raspberry pi 2 as media player

[AVcrazy]

Hey saikat how much did you pay in all for your digi+ ? And what was the shipping time etc?

Drgb, sir I'll definitely downlaod today and let you know how it went. Thanks a bunch for the help!

 

[jls001]

@venkatcr: you owe yourself a listen of the RPi. I would strongly recommend a good linear power supply to go with it. With the stock SMPS-based power adapter, the sound quality is just about OK. Even a battery supply didn't raise performance much, but a good LPS is a different animal.

To add: comparing the USB output and SPDIF coax output of the RPi to the same external DAC (a Peachtree DAC ITx, in our case) showed that the USB was much better sounding. Since we didn't have another DAC at hand, it wasn't possible to conclude if this observation was because of the RPi itself, or if the Peachtree USB implementation was superior to its SPDIF. This is a possibility as OEMs lavish more love on USB nowadays than SPDIF.

 

[keith_correa]

My super tweaked music laptop has given up the ghost and now, after hearing all these experiences, I'm wondering if I should buy a Pi instead of a pre-owned laptop.

 

[regeHA]

My super tweaked music laptop has given up the ghost and now, after hearing all these experiences, I'm wondering if I should buy a Pi instead of a pre-owned laptop.

Definitely the Pi. You'll not go back to a PC or laptop.

 

[saikatbiswas82]

To add: comparing the USB output and SPDIF coax output of the RPi to the same external DAC (a Peachtree DAC ITx, in our case) showed that the USB was much better sounding. Since we didn't have another DAC at hand, it wasn't possible to conclude if this observation was because of the RPi itself, or if the Peachtree USB implementation was superior to its SPDIF. This is a possibility as OEMs lavish more love on USB nowadays than SPDIF.

@joshua...just wanted to add one more point here. My dac is Peachtree DAC-iT (without x). The USB implementation in this dac is not that good. Peachtree DAC-iTx has a better USB implementation.

 

[saikatbiswas82]

I am also looking for a Linear PSU for my Gigabyte barebones PC which requires 12V 2.5A power ratings and would like to replace the smps power supply. But could not find one with reasonable cost except the HDPlex or other branded ones. Please share the details about your LPSU.

@manniraj, I guess you might need the hdplex or picopsu kind of molex power distribution along with the lpsu.
I am building few low noise regulated psu for the pi, dac, network switch etc. Don't have any plans for PC supply because like I mentioned before, molex power distribution will cost me more. So keeping this option for future.

 

[rikhav]

Yes mani
Please let us know if you need a PSU with simple DC jack or connectors like a desktop pc

 

[jls001]

My super tweaked music laptop has given up the ghost and now, after hearing all these experiences, I'm wondering if I should buy a Pi instead of a pre-owned laptop.

If you can revive it may be you should give Linux audio a serious try. I have tried two different distributions ( Arch Linux and wtfplay) and both are very miserly on resource usage. That I'm not yet happy with the outcome of either, is another matter, though and I will give it another shot in future.

 

[regeHA]

If you can revive it may be you should give Linux audio a serious try. I have tried two different distributions ( Arch Linux and wtfplay) and both are very miserly on resource usage. That I'm not yet happy with the outcome of either, is another matter, though and I will give it another shot in future.

I've tried both and was not impressed. Daphile gets my vote though it does a lot more than needed. A lite version without ripping, RAM playback, resampling, etc. would (could?) be better.

But having used the Pi, I'd never go back to a full blown PC/laptop for audio playback.

 

[keith_correa]

If you can revive it may be you should give Linux audio a serious try. I have tried two different distributions ( Arch Linux and wtfplay) and both are very miserly on resource usage. That I'm not yet happy with the outcome of either, is another matter, though and I will give it another shot in future.

Reviving it is simple. I know what the problem is - the graphics chip solder needs to be reflowed. It's a known problem with this HP model. Excessive heating and inadequate venting causes the problem. A guy did the reflowing for Rs.1200 once and it worked for 5 months but the problem reoccured and will occur again. I'm still debating with myself if it's worth fixing it again but then I need a solution to prevent reoccurrence. Any ideas? Heatsinking the chip maybe with a Al strip? Anyone, please PM with possible solutions/ideas so as not to derail this thread.

 

[keith_correa]

@manniraj, I guess you might need the hdplex or picopsu kind of molex power distribution along with the lpsu.
I am building few low noise regulated psu for the pi, dac, network switch etc. Don't have any plans for PC supply because like I mentioned before, molex power distribution will cost me more. So keeping this option for future.

Isn't Molex an interconnection system?

BTW, which reg. PSU are you building?

