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Rpi4 setup for music

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Posted on April 18, 2021 at 14:54:19
kwillisjr
Audiophile

Posts: 1003
Location: Hampton Roads, Virginia
Joined: June 23, 2003
 Hello,
I'm sort of new to Rpi. I bought an Rpi4 about a year ago. I don't remember which OS I installed but I did install Audacity as I thought I was going to digitize my vinyl. I also bought and installed a Hifiberry DAC+ ADC PRO (again for digitizing vinyl). In the last year I sold my house and a lot of my stuff (including my vinyl). I now want to set up a small system using headphones. I am looking for guidance on setting up the Rpi as a streaming device. I will need to be able to control it from my android phone. Just looking for advice on where to start for now.
Thank you
The best definition I've ever heard for wisdom is that it's the insight that comes from genuine first hand experience. (Truman G. Madsen)

 

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RE: Rpi4 setup for music, posted on April 18, 2021 at 15:18:10
kh6idf
Audiophile

Posts: 1474
Location: Texas
Joined: May 2, 2001
 Are you going to use the HiFiBerry DAC?

I use PiCorePlayer with a RPi 4 and it works very well. It's free and you can control it with your android phone using either Squeeze Ctrl or Orange Squeeze, both available in the play store for $5-$6.

 

RE: Rpi4 setup for music, posted on April 18, 2021 at 19:39:23
kwillisjr
Audiophile

Posts: 1003
Location: Hampton Roads, Virginia
Joined: June 23, 2003
 As I understand it, the DAC in the HiFiBerry DAC+ ADC PRO is higher quality than what comes built into the Rpi. I do plan to use the analog output of the HiFiBerry DAC.
The best definition I've ever heard for wisdom is that it's the insight that comes from genuine first hand experience. (Truman G. Madsen)

 

RE: Rpi4 setup for music, posted on April 19, 2021 at 18:45:49
kh6idf
Audiophile

Posts: 1474
Location: Texas
Joined: May 2, 2001
 Yes, I think your HiFiBerry DAC will provide better sound quality.

I am using the USB output from the RPi 4 to a Bryston BDA-2 DAC, which has a USB input.

 

RE: Rpi4 setup for music, posted on April 20, 2021 at 10:29:49
cfraser
Audiophile

Posts: 3208
Location: Pickering, Ontario
Joined: April 30, 2000
 So how is that Pi 4 USB -> BDA-2? I only have Pi 2 and 3 and the USB output was not good for music. Not that I went to a whole lot of trouble, because it was really not even close to the S/PDIF.

Thinking of getting a Pi 4 too, would like to try the USB on it with music quite a lot. But didn't want to get into all sorts of new gizmos and HATs and PSs etc., or at least I *say* I don't but... Have a D90 DAC too, kind of interested in testing a "decent" USB source with that.

 

RE: Rpi4 setup for music, posted on April 20, 2021 at 10:36:16
mlsstl
Audiophile

Posts: 1079
Location: Midwest
Joined: September 1, 2015
 I have several RPi configured as music players, including some with HiFiBerry HATs. The sound output on the base RPi board is just the run-of-the-mill audio output that you would find on any PC or table -- nothing special. The HiFi Berry boards are designed to give quality audio output and are a big improvement. At this point, one is entering the debating territory of what is "best" and like anything with audio, you'll get 100 different opinions about 100 different devices. Kind of like asking 100 Italians whose mother makes the best spaghetti sauce.

My two cents is that while a quality external DAC is going to give you slightly better sound, the HiFiBerry boards are excellent sounding and fantastic buys for the money. Using a HAT also gives you an amazing, small and compact streamer.

 

RE: Rpi4 setup for music, posted on April 20, 2021 at 10:42:02
mlsstl
Audiophile

Posts: 1079
Location: Midwest
Joined: September 1, 2015
 The RPi 3 and earlier models shared the USB circuit with the ethernet port. This caused some instability and problems when using the RPi's USB output as the feed for an external DAC. This lead most to use a Digi HAT that gave SPDIF output to the external DAC.

However, the RPi 4 solved this problem and the USB ports are now on their own circuit. On my main system I now use the USB output of my RPi 4 into a Schiit Bifrost 2 DAC. It sounds great and is extremely stable.

I still use a HiFiBerry DAC HAT on an RPi 3 for a second system with very good results.

 

RE: Rpi4 setup for music, posted on April 20, 2021 at 11:20:33
cfraser
Audiophile

Posts: 3208
Location: Pickering, Ontario
Joined: April 30, 2000
 Thanks. I think that's the HAT I have for the Pi 3, that's the one where the S/PDIF was so superior to the USB into the Bryston DAC that I didn't put much effort into the USB mode. But I would like to try it again, seems like a relatively clean setup with a Pi 4 via USB.

I wonder if you could fit a Pi 4 inside a Topping D90 case? I've never looked inside, it might be tight, and a real bad idea from all sorts of other perspectives, but some manufacturers do similar. I'm looking for a project...

 

RE: Rpi4 setup for music, posted on April 20, 2021 at 11:39:33
Cut-Throat
Audiophile

Posts: 18285
Location: Minneapolis - St.Paul Area
Joined: September 2, 2000
Contributor
  Since: May 16, 2021
 I have a D90 and also have a RPi Model 4 where I run the USB into the D90. I have a Rpi Model 3 with the Digione Hat where I run the Coax into the D90.. They both sound great and I doubt I could pick one over the other.

