raspberry pi 2 as media player

[MaSh]

Ran into another issue with the Pi. Out of curiosity I thought of trying out a DAC with the Pi. So I got a cheap dac off Amazon and connected it to a USB port of the Pi. DAC takes in power from the USB port, no other power option available. Kodi recognized the DAC and also plays sound (Pi --usb--> DAC--> --rca--> Stereo Amp). Plays it quite well actually. Bypassing the Receiver and all the processing it does, has made a noticeable improvement to the overall sound quality However, there is bags full of Static. I don't hear this when I play through HDMI(Pi --hdmi--> Receiver--> --rca(front preout)--> Stereo Amp).

Googled it and found it to be a very popular issue with the Pi. No concrete solution yet.

Now, I know a lot of you are using DACs with the Pi. Anyone using a DAC which does not have an additional power source, is connected via the USB port and facing this noise?

MaSh

 

[sam9s]

I am using, FiiO USB DAC, no issues what so ever ....

 

[hydra]

MaSh, which RPi are you using?

It could be power supply issues. From what I've read, if the Pi isn't getting enough power for the USB DAC also, this might happen.

 

[regeHA]

Not using a USB DAC, but a couple of times I tried I did notice electrical noise. Not sure if what you mean by static/I mean by electrical noise is the same.

Improving the power supply or using a powered USB hub could help. Or you will need to use a USB treatment solution like the Regen.

 

[superczar]

I have only 2 Raspberry Pi's at home, but love them to bits.

Pi Hole works very well, and is especially useful since it blocks across the entire network for all connected devices. It blocks all the ads on my Google Nexus smartphone, something previously only done with an external app. It also blocks all the ads on the wife's iPad, especially for YouTube which gets consumed a lot at home. The ads blocked on the Samsung Smart TV also make using it so much better.

It also saves on bandwidth, as the ads don't get downloaded and then blocked as is typical with browser extensions.

Up & running on a spare Banana Pro
Working extremely well - Net in general seems snappier!
Thanks for the tip

 

[saikatbiswas82]

Ran into another issue with the Pi. Out of curiosity I thought of trying out a DAC with the Pi. So I got a cheap dac off Amazon and connected it to a USB port of the Pi. DAC takes in power from the USB port, no other power option available. Kodi recognized the DAC and also plays sound (Pi --usb--> DAC--> --rca--> Stereo Amp). Plays it quite well actually. Bypassing the Receiver and all the processing it does, has made a noticeable improvement to the overall sound quality However, there is bags full of Static. I don't hear this when I play through HDMI(Pi --hdmi--> Receiver--> --rca(front preout)--> Stereo Amp).

Googled it and found it to be a very popular issue with the Pi. No concrete solution yet.

Now, I know a lot of you are using DACs with the Pi. Anyone using a DAC which does not have an additional power source, is connected via the USB port and facing this noise?

MaSh

For pi, it's better to go for HAT boards rather than usb audio route IMHO.

Sent from a handheld device. Some typos might creep in.

 

[sam9s]

Up & running on a spare Banana Pro
Working extremely well - Net in general seems snappier!
Thanks for the tip

I was doing this on my Synology, but that was an unofficial and a little complicated way.. This was much easier, specially coz it worked on my ESXi lab, created Rasbian VM and installed Pi Hole. Worked nicely.

 

[MaSh]

I am using, FiiO USB DAC, no issues what so ever ....

DAC powers from Pi?

MaSh, which RPi are you using?

It could be power supply issues. From what I've read, if the Pi isn't getting enough power for the USB DAC also, this might happen.

Pi3. Doesn't look like power issues. See more findings mentioned below.

Not using a USB DAC, but a couple of times I tried I did notice electrical noise. Not sure if what you mean by static/I mean by electrical noise is the same.

Improving the power supply or using a powered USB hub could help. Or you will need to use a USB treatment solution like the Regen.

Yes it is electrical noise. Especially when hard disk is busy, can hear that and few more like a broken radio trying to catch some signal.

For pi, it's better to go for HAT boards rather than usb audio route IMHO.

Whats HAT board?

Okay, some more playing around and for some reason Pi does not like the Receiver and the Stereo amp in the same loop. Removing either one, removes the static noise. Totally shutting down the receiver is also not helping. If the USB dac and HDMI cable are connected, there is static. Stereo amp is also connected to the receiver via Pre Outs on the receiver. Disconnecting these also remove the static. In short removing any connected between the receiver and stereo amp removes the static. All devices are 2 pin. Changing the power board is also of no help.

Pi is back to dedicated HDMI connection to receiver. DAC is being used via the computer. Speakers are connected to the same stereo amp and there is no static.

Will try to beg/borrow a self powered DAC and check.

