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

Discussion in 'Digital: DACs, USB converters, decrapifiers' started by Michael Kelly, Jan 16, 2021.

  1. rlow

    rlow A happy woofer

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    Aren’t there issues with OLED burn-in when they’re used for something like this? I think Topping has some issues with OLED display burn-in on some of their DACs if I’m not mistaken. What would be shown on the display?
     
  2. Gazny

    Gazny MOT: ETA Audio

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    Great design, love it.
    Any design considerations for optical networking? I do think I could do with wifi, but one has to ask.
     
    Last edited: Jan 20, 2021
  3. Michael Kelly

    Michael Kelly MOT: Pi 2 Design

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    Not sure what you mean. Optical as in fiber? The box has GIGe for wired networking.
     
  4. Michael Kelly

    Michael Kelly MOT: Pi 2 Design

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    As with any development things have taking a bit of a turn. Instead of one box we will have two. We decided to take the digital audio design and add analog plus 5" touch for a high end audio streamer. But, keeping with our roots, we have also created a smaller digital only version. Functionally nearly identical what we already posted here, but without the OLED or rotary.

    Front:
    cm4aes-m_front.PNG

    Back:
    cm4aes-m_back.PNG

    Top:
    cm4aes-m_top.PNG

    Bottom:
    cm4aes-m_botttom.PNG

    Some key differences from the previous posting:
    Display - No OLED, but CM4 status and 44.1/48 status LEDs
    Size - 124 x 73 x 40 mm, Galaxy GX140 from Modu in Italy
    nVME - 2242 size up to 2TB! www.amazon.com/Sabrent-DRAM-Less-Internal-Performance-SB-1342-2TB
    USB - Front Panel USB that has 3 modes (controlled by slide switch on back)
    A) Normal - host port for external storage or DAC (USB2 only though)
    B) Download - Using Utility Program on PC/Mac to program Compute Module eMMC
    C) Boot - boot from USB drive, same functionality as SD Card

    Protos are underway now and we will have them back by the middle to end of March.
     
  5. zerodeefex

    zerodeefex SBAF's Imelda Marcos

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    I have not been following this thread but this looks meaningfully interesting! really excited to see this when it's in production.
     
  6. rlow

    rlow A happy woofer

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    Cool, great stuff!! Where’s the SD card slot? On the side maybe?

    From a design point of view, I’m not crazy about the amount of wording and the size of the model name on the front. I would go with just Pi 2 Design in large font, and really minimize or eliminate the rest (put whatever on the back). And think about your font as well, since this will be your first metallic branded case, you want it to stand the test of time.

    I kind of like the icon and font from your website’s main logo (would have to be the inverse of course):

    upload_2021-2-23_9-54-14.jpeg
     
    Last edited: Feb 23, 2021
  7. Michael Kelly

    Michael Kelly MOT: Pi 2 Design

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    We will definitely discuss the logo and lettering here. As an engineer I tend to overdue this type of stuff. Thanks!

    As for the SD Card, the CM4 we plan to use will have at least 8Gb of internal eMMC. That can be programmed from a PC or MAC directly using the front USB (plus an A-A cable supplied by us) and putting it into Download mode. Once done you don't need any external storage. For messing around with other players, put the USB into Boot mode and plug in a USB drive with the same image you would put onto an SD Card. We plan to offer a set of images for Volumio, Moode and Ropieee. Maybe PiCore player as well. These will be the standard release, but with the options already set for our box.

    We will also need to figure a way to get the USB image into the eMMC without a PC or MAC, but that is not 100% clear at this time. Any thoughts and ideas are always welcome. :)
     
  8. zerodeefex

    zerodeefex SBAF's Imelda Marcos

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    You might want to consider simplifying your logo and hitting someone up on fiver to do a fancy take on "π2D".
     
  9. fraggler

    fraggler A Happy & Busy Life

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    I think we have a few designers on the boards. Maybe one could do something in exchange for some merch.
     
  10. haywood

    haywood Friend

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    X2. Less is more here. The logo with PI2DESIGN inline in a normal serif font (e.g. Lato is free to use) on the left side of the case and the model number on the right would look a lot more inline with expectations of products in this price category. I’d also reconsider the name, think about it more in line with this being the first (of many hopefully, right?) network streamers so something boring like NS01 would let you more easily iterate and keep the same basic branding.

    Here’s a link to Lato and an assortment of other mostly free fonts but check the particular license of others as some may have encumbrances for commercial use.

    https://fonts.google.com/specimen/Lato

    Also be aware that a smaller display probably won’t have built-in support in the different audio distros as they’re mostly meant to run headless so you’ll want to either fork them to add your own customizations or get in touch with the various principals and try to get them on board with support. Forking will give you more control but it’s also more hassle as any change(s) to the distro will mean you also need to update.
     
  11. haywood

    haywood Friend

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    The diamond logo is actually nice in an abstract way, it’s just that the logo font is really bad. I’d suggest two versions: one with the logo inline with just the company name like “@ PI2DESIGN” for on-device branding and the other with it as-is with the bigger logo and PI2DESIGN text underneath. I’m capitalizing and running it together on purpose btw as I don’t think mixed case is a great look here and if it was PI 2 DESIGN then it looks like it’s design based around the Pi 2.
     
  12. rlow

    rlow A happy woofer

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    I personally like Pi2DESIGN, that way the “Pi” is aligned with the case used for the “Raspberry Pi” name, and it’s a bit more readable. I agree the spacing looks awkward.
     
  13. Michael Kelly

    Michael Kelly MOT: Pi 2 Design

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    Of course the company was originally named after the raspberry pi 2. And is a play on words as in going from the raspberry pi to a design based on it.

    The logo itself was a Fiverr purchase a while back.

    This is all very good stuff, and eventually it will matter. But in the near term the functionality and the performance will need to prove themselves first.
     
  14. rlow

    rlow A happy woofer

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    Bzzzzttttt!!! Wrong! Looks are all that matter! Haven’t you learned this by looking around at all the other “high end” streamers??!! Just put a cheap computer inside a fancy box with a nice logo and sell it for $3k! :p
     
  15. Azteca

    Azteca Friend

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    Definitely change the big typeface but really I would consult with a designer. You can clearly identify the unit with full model name and everything on the back or bottom and do something more tasteful and minimal on the front. Schiit is a good company to take notes from, IMO. As it stands now, it would be a great unit that would have to be out of sight. My wife would not abide it being out. Probably the same for many. I say this all with love.
     
  16. Gazny

    Gazny MOT: ETA Audio

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    mspaintworkflow.PNG
     
  17. Pancakes

    Pancakes Friend

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    Not sure if it's been mentioned but in the logo, "Add-on's" (possessive) should be changed to "Add-ons" (plural).
     
  18. YMO

    YMO Chief Fun Officer

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  19. Biodegraded

    Biodegraded Friend

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    A request that's not about the logo (though I agree with previous points): ;)

    If sample-rate LEDs are going to be included, it'd be best if they're different colours. In a 2-channel system, the listener would be sitting far enough away that with eyesight anything like mine (or listening-session alcohol-assisted multivision like mine) it might not be evident if the one that was on was the upper or the lower.

    And maybe swap their positions, because 48 is higher than 44.1.
     
  20. Michael Kelly

    Michael Kelly MOT: Pi 2 Design

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    They will be, but I already have the red and green for the PI, so I am not sure what colors for the frequency. Or maybe just do away with them altogether.
     

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