raspberry pi 2 as media player

[MaSh]

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)

Okay great. Yes it will feed the DAC I have. It has USB, Optical and Coax inputs.

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

Do you have a thread here on how this was done? If not, would be nice if you could create a new thread with details.

MaSh

 

[rikhav]

Hi mash
Its mentioned on this thread itself
How I did it and the youtube link also
Its very simple but position where to solder wire on the board will vary from board to board

I had done it for the digi + board

If you want the procedure for that I will repost youtube link

 

[zendya]

Hi,

Has anyone tried PiFi DIGI DAC+ that is available on AliExpress and ebay.com etc? I guess it may not be as good as HiFiBerry DAC+ but don't know if it still a good enough i2s DAC at $25.

Also AliExpress has various linear power supplies from ~ $10-15 to $70 range. Do linear power supplies make noticeable difference? Again thinking of trying them out - atleast as an experiment. But want to check on the forum if anyone has +ve/-ve experiences with these relatively low cost PS.

 

[Appys]

Hi,

Has anyone tried PiFi DIGI DAC+ that is available on AliExpress and ebay.com etc? I guess it may not be as good as HiFiBerry DAC+ but don't know if it still a good enough i2s DAC at $25.

Well the pifi is not an eye opening experience but definitely better and more natural than the normal pi.I do have to strain myself sometimes to hear a discernible difference though

 

[regeHA]

Hi,

Has anyone tried PiFi DIGI DAC+ that is available on AliExpress and ebay.com etc? I guess it may not be as good as HiFiBerry DAC+ but don't know if it still a good enough i2s DAC at $25.

For that money, a Chromecast Audio makes more sense. It has a decent DAC, works with multiple devices, and has a ton of sources for free music.

 

[zendya]

For that money, a Chromecast Audio makes more sense. It has a decent DAC, works with multiple devices, and has a ton of sources for free music.

I use RaspPi for wathching movies/TVShows (from HD) and was thinking of using it for Audio as well. Most of my audio content is also local (flac/mp3) and it does a decent job even now for audio. Just reading about DACs etc made me curious to see if things will become better with a DAC.

I do have a Fiio X3 which I can connect directly to the receiver. But it just makes it a bit difficult to control as one needs to physically control X3 - I don't think it can be controlled remotely via an app. Apps for Volumio/Rune on RaspPI add a lot of flexibility.

 

[zendya]

Well the pifi is not an eye opening experience but definitely better and more natural than the normal pi.I do have to strain myself sometimes to hear a discernible difference though

Thanks for the note. Based on what you're saying, may be I need to explore other alternatives. Not sure if the experience with HiFiBerry DAC+ is going to be similar. Multiple DAC options (including USB ones that RaspPI supports) and widely varying price points - difficult to decide.

 

[regeHA]

I use RaspPi for wathching movies/TVShows (from HD) and was thinking of using it for Audio as well. Most of my audio content is also local (flac/mp3) and it does a decent job even now for audio. Just reading about DACs etc made me curious to see if things will become better with a DAC.

I do have a Fiio X3 which I can connect directly to the receiver. But it just makes it a bit difficult to control as one needs to physically control X3 - I don't think it can be controlled remotely via an app. Apps for Volumio/Rune on RaspPI add a lot of flexibility.

The minimum I would go for would be the SMSL SD793-II. It was the best $62 I have spent in a very long time, amazing DAC, sounds sweet, and great value for money. However, do note it is limited to Toslink and Coaxial inputs, no USB. I use it with Chromecast Audio.

A DAC will make a lot of difference, however, it will also depend on the quality of the DAC itself. If you can, do spend on a SMSL DAC, makes more sense than the budget DACs you are considering right now. A Schiit DAC also makes more sense, but it will put you back by around $200.

 

[zendya]

The minimum I would go for would be the SMSL SD793-II. It was the best $62 I have spent in a very long time, amazing DAC, sounds sweet, and great value for money. However, do note it is limited to Toslink and Coaxial inputs, no USB. I use it with Chromecast Audio.

A DAC will make a lot of difference, however, it will also depend on the quality of the DAC itself. If you can, do spend on a SMSL DAC, makes more sense than the budget DACs you are considering right now. A Schiit DAC also makes more sense, but it will put you back by around $200.

Thanks. Had not heard of SMSL SD793-II. Will check out. I guess I won't be able to use it with Raspberry PI though since it is not a USB dac.

Btw Schiit Modi 2 and Uber 2 seem to be available at $99 and $149 respectively on Schiit. (I can see how I am slowing increasing my budget )

 

[regeHA]

Thanks. Had not heard of SMSL SD793-II. Will check out. I guess I won't be able to use it with Raspberry PI though since it is not a USB dac.

I have a multiroom streaming setup at home, where I basically stream from a centralized NAS to 8 different rooms and as many as 15-20 devices accessing the contents on the NAS. The easiest way to do this is to install Chromecast Audio/Chromecast Video, and other devices like Roku as endpoints and then connect them to a DAC/AVR.

For audio, I can highly recommend Raspberry Pi plus Chromecast Audio for source/transport and any compatible DAC. In your case install MinimServer on the Raspberry Pi and wirelessly stream to Chromecast Audio, which will then connect to the SMSL SD793-II or any other DAC. You can also use Chromecast Audio itself as a DAC till you can invest in a more expensive/better DAC.

Btw Schiit Modi 2 and Uber 2 seem to be available at $99 and $149 respectively on Schiit. (I can see how I am slowing increasing my budget )

Schiit makes excellent DACs, I have 3 of them. Right now if you plan to invest in anything Schiit then make sure it's a multibit DAC. Obviously more expensive, but the improvement in SQ will also be huge. IMHO, till that time, a Chromecast Audio will do nicely.

