulated to 5V with an AMB sigma25.

    Looks and sounds great! Next step is to integrate an IR receiver (behind the "Pi" symbol) for remote control functionality.

    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
     
    Last edited: May 28, 2020
  9. Mindbender

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    I think that is the slickest thing I've seen all year other than a pair of monoblock tube amps that I could never afford.

    Can you explain what the components (other than the RPi) are? Especially what type of power board/mechanism that you've used with this combo?

    Also, have you considered implementing the PI2AES board sometime in the future? It would honestly be the best implementation I've seen yet, although I don't know how the different outputs (AES, BNC and toslink) would fit through the rear of the case.

    Very impressive though. I'd buy one.
     
  10. itsikhefez

    itsikhefez Acquaintance

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    @Mindbender thanks for the kind words!

    I'll share the components I've used, but want to point out that there is a lot of flexibility here.

    Parts worth discussing:
    * Display is a Futaba VFD, M162SD53AA-000. I much prefer the VFD, especially if using 16x2 since the scrolling text smears alot on the LCD and the VFD has amazing contrast and 0 smearing.
    Using a cheap $2, i2c backpack to minimize wiring to the RPI.

    * PSU is a Triad WDU9-1200, which is an unregulated 9V 1.2A linear power supply. It is essentially a transformer, bridge rectifier and filter cap.

    * Regulated 5V is supplied with an AMB sigma25. Since we have DC from the Triad PSU, I did not install a bridge rectifier on the board. Measured with a DMM, the RPI (model 2) with the VFD consume on average 440mA. That comes out to slightly more heat dissipation that AMB recommends for the sigma25, the case is slightly warm because of that. So far, it has been working fine though

    Other parts:
    * Case is a Hammond 1455N1602. Various compatible depths are available.
    * Switchcraft/ConX-All locking connectors for power, 16282-2SG-311 & 17282-2PG-300.
    * HifiBerry DIGI+ Pro for SPDIF output to DAC. 5V supplied directly to the Digi which then supplies the RPI.
    * Power switch is an SPST, I like NKK which are durable.
    * Neutrik NBB75SI BNC connector wired with a coaxial cable.

    Software: I'm using piCorePlayer with the slimmer project which updates the display with the track information


    Lastly, I'm not familiar with the PI2AES at all so can't comment... maybe for the next one!
    I don't know which monoblock tube amps you're referring to..... but I'll show off a 300B I built in the past few months ;)
    https://imgur.com/a/bYae9wG
     
    Last edited: May 28, 2020
  11. ProfRob

    ProfRob New

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    Hi all! First post, just registered. I am the ultimate new audiophile, and if that wasn't handicap enough, programming of any kind escapes me completely. SO....I tried my hand at downloading Volumio onto an SD card. I followed the instructions that several folks have shared on YouTube. All of those experts suggested an install time of around 20 minutes to no more than a hour or so to get a Pi streamer up and running. I am about 10 days in and hopelessly stuck. SO, number 2. Is there anyone with a spare Raspberry Pi streamer that is all set up to use on a MacAir with Big Sur running. I want to stream Tidal and use my MacAir as the Pi monitor/screen.

    Just a little more background. I can detect the Pi4B on my network. So, I connected my MacAir directly into the Pi4B using a USB cord. I was hoping I could try a few commands that would somehow "start' the Pi. I have not a clue what to do at this point, if anything. One question I had, do I use another "image" of Volumio on the MacAir to enage the Pi4B to start working? I have given all this a pretty good try. I know I could put another couple of weeks in it, but it is starting to frustrate me more than anything else. That's why I am asking about anyone that has an extra Pi that I could buy. I apologize for the rambling. I am open to encouragement, supportive instruction, positive motivation and/or anything else that would make me less discouraged than I already am. Rob.
     
  12. Azimuth

    Azimuth FKA rtaylor76, Friend

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    It sounds like your Pi is bootin to Volumio if you can detect it on your network. What you need to do is open a browser (Safari or Chrome) and go to that IP of the Pi. eg. 10.0.0.56, or 192.168.0.35...whatever the ip is. So type in the browser box "https://10.0.0.56" or whatever your IP of the Pi happens to be.

    According to the manual, you should be able to go to "http://volumio.local". Although I know that will not work on an iPhone. Either way, direct IP or the .local should get you to the web interface.
     
  13. ohshitgorillas

    ohshitgorillas Friend

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    This is the easiest way, but I don't think most of these things run HTTPS, so you might need to use http:// specifically. I could be wrong with Volumio. Some browsers default to HTTPS so you might need to specify http://
     
    • Agreed, ditto, +1 Agreed, ditto, +1 x 1
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  14. AukePauke

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    Connecting with a usb cord is not the way. U need to connect to your router with a network cable.

    This is basic knowledge. If you don't get a sort of pleasure out of working with this sort of stuff, than stop. Get a streamer that is working out of the box.
     
  15. Metro

    Metro Friend

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    You will connect to Volumio through your network (via web browser), not USB. Try this on your web browser:
    http://volumio.local

    Did you follow Volumio's own setup instructions? The steps are very simple.
    https://volumio.com/get-started/
     

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