Dummies Guide to Pi2AES! Throw away your PC or laptop.

Google is your friend!

https://help.volumio.com/help/how-to-connect-a-pc-as-media-server

 

PI2AES 2.0 Production update - 9/6/23

The latest batch arrived today, a few days early. So we have another 100 in stock.

Cheers.

 

I think maybe i encountered similiar issue to other user, who described that PI2AES suddenly stopped working via all outputs, while PI2AES power LED on. I was running Raspbian Bullseye with OMV + Raspotify/KODI on the top of that, for music playback and I have done too many careless hardware/software changes on that day to my DIY raspberry and thought maybe PI2AES v1 hardware has died.

To make it simple, "I2S SYNC ERROR" message in /var/log/kern.log threw everytime i tried to play any format sound. I tried I2C interface disable/enable and some other configuration changes (DT overlay, Asound configuration, etc), but nothing worked. Because of Raspbian OS/OMV software updates and 5v AC power changes (changed 5v 3A to 5v 1A on PI2AES, while system was running on the Raspberry internal batteries), i decided to make clean OS reinstall to test Pi2AES for hardware failure. After clean reinstall, everything works fine, so i don't know what exactly was the issue. Therefore, i think that software updates has caused error, which also can be related to my individual system.

I think this message may help someone to be more careful in DIY configurations like me (Raspbian Bullseye +OMV) and/or don't worry if this result comes.

 

I would suspect sd card corruption. Either just wear or improper power down method.

 

Apologies if this is a silly question, but in the context that I already use an external 24V linear power supply with my PI2AES, is there a benefit to being able to use a 5V one? I mean, is it just a matter of convenience since there are more options for 5V supplies? I'm not asking anyone to make claims about audible differences, etc., just the electronics, in theory, etc.

 

Can I swap out (upgrade) the clocks myself on the original pi2aes?

 

No they are not readily removed.

 

Hi,
I think your setup is simply not good enough to hear the difference. It takes a proper room and a lot of optimisation around.

Yesterday, I changed the power supplies on my Pi2AES and the difference was crazy. I'm using 2 supplies - one for the Pi4 and the 7" screen and the other one for the Pi2AES only. Until yesterday, the HAT was running on an SBooster 5V linear supply and a higher quality SMPS for the rest. I replaced it with a Shanty LPS and I was really surprised how much better it got. Improved Imaging and more air between instruments is what it's called in High-End speech

The sound quality you get of the Pi2AES and a good D/A, a proper power supply and proper cables is frightening, keeping in mind how simple it is. And I'm coming from AURELIC, ROSE and other units for a few times more money.

Best regards

Karl-Heinz Fink

 

Wow, Karl-Heinz, welcome to SBAF! Yes we know a gem when we see (hear) one! Pi2AES definitely falls in that camp.

Glad to know the Shanti can bring improvements. Just to clarify, did you use the Shanti only as a replacement for the SMPS, or also for the Sbooster?

 

I replaced the S-Booster as well. It's not a great power supply, to be honest, but it was better than a cheap SMPS.

Best regards

Karl-Heinz

 

Interesting. I use an LPS with an R-core transformer and Nichicon caps from AliExpress and have been very happy. I have only run one cable to power the PI2AES, pi4, and 7" display all at once, maybe I ought to try powering the pi and display separately.

 

Did did not even consider one power supply ....but this is based on experience with other things. I have no idea what is inside the Shanty. I have some Talema transformers sitting here and some boards with low noise regulators. Just needs a case, but that is of course the limiting factor for me, as it takes time.
I'll also try a SMPS with passive lowpass and an addtional low noise regulator . Just to see if that makes any sense. I also want to try a resistor in series to the input of the SMPS. By using a 680 Ohm and 1A at the output of the SMPS, the voltage drops to around 170V (230V Power line voltage here). A friend of mine does this and he thinks it sounds better, because there is no direct feed of anything unwanted back into the power line. Well, I'm not sure, but we are getting winter soon and I have time to play.
Had a few hours yesterday listening to the system and really enjoyed it. This combination of Pi2AES and Pi4B running Ropiee is really something special. I used a Denafrips D/A via I2S and a Soulnote D2 with a Mutec reclocker. The recolcker, I only use because it hangs on a 10MHz Clock together with the Soulnote.

ATB KH

 

Hello Karl,
Nice to hear that you got significant improvements via 5v mod Shanti.
I'm not saying that Shanti and/or PI2AES combination is bad, i'm thought that i don't had quality DAC to make changes and i'm happy to hear your improvements.

I'm also suprised that in your system Sbooster is not better than Shanti, because it should be a class higher LPS.

 

If you have your files on a network share (NFS, SMB, etc) I'd expect Volumio to be able to read them. I'm using SMB on my NAS with Moode and it works great.

 

Looked here at the right time since people are discussing LPSes. Just snagged one from Aliexpress w/ Talema transformer and 2x5v outputs. My Pi2AES Lite is currently powered from the Rpi. Wondering if I should just power the Rpi from the LPS and let the Pi2AES continue to get its power that way or if I should power each separately (from the same LPS)?

 

Hi Kernel,
It's better to power it separetly.

 

Will a good quality 15v LPS be sufficient to power a Pi2AES v1 (with one connection powering the hat and the Pi)?

 

It should be fine but it is not something we have tested. What revision of the PI2AES do you have? It is on the top of the PCB and will sya "REV. Pxx" with xx being the revision number.

 

Hi Michael, it's REV P3.3.

 

OK, you should be OK even down as low as around 12 V. Unfortunately it’s not consistent at 12 which is why we don’t recommend it.