 

[sam9s]

For that money, a Chromecast Audio makes more sense. It has a decent DAC, works with multiple devices, and has a ton of sources for free music.

CCA does not support UPnP/Airplay, so in that regard lots of limitations, well atleast for me, like Spotify mobile supports CCA but windows app does not. Anything from windows to CCA not easily possible, like say my fav foobar, does not support CCA. but supports UPnP natively. Al this makes Moode much more attractive and convenient, and audio is equality good if not better than CCA. CCV does make much more sense to have if you ask me.

 

[regeHA]

CCA does not support UPnP/Airplay, so in that regard lots of limitations, well atleast for me, like Spotify mobile supports CCA but windows app does not. Anything from windows to CCA not easily possible, like say my fav foobar, does not support CCA. but supports UPnP natively. Al this makes Moode much more attractive and convenient, and audio is equality good if not better than CCA. CCV does make much more sense to have if you ask me.

Most of the sources are available in Chromecast Audio so there is no need to actually "cast" them from a Windows Mobile or PC - like the Spotify example that you have mentioned above. I use a lot of Windows apps myself, but most of these apps are also natively available on Android (actually more on Android than on Windows). I guess different POV here, you are looking at Chromecast devices as renderers/endpoints, while for me they function as source/transport/DAC/renderer and endpoint.

For the OP it will work nicely as a source/DAC till the time he can invest in a better DAC than the $25 DAC available on AliExpress.

You can also cast from Foobar to Chromecast Audio, via BubbleUPnP. Install this Foobar component, https://www.foobar2000.org/components/view/foo_upnp. I'm not sure if this what you meant... if not apologies.

 

[sam9s]

foobar upnp component is already installed (both browser and control point), thats how it sees Moode, but does not see CC, which is understandable as CC does not work that way. I dont use my phone as much as I am on my laptop, working researching, so I need quickest way to stream audio to my AudioEngine A5+, the moment I come across a song or wanna listen to any song from either of my app, spotify,foobar or subsonic (these 3 are my main apps that I use to listen to music from my laptop) and none supports CCA. On Mobile I use DS Audio (Synology) subsonic or spotify again and yes there DS Audio and Spotify supports CCA, but also DLNA so over all DLNA wins in this regard, hence preferred preference .... ..Plus I use mobile to listen to music when I am on the go anyhow, there rules are different ...

 

[Appys]

Interesting..Well It keeps bugging me so let me ask you guys:
Does UPnP/Samba not consume Internet Data(I know it shouldnt its local) but airtel says they charge upnp plays for data bytes.Thats why I prefer air audio, which hasn't been eating into my data so far.
If someone with airtel could corroborate if they were using NAS/Samba shares heavily and still not charged for data? I think I played a movie over samba on my tab and got screwed for data usage. I have been scared of all things samba/UpNp/network share ever since.

 

[regeHA]

Interesting..Well It keeps bugging me so let me ask you guys:
Does UPnP/Samba not consume Internet Data(I know it shouldnt its local) but airtel says they charge upnp plays for data bytes.Thats why I prefer air audio, which hasn't been eating into my data so far.
If someone with airtel could corroborate if they were using NAS/Samba shares heavily and still not charged for data? I think I played a movie over samba on my tab and got screwed for data usage. I have been scared of all things samba/UpNp/network share ever since.

How will Airtel know what you are playing?

I have Airtel, don't use 3G or any mobile data, and have never been charged. I pretty much live on streaming rather than any wired ethernet throughout my home.

 

[Appys]

How will Airtel know what you are playing?

I have Airtel, don't use 3G or any mobile data, and have never been charged. I pretty much live on streaming rather than any wired ethernet throughout my home.

Nah but they count the UpNP data transfer or anything via the modem as data consumption per theri customer care..its highly unethical of airtel to charge for local streaming though

 

[sam9s]

Nah but they count the UpNP data transfer or anything via the modem as data consumption per theri customer care..its highly unethical of airtel to charge for local streaming though

That's not even possible. streaming which happens on upnp airplay SMB are all local streaming and does not go through modem. Except maybe cover art or other song info that might be downloaded. I am using airtel broadband and if I would have been charged for upnp then I would have had to sell of my home theater. :d :d

 

[Appys]

Hey but isnt the modem the central intersection point for the data flow for samba and /or upnp?I see theres a setting there to enable upnp in the modem console thats on as well.. Now if i use upnp the data bytes running via the modem and hence the wifi network are counted by the modem is what they told me and hence i switched to airplay.
This is what the rep told me and i stopped upnp right away.. Apologies if i am ill informed on this

 

[sam9s]

That UPnP in modem settings does nothing, I dont even know what its there for, you can switch it off and you will still be able to use all UPnP functionality in your network.

And no modem is not the central intersection point, modem (if its just a modem and not modem cum router) is there just to provide you internet connection to your internal network, which is where your router is, which essentially shares your internet connection amount various connected devices, it also creates a local network amount all internal devices. If you remove your modem from the equation, your devices would still be able to communicate and share files, just the internet would not work.

Hope that clears few things ....

Also when you say you switched to Airplay you basically are using UPnP but Apples protocol, meaning Airplay is just Apple's version of UPnP... , so essentially using UPnP or Airplay would not make any difference in your internal network .. . Plus UPnP is open source, where as ..as usual Apple is proprietary. Also I believe (dont quote me I might be wrong) Airplay stream are limited to 16/48

 

[Appys]

Ok that still holds if i have the default dumb airtel modem plus router combo?Damn, used to remove the adsl line when i really used samba