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

currently Running a RP4 + Pi2AES 2.0 via i2s with RopieeeXL.

Ive always used Ropieee since it is free and I exclusively use Roon and Airplay. No complaints currently, but you never know until you try....

Assuming all the usual caveats...for sound quality purposes alone, what are peoples thoughts on Ropieee vs. Volume or Moode?

 

Gentooplayer is mine favourite for sound quality purposes.

Many options great sound

 

A couple of months ago, I'd asked about using a ribbon cable to connect the pi2aes2 to the raspberry pi4 and mounting them side by side. My primary motivation was to reduce the height of the case, but it occurred to me that it might also reduce any EMI coupling.

I'm not sure of the protocol for sharing photos, but I've posted some photos here:
https://share.icloud.com/photos/0186eiCSJET0CFmDmKdC7OMZw
https://share.icloud.com/photos/08e7W6NJjEk_Xi3I2geREgdzg
https://share.icloud.com/photos/091bOG61_Wrxl0p1XlOuJswFA

The pi4 and pi2aes2 have separate AMB sigma-11 5v supplies. The pi4 is housed in a geekworm N300 passive cooling case and is running ropieee as a roon endpoint over Ethernet. My DAC is a Chord Qutest powered by an Sbooster with ultra mk11 upgrade.

Initially I'd been using an a sigma-11 to power the pi2aes2 and an IFI ipower2 to feed the pi4. Building the second sigma-11 for the pi4 was almost an afterthought because I didn't expect it would make much of a difference. Well I was wrong - the improvement was immediately apparent. Bottom line is that I'm very happy with the end result, but maybe there's more to be had - I'd welcome comments or suggestions.