MaSh

 

[regeHA]

Yes it is electrical noise. Especially when hard disk is busy, can hear that and few more like a broken radio trying to catch some signal.
MaSh

The best way is to eliminate USB completely, use something like Toslink for output from the Raspberry Pi. Works very well. Or you can go 100% wireless streaming installing MinimServer. I use a combination of both, wireless streaming from the Raspberry Pi sent to Chromecast Audio and then Toslink output from Chromecast Audio to the DAC.

The only alternative that will fix USB electrical noise is to use a USB cleaner like UpTone Audio USB Regen or Intona USB Isolator. The irony being they cost a lot more than the Raspberry Pi setup.

Yet another solution is to buy a DAC that addresses this problem, and isolates electrical noise from the USB inputs. Typically, $2000 DACs from my experience.

This might be a good time to check out MinimServer, it is exactly why I got into it and wireless streaming, and have never looked back. Now I have even got a Synology to wirelessly stream to over 6 different locations all around the house.

 

[MaSh]

The best way is to eliminate USB completely, use something like Toslink for output from the Raspberry Pi. Works very well. Or you can go 100% wireless streaming installing MinimServer. I use a combination of both, wireless streaming from the Raspberry Pi sent to Chromecast Audio and then Toslink output from Chromecast Audio to the DAC.

The only alternative that will fix USB electrical noise is to use a USB cleaner like UpTone Audio USB Regen or Intona USB Isolator. The irony being they cost a lot more than the Raspberry Pi setup.

Yet another solution is to buy a DAC that addresses this problem, and isolates electrical noise from the USB inputs. Typically, $2000 DACs from my experience.

This might be a good time to check out MinimServer, it is exactly why I got into it and wireless streaming, and have never looked back. Now I have even got a Synology to wirelessly stream to over 6 different locations all around the house.

Yes Chromecast and a digi+ seems like a good direction to head into. Can minimserver do movies too from a hard disk connected to the pi?

MaSh

 

[saikatbiswas82]

Whats HAT board?

HAT means Hardware Attached on Top.

You can search for Hifiberry Digi+/Dac+,
Iqaudio pidac+, audiophonics dac v3 etc.

Many FMs are using them with RPI.

Sent from a handheld device. Some typos might creep in.

 

[regeHA]

Can minimserver do movies too from a hard disk connected to the pi?

MaSh

No audio only. But you can install multiple s/w... Samba is a must and you can stream anything from connected HDDs.

 

[sam9s]

DAC powers from Pi?

Yes it does

 

[Appys]

FM's do you think a dedicated power supply for the HAT DAC can improve the sq on the pi?

 

[saikatbiswas82]

FM's do you think a dedicated power supply for the HAT DAC can improve the sq on the pi?

In short yes. It does.
It has been discussed over various forums.
Some HFV members have also tried this out.

Sent from a handheld device. Some typos might creep in.

 

[MaSh]

HAT means Hardware Attached on Top.

You can search for Hifiberry Digi+/Dac+,
Iqaudio pidac+, audiophonics dac v3 etc.

Many FMs are using them with RPI.

Sent from a handheld device. Some typos might creep in.

Yes this is on the cards on. Digi+ is good, any other suggestion?

No audio only. But you can install multiple s/w... Samba is a must and you can stream anything from connected HDDs.

Ah okay. Will surely look into this.

Yes it does

Okay great. See my prev post, there seems to be some hatred when USB dac, receiver and stereo amp are in the loop. Removing any one, removes the static. DAC has been unplugged from the Pi right now.

MaSh

 

[rikhav]

FM's do you think a dedicated power supply for the HAT DAC can improve the sq on the pi?

Yes a lot

I have done that simple mod on the digi plus HAt board where I connect the PSU to the digi plus and then it powers the RPI

RPI can also be powered separately but that will need 2 PSU's and bending of few GPIO pins, hence avoided

 

[saikatbiswas82]

Yes this is on the cards on. Digi+ is good, any other suggestion?

I'm not really aware of any better solution at this price point.

Just a side note. Digi+ is not a dac. It just converts from I2C to Digital S/PDIF. Please make sure that the dac you are planning to use with this has a digital S/PDIF input (either coax or optical)

Sent from a handheld device. Some typos might creep in.

 

[blackscorpio]

I am using, FiiO USB DAC, no issues what so ever ....

sam9s, how is your fiio connected to pi?


PiUSB->fiioUSB?

I am looking to buy a fiio e17k and use with pi at times, but I was doubtful about the connection, directly via USB. My guess is it's not a ideal connection compared to HAT board, right?

Sent from my A0001 using Tapatalk

 

[sam9s]

yes PI USB out to FiiO in .... normal fat UAB cable , the one we used to have to connect USB HDD in old days....
and yes HAT will be better than USB audio out, but with my gear ... it would hardly make any difference ....