Built an Audio Streamer using Raspberry Pi 2

[Amarendra]

Hi,

Just thought of sharing my fresh build of an audio streamer using the Raspberry Pi 2 model B.

Costing and equipment used:
- Raspberry Pi 2 Model B: INR 2,750
- Case with fan: INR 500
- Mobile charger: INR 200
- USB thumb drive- used existing
- SD card for loading volumio: used from my mobile phone

Other equipment used: Dragonfly V1.2 and Rotel RA- 10

Currently I have used a usb thumb drive full of 40 GB worth of audio that's connected to one of the 4 usb slots. I am using another USB slot for connecting the Audioquest Dragonfly V1.2 which I just picked up today. The operating system used is Volumio. The small computer just uses about 5 volts of power through my blackberry mobile charger. Boot time is a few seconds.

Sound through the Dragonfly is divine feeding into my Rotel RA 10 amplifier. For comfortable listening levels the volume dial rests at 8 o' clock position. 10 o' clock becomes very loud SQ that I am getting is far better than my Panasonic BDT 220 or the dac in the Marantz SR5007. Will post a more detailed review later.

Thanks for reading.

 

[askii2]

That's cool. Congratulations. Raspberry Pi is very easy to use and configure. It's a great thing for quick experiments

 

[manniraj]

Congrats on the setup. Why do you require a fan in the case for Pi? The Pi runs very cool even inside that tiny case, no issues with heat. As you are going to use only for audio streaming then fan noise is best avoided, even for my video playback with Pi I do not use any fan.

 

[GeorgeO]

Is Ethernet connectivity to, say a NAS, an option? What do you use for display/navigating?
Thanks

 

[GeorgeO]

Should have phrased it as "Ethernet/wifi"

 

[gcr]

congrats. How is it controlled? via mobile ?

 

[Amarendra]

Yes the Ethernet allows it to be controlled by a mobile. This also allows it dlna and airplay capability. Best part is not using a monitor or TV to operate it.

 

[ajeshkumarts]

1. Volumio /rune audio has a browser based interface which can be accessed from mobile
2. can be controlled by any of the MPD clients from mobiles and off course dlna/upnp & AirPlay compatible

 

[bobbyprajan]

Just got a Banana Pro with a ES9023 I2S dac working !!

 

[Amarendra]

Great, please share your review and build. Thanks

 

[bobbyprajan]

Hardware

1) Banana Pro @ 4.5K including case
2) Audiophonics DAC Sabre ES9023 I2S @ 1K

Software

1) Debian Wheezy image for Banana Pro from here

Instructions

To make i2s work, follow the instructions here

Some changes to the commands are required. The bin2fex and fex2bin commands are to be done on /boot/script.bin.

One problem is that the volume control does not work, yet to figure it out.

 

[raja_mastana]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ARAsekM3X0

I find runeaudio very good - it has a great UI - very thoughtfully designed

 

[sam9s]

Try Moode I have been playing around with all sorts of MPD players including Volumio, Rune but I found Moode to be the best. Better interface, better sound and more stable. Give it a short

For remote people using MPD, my suggestion is Mupeace the best MPD Android remote out there .....

 

[urindian]

Do you guys know a good i2S DAC for Raspberry Pi 2

Will this Work ?

 

[sam9s]

Hifiberry is the most popular i2s DAC for Raspberry Pi..... Popular because no one can beat the price performance ratio for this DAC. Its around 30 EUR or 35 USD and improves the sound by fair margin. There are other bit expensive options as well like Durio Sound (google)

 

[urindian]

Thanks Sam,

Will the Hiberry DAC+ Sends the output to HDMI which watching videos / Music ?