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

DietPi with Allo gui for configuration

 

I too have been struggling with the pathetic Spotify plugin in Volumio. It is very buggy and lacking in features. However, thanks to Metro, I now see my Pi2AES as a Volumio end point. The Spotify desktop / smartphone app changes the whole user experience for the better. I now have many more features to help me enjoy the music.

 

You mean installing bubbleupnp plugin on volumio and then control from bubbleupnp client on PC or Phone ? Does it stream from the pc/phone or only acts as a remote for the server?

I will install moode and give it a try.

Damn! didn't know that, will give it a try. Another problem I found was with conecting to my PC shared folder, I was unable to conect :\

Another OS I will give a try thanks.

 

You simply need to activate UPnP in the Volumio settings, same with MoOde. UPnP is flaky as f**k but when it works it's good.

 

Okay, using spotify app streaming to the pi makes it a much more smoother experience.

I was using the rasperry pi4 without the pi2AES, just got it last week and I'm amazed at the improvement of sound vs using usb directly from PC, I honestly couldn't tell the difference from Spotify/Tidal vs Flac, but now I can.

This must be the best and cheapest audio purchase i have done. My first package was lost but Michael just promptly sent me another one.
Thanks Michael for this great product.

 

If you want to unleash the FULL potential of your Pi2AES, filter and isolate your ethernet audio stream in front of it using an Uptone Audio EtherRegen powered by an Uptone LPS-1.2 (or other quality LPS) and then add an AfterDark Giesemann 10MHz External Master Clock powered by AfterDark Modernize LPS (or other quality LPS). It seems crazy to add roughly $2,800 of stuff in front of the Pi2AES, but for me, it is money very well spent. Highly recommended! Search the web for reviews.

 

DACs are rather variable in their sensitivity to source clocking and isolation. I've owned Onyx, and it doesn't measure up in that respect (or several others) to several other DACs, such as Holo Spring 2 KTE. TBH, I'd rather use $2,800 to upgrade the DAC than trying to alleviate it's suboptimal source handling.

 

Have you then listened to an EtherREGEN with an external master clock with any of your DACs?

 

I only trust blind tests or scopes. Complicated re-configurations make it impossible to do blind tests without additional (and potentially interfering) hardware. My test subjects have limited patience, too. So, if it's not straightforward to do A/B, I don't. Last but not the least, I've been quite close to networking, digital hardware, and DSP for decades in industry and academia, so I start from a pretty skeptical stance with respect to Ethernet tweaks and the like. After all, I worked with hardware engineers installing original Ethernet (yellow coax, screw-in transceivers) and tweaking wirewrap backplane wiring to get timing right on machines older than most people here...

 

Sorry, don't mean to offend. I was just trying to offer an option for those of us with lesser performing DACs to spending $3,800-$5,000 for a Holo May or better.

 

Sorry I don’t subscribe to that point of view.
I know the Ether Regen is supposed to do more than one magick trick.
With regards to reclocking before going into your streamer via Ethernet, ever pulled the plug? Most streamers keep on playing for some time. First of all if the streamer is not connected to the upstream component (switch or Ether Regen) the clock of said upstream component cannot influence the streamer anymore. Secondly the fact that streamer does not stop playing immediately tells us what? That it buffers the data. Now I have a very hard time imagining that data once buffered retains the jitter it had upstream, so why should I reclock? Why should the quality of the upstream reclocking have any influence whatsoever? If I carry jelly around it will start shaking (jitter), once I put the plate with jelly on the table (data buffered) it will stop shaking. I do not believe that the data or the jelly have a jitter memory. It is a state variable, it does not behave like Ketchup of which the viscosity depends whether it was shaken shortly before or not, it behaves like a Newtonian fluid, viscosity depends only on the state it is in (temperature e. g.).

 

I'm not hearing what I'm hearing - got it.

 

You are absolutely hearing what you are hearing! The challenge is that the path from source file to your ears is full of imperfect pieces. In combinations that are almost limitless. Changing a piece of anyone's particular chain may have an impact to them that does not occur to someone else with a different set of components in their chain.

All you can really do is attempt to acquire components that are well designed, reliable and hopefully of high signal quality, and within your budget! And then the most important part, enjoy the music!

 

In b4 nervosa - Has anyone noticed a consistently audible difference in sound quality with a generic vs "upgraded" AES, I2S, or any other output cables (~3ft/1m) with the pi2aes? By upgraded I'm referring to a $20-50 cable, not a $500-5k ORFAS cable. This could be anything from "idk why but silver cables just sound better with pi2aes" to "XYZ brand cables have sound bad b/c whatever", etc.

Spoiler: Bias

I suspect no audible difference by my ears as long as the cable is properly made and insulated with sufficient amounts of conductor, especially for ~3ft/1m, but I ask because I have been surprised by digital cables once or twice before with small but noticeable differences.

 

I noticed a difference however I went from an iFi's rca cable that was bundled with the iDSD BL (so not even a proper coaxial cable) to a Forza one. Sound got 'tighter' (from lack of better word). It was easier to pick up beginnings and ends of notes

 

Regarding ethernet connection, I was skeptical about this subject. However, I tested two things that did some benefits. The use of a medical network isolator Baaske MI 1005 and a better CAT8 cable before the Pi2AES. I consider that the use of the network isolator provides galvanic separation between the units. I observed that some routers have this type of arrangements on its inputs also.

 

I've done some swapping between monoprice 75ohm rca cable, monoprice 75ohm bnc cable with bnc>rca adapter, and a DIY cable with some mogami 75ohm cable(forgot model) and neutrik rca plug. No difference at all in my system.

 

Production update - 5/6/2021

The latest PI2AES production is finally complete and units are on the way to us! We just received the tracking number from our assembly house. It usually takes 3-4 days from Taiwan to us here in the US. Once they arrive, units will begin shipping to customers within 1-2 days. We will need to test, pack and ship each order, but we expect all back orders will be fulfilled within 1-2 weeks of receiving the units.

Many thanks for your patience from the Pi 2 Design team, and stay safe!

 

Production update - 5/11/2021

The new batch of 250 PI2AES boards have arrived! We will begin testing and shipping today. We need about 1-2 weeks to get to all the back orders, so we still need your patience. When your order is shipped you will get an email with a tracking number. Although the number is created as soon as we make the label, it usually takes one day to become active.

Many thanks for your continued patience from the Pi 2 Design team, and stay safe!

 

I know this likely goes against the entire spirit of pi2AES but I just got a DAC in that is USB input only. I've hooked it up to all 4 USB ports on my pi2AES and am not getting any sound from USB.

Sound is coming from pi2AES to another DAC via BNC at the same time though.

I've never tried to use USB out of the streamer - does it have a usable USB out?