Raspberry pie, anybody?

[Jim R.]

Hi Tom,

The Raspberry Pie has an HDMI port on it (just at the rear of the ethernet connector), and with a little configuring of devices for the music stream, it should be possible to send the PCM file through the HDMI port.  Note, I said "should be" as I've not done this and will have to do some research on this to start, and then see what may need to be done to optimize it.  I plan to run headless,but I'm also guessing that you could use the video out as well, but I myself will most likely not be trying that.  The x.11 GUI/gnome are not really accessible to me so I'm going to stick with a remote SSH console interface using my macbook air over ethernet.

Note I will also be using the Raspyfi voyage linux distro with MPD for music playback.

Yes, it's about time the streamer HD came out -- that one has been promised "next quarter" for a couple of years now.  My guess is that it will be a solid performer for it's approx $450 price.  If I weren't already in possession of so many dacs, I'd likely get one myself.  I'd also very much like to hear the new Micro dac as well.  I was hoping the micro dac would work directly with an iPad and camera connector kit, but it looks like that is not the case.

-- Jim

[rif]

Looks like there is i2s but there are serious doubts about the quality. The discussion is beyond me, but that seems to be what they are saying:

http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/digital-line-level/233230-raspberry-pi-i2s-output-asynchronous-usb-i2s.html

[porcupunctis]

Just saw this article on ArsTechnica:

http://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2013/04/airplaying-music-and-video-from-ipad-to-raspberry-pi-its-as-easy-as/

This article makes it sound pretty easy.  Easy as pi maybe.

[Jim R.]

Randall,

Thanks for the pointer -- I'll have to check it out.

-- Jim

[bobster]

I've got mine - now reading Raspberry Pi for Dummies   

[John EH]

This is kind of just barely touching around the subject of the raspberry pi as a media server and probably not something a dedicated audiophile would want to do but I built up a Raspberry Pi with something called Screenly.  It is a digital signage program.  My gf owns a bar and I took a small flat screen TV, made a bunch of Power Points regarding drink specials, etc. and made a bunch of joke slides. It's pretty cool in that you can upload stuff wirelessly through the browser on a network.

Anyway I download a couple videos from YouTube in H264 and they play real nice.  I see no reason why I couldn't download a ton of videos and Screenly has a shuttle mode as well.  Other than that not much user control.  I guess my point, if I have one, is that the HMDI out for video and sound is pretty impressive.

I have my other Raspberry Pi built up with the latest Raspian OS but I haven't touched it all week.  Been playing around with DD-WRT routers and set up a VPN here in my home in Japan to stream Hulu, Netflix, and Pandora.  Better than any cable system here and much  much cheaper.  I let the cat out of the bag and it seems like everybody wants my help doing the same for their home.

John

[banjopicker]

I use a Raspberry Pi as a headless dedicated music player, connected through a very cheap Chinese USB DAC (hifimediy) to my Foreplay, Parabees, and Straight 8s.  It works very well.  I use Squeezelite, player software designed to work with Logitech Squeezebox systems. The software is free. I control the current playlist (or internet radio) from any computer in the house via a web interface.  My collection is stored as lossless flacs on a readynas server, which is in a different part of the house and serve it up by wifi. 

Yes, it was a pain to rerip everything to flac, but I just did a few at a time (with DBPoweramp) whenever I was sitting at my computer, and eventually it was done. I am glad to now have my collection archived, and the cds put away in boxes.

You can build up the system on the Pi from scratch, but you don't have to.  There is a distribution called "squeezeplug" that has an image with squeezelite and other music server/player software already installed.

[rif]

A new potential competitor?

http://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2013/04/for-your-robot-building-needs-the-45-beaglebone-linux-pc-goes-on-sale/

[earwaxxer]

I use a Raspberry Pi as a headless dedicated music player, connected through a very cheap Chinese USB DAC (hifimediy) to my Foreplay, Parabees, and Straight 8s.  It works very well.  I use Squeezelite, player software designed to work with Logitech Squeezebox systems. The software is free. I control the current playlist (or internet radio) from any computer in the house via a web interface.  My collection is stored as lossless flacs on a readynas server, which is in a different part of the house and serve it up by wifi. 

Yes, it was a pain to rerip everything to flac, but I just did a few at a time (with DBPoweramp) whenever I was sitting at my computer, and eventually it was done. I am glad to now have my collection archived, and the cds put away in boxes.

So many ways to 'skin a cat'.....

You can build up the system on the Pi from scratch, but you don't have to.  There is a distribution called "squeezeplug" that has an image with squeezelite and other music server/player software already installed.

[John EH]

Okay here's what I did with my Raspberry Pi.  But first a little backstory.  I have a Squeezebox Radio which I enjoy. I live in Japan so can't stream Pandora or MOG from the US because of the geo restrictions.

However anything can be beaten.  I just set up a router with DD-WRT and have a VPN service so now I have a US IP address and can now stream US content.

So I got Pandora and MOG and have really been loving it.   Then I decided I needed a Squeezebox Touch for my upstairs bedroom.  To my dismay I found the SQ Touch is no longer in production and sells for basically double or triple of retail now.  Ouch.

So I downloaded the Squeezeplug distribution which appears to be an altered Raspian with Samba and the Squeezeplay libraries.

It took about 2 hours to set it all up.  To my complete and total surprise it shows up on my Logitech Media Server as just another Squeezebox appliance.  I can control my Rpi Squeezeplug player from my iPhone with iPeng.

I guess next I'll get a DAC but to be quite frank it sounds awesome the way it is.  I have it hooked to my home built Foreplay 2 from the headphone jack and feeding my Paramour amps.

Amazing little project.  I've now ordered my third Rpi and I'll play around with that a bit maybe as a little higher end project.

John

[Jim R.]

John,

Way to go!  I'm loving MOG myself.  I'll bet even something like the HRT MicroStreamer pllugged directly into the usb port will sound quite a bit better.  Then another step up could be had with a linear regulated or battery power supply -- just make sure you don't give it more than 5v or things could go pop.

Another possibility is the HRT HDMI streamer connected to the HDMI port on the RPi but that would require some reconfiguration of some of the files and maybe ALSA as well.  I do plan to try it, just have not had time yet and don't have the hdmi dac yet.

I'll be getting one of the Beagle Bone black boards too when they're available again.

-- Jim

[Jim R.]

I found a place that has the BeagleBone Black boards in stock...

http://www.specialcomp.com

I just ordered one, but gotit through amazon as I also needed a memory card reader/writer.  That's another one of those little things I had but can't seem to locate after the move.

-- Jim

[John EH]

Jim,

I'm not real pleased with the sound however I just bought a HiFiMeDIY Sabre USB DAC that is supposed to be supported.  Will report how that works out.

FWIW one raspberry Pi I have sounds much better than the other.

John

[Jim R.]

John,

Interesting about the difference in sound -- are they both the rev b board, same power supply, etc.?  Wonder if it is hardware or software?  Maybe try swapping CF cards?  Does one have wireless and the other not?  This is really kind of interesting.


My BeagleBone shipped yesterday and I'll have it wed or thurs this week.  Wondering if there will be a difference in SQ between RPI and BBB.

-- Jim

[John EH]

Both Rev B boards although one is clearly better sounding (to me).  All I did was swap the CF cards and used the same dongle for wifi between cards.

Amazon says DAC is in the mail.  Should be here in 4-5 days.

John