Pi2 Design Idiot-Proof Ready-To-Go RPi/AES Streamer

Michael,

With the current chip supply issues, will the next release of the Pi2AES differ from the previous releases? Also, is it likely the Mercury Streamer electronic makeup will change over the course of 2022 as your originally intended parts become available?

Also, if I can offer a plea related to SW, I vote for one that has an LMS plug-in available (Volumio or?). I suspect there is a continuing market for folks whose Squeezebox streamers are dying.

Thanks for striving for best value - 98% performance at 20% cost would be unheard of (118%?).



Ken

 

We have already secured the critical parts for 500 of Mercury and 200 of the PI2AES. After that we will need to see the demand and what is out there. Of course, some other new crisis could smack us upside the head at any time.

We made no part changes for PI2AES other than input voltage range reduced to +19V to +32V, and adding a small trimpot to allow changing the LED brightness. Yes I know it took me forever despite the grumbling of the masses (typical lazy capitalist behavior).

 

This site needs a smiley/LOL face among the possible ratings.

 

Is this something a DIYer can retrofit to an existing unit or have the boards changed to accommodate?

 

I too need this

 

Mercury will have the latest Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. Beta units will be available very beginning of January but production will not be until February or March. We hope to tighten that up but these days are ability to prognosticate is in the crapper.

 

Hi Michael
Is there a list I can be on when the production units are available? if so please add me
best,
Josh

 

+1

 

picoreplayer is what you want if you need to work with Logitech Squeezebox servers. It is reliable, free, and easy to install.

 

Thank you. I understand Volumio has an LMS plugin. Is that plugin more problematic than piCorePlayer? (I'm only just becoming acquainted with Raspberry pi).

 

I don't know, and I haven't used Volumio for years when I had it playing music only through a USB hard drive instead of network storage. LMS is a pretty simple protocol, and I wouldn't be surprised if it works reliably on Volumio, but picoreplayer is built specifically for being an LMS client.

The great thing about the Pi is that you can put different operating systems on different SD cards, and plug in the one you want to use at the moment. One of my Pis is also used for astronomy, and I just replace the picoreplayer SD card with the one I have the astro OS on (Stellarmate), and it becomes my astro computer. You could do the same with Volumio and piCore and see which one works better for you.

 

Me too

 

Hi Michael,
Is 12v for Mercury is still on? I've ordered my 12v linear power supply to get ready. Any update for maybe a nice Christmas release yet? Thanks.

 

\We are still on for limited pre-orders in early January. and yes, Mercury is designed for 12V in.

 

I am runing three Pi4 machines, one LMS and two with Squeezelite, all on PiCorePlayer. I am EXTREMEMLY happy with what I am getting out of them. I have had zero stability issues.

I am using Volumio 3 on my Primo to update my Primo review. I am less happy with it.

 

Which one did you order?

 

Hi Michael,
I wanted to confirm that with this slight change in the input voltage range for a Pi2AES that a 19v power supply will be ok. I am planning to power the Pi separately with a 5v supply. Thanks for your help.

 

Yes

 

Pi 2 Design is about to release the Mercury Streamer to production. Product availability is estimated to be middle to end of March. We currently have a small number of beta units that have the full functionality, but they are currently without metal enclosure. We expect there will be more demand than we have for these units and as such we are going to institute a beta sign-up program. If you are interested in purchasing one of these early units please contact us and tell us what you plan to do with the unit. We were especially interested in folks that will try the various software players for functionality and sound quality. We are also open to those who can coordinate and manage a loaner/tour program amongst their own local community. As well as people familiar with reviewing similar products.

Please send your inquiry to: [email protected]

 

I'm not really one to try different software's (by which I think you mean Moode vs Volumio vs. Ropieee, although maybe you mean player software), so I won't sign up for a beta. That said what is the gist of this unit over and above a Pi + PI2AES "shield" (as I think it is called now) in a 100 words or less?