 

[sam9s]

My super tweaked music laptop has given up the ghost and now, after hearing all these experiences, I'm wondering if I should buy a Pi instead of a pre-owned laptop.

if you were using it "only" for music playback, I think then you should definitely give a try to Rpi. I am pretty confident you will not regret it ..

 

[saikatbiswas82]

Isn't Molex an interconnection system?

I believe it is. But I think the main mobo molex connector requires different voltages at different pins like this:

And I believe I don't have the expertise to build such kind of connector. Hence, along with the lpsu, I might need a hdplex or picopsu kind of distribution.

BTW, which reg. PSU are you building?

I will be using LT1803 regulator. I think this will have lesser noise than LM338 regulators. Correct me if I am wrong.

 

[keith_correa]

I will be using LT1803 regulator. I think this will have lesser noise than LM338 regulators. Correct me if I am wrong.

I haven't the faintest idea.

 

[magma]

A small doubt

The Pi has been regarded (from what I have read on this thread)as a super audio source that more often than not is better than the digital op via USB of a stock windows based PC

Has anyone compared how it does against the spdif out of a good pro audio SC running of the same windows PC ??
( well ofcourse using the add on Pi spdif card )
And then again how this compares to the stock USB out
(USB vs spdif implementation of Pi vs spdif of SC )
When used with the same Dac
( of course assuming the Dac has both USB and spdif ins )

I would be terribly intrested in views the kind members would have

I hope to extensively test this for myself
When rikhav has the time to come over with his Pi



Ps : I don't have a Pi so I can't hear this for myself


Ps : I am hoping the can of worms general USB vs spdif is not opened up to the above post
I am plainly looking for a performance review of the Pi spdif capabilities compared to its own USB ones
Hence not to derail a highly informative Pi
Thread

 

[rikhav]

A small doubt

The Pi has been regarded (from what I have read on this thread)as a super audio source that more often than not is better than the digital op via USB of a stock windows based PC

Has anyone compared how it does against the spdif out of a good pro audio SC running of the same windows PC ??
( well ofcourse using the add on Pi spdif card )
And then again how this compares to the stock USB out
(USB vs spdif implementation of Pi vs spdif of SC )
When used with the same Dac
( of course assuming the Dac has both USB and spdif ins )

I would be terribly intrested in views the kind members would have

I hope to extensively test this for myself
When rikhav has the time to come over with his Pi



Ps : I don't have a Pi so I can't hear this for myself


Ps : I am hoping the can of worms general USB vs spdif is not opened up to the above post
I am plainly looking for a performance review of the Pi spdif capabilities compared to its own USB ones
Hence not to derail a highly informative Pi
Thread

Hi Ali
Yeah, this kind of comparison is done by any of the FM's on hifivision as far as i know
I don't think its derailing the thread. Would be really interesting to know how the Raspberry pi and digi + combo stack up against good quality usb to spidif converters and soundcards like Hammerfall and esi julie

This excercise will highlight the strength and weaknesses of the Raspberry pi

 

[rikhav]

Came to know about this french company which makes some extensive list of addons for Raspberry pi
The list includes good aluminium chasis, LPSU, addon cards with DAC, digial out and more
List is really big


Raspberry Pi - Audiophonics


Not sure how it compares to Hifiberry products but audiophonics products do look good quality wise

 

[rikhav]

One very interesting product by audiphonics

audiophonics module isolateur usb adum 4160


Best part is it can be used for any computer (MAC, pc, rpi)

Please translate text to english on the website

Nothing can be said without having a trial but this can be a cheaper alternative to expensive USB re generators

 

[magma]

riks
ahh the new flavour bandwagon
capitalizing on the pi success and jumping on to the audiophile bandwagon!!!

im waiting for the day the pi creators one day launch the PI - mk2
for ten times the cost and the audiophile community then going nuts and describing it to be
wow , superb , whole new level, i can hear so many more details .. blah blah blah

till the next cheap 50$ product comes along and has its day in the sun!!!!
and then that being touted as the new giant killer

 

[rikhav]

riks
ahh the new flavour bandwagon
capitalizing on the pi success and jumping on to the audiophile bandwagon!!!

im waiting for the day the pi creators one day launch the PI - mk2
for ten times the cost and the audiophile community then going nuts and describing it to be
wow , superb , whole new level, i can hear so many more details .. blah blah blah

till the next cheap 50$ product comes along and has its day in the sun!!!!
and then that being touted as the new giant killer

For few years atleast RPI will stay in top for something which gives good results and cost less

But already clones started being made like clones made of pre amps and amp

Better implementation

Then there is something like cubox which is similar to RPI but costing quiet more. Maybe it's more useful for video playback application as it needs more horse power