As far as putting the Rpi into the D90 case, I don't think it would fit at all, and would be a very Bad Idea. Not sure what you would gain here at all.





 

RE: Rpi4 setup for music, posted on April 20, 2021 at 12:36:34
AbeCollins
Audiophile

Posts: 46280
Location: USA
Joined: June 22, 2001
Contributor
  Since: February 2, 2002
 USB on the RPi3 was flaky at best. USB on the RPi4 is a better design (not shared with Ethernet as it was on the RPi3).

That said, I have the RPi3 with the Allo DigiOne SPDIF HAT as that was much more reliable than using USB on the RPi3. But since USB has been improved on the RPi4, I now run USB to my Topping D90 without any issues and it sounds great!

There's no room in the Topping D90 case to house the RPi4 board.



 

RE: Rpi4 setup for music, posted on April 20, 2021 at 13:31:27
Daveslater
Audiophile

Posts: 1044
Location: UK
Joined: June 11, 2003
 You have the basis of an excellent streamer already. I would recommend the Picoreplayer (free download) as a good system to use. It supports not just the player software but can also be configured to act as an LMS server. So if you add to your Pi a powered USB hub and a USB hard drive enclosure with drive of your choice you have a complete system for little outlay.
HiFi Berry supply enclosures to enclose the Pi with the DAC HAT you already have.
I control my squeezeboxes and Pis with Squeezer a free download from Google Play

 

RE: Rpi4 setup for music, posted on April 20, 2021 at 13:53:38
Cut-Throat
Audiophile

Posts: 18285
Location: Minneapolis - St.Paul Area
Joined: September 2, 2000
Contributor
  Since: May 16, 2021
 Have you used the Squeeze Ctrl or Orange Squeeze Apps? If so, how would you compare Squeezer? Other than it's Free.



 

RE: Rpi4 setup for music, posted on April 20, 2021 at 14:42:14
Daveslater
Audiophile

Posts: 1044
Location: UK
Joined: June 11, 2003
 I tried squeezer because it was free and it seemed to do all I need. What additional functionality do the others have?

 

RE: Rpi4 setup for music, posted on April 20, 2021 at 14:54:31
Cut-Throat
Audiophile

Posts: 18285
Location: Minneapolis - St.Paul Area
Joined: September 2, 2000
Contributor
  Since: May 16, 2021
 I don't know what the others have compared to squeezer, that's why I was asking you.

I just downloaded squeezer and on the surface it seems very similar to Squeeze Ctrl. (Not quite as pretty as Squeeze Ctrl though) -- I'll have to play with it awhile longer.

The other apps are only about $10 apiece though, so I bought them years ago to help people. I also bought iPeng (also $10) for the Apple phone that I use to help people. iPeng is the worst one I've ever used however. Not intuitive at all.



 

RE: Rpi4 setup for music, posted on April 20, 2021 at 15:45:07
AbeCollins
Audiophile

Posts: 46280
Location: USA
Joined: June 22, 2001
Contributor
  Since: February 2, 2002
I tried iPeng and didn't care for it at all. Was kind of a mess IMHO. But, being the Apple fanboy that I am sometimes accused of being, I guess that's the one to get for iDevices. No?

What's that eagle up to today? Think I'll go have a look ;-)




 

RE: Rpi4 setup for music, posted on April 20, 2021 at 15:48:21
kh6idf
Audiophile

Posts: 1474
Location: Texas
Joined: May 2, 2001
 RPi 4 USB into BDA-2 is really good. Highly recommended.

 

RE: Rpi4 setup for music, posted on April 20, 2021 at 15:54:30
Cut-Throat
Audiophile

Posts: 18285
Location: Minneapolis - St.Paul Area
Joined: September 2, 2000
Contributor
  Since: May 16, 2021
 iPeng is the only LMS Apple App, I believe. So, that is what I recommend to my Apple friends.

Eagle Nest is getting crowded...



 

Same for the USB RPi4 into a Mytek Brooklyn DAC + NT, posted on April 20, 2021 at 21:20:29
raingerz
Audiophile

Posts: 547
Location: Long Island, NY
Joined: July 20, 2013
 Nt

 

Played with Squeezer a bit .................., posted on April 21, 2021 at 09:44:43
Cut-Throat
Audiophile

Posts: 18285
Location: Minneapolis - St.Paul Area
Joined: September 2, 2000
Contributor
  Since: May 16, 2021
 I don't think there is additional functionality in any of the Phone Apps for LMS. It looks like Squeezer is very similar to Squeeze Ctrl, although I think that Squeeze Ctrl is a little more polished. It has the ability to customize the layout (Colors etc.) more than Squeezer (Maybe it's there, but I couldn't find it)... Examples of each Screen. But for $10 an App, I buy them all and play with them all. Not a big deal.










 

RE: Rpi4 setup for music, posted on April 22, 2021 at 17:14:20
cfraser
Audiophile

Posts: 3208
Location: Pickering, Ontario
Joined: April 30, 2000
 Thanks for the sanity-check Abe.

I've never even seen a Pi 4 irl nor opened the D90. Thought the D90 might fit a Pi 400 PCB with heat-sink, maybe even integrate the HS into the D90 case top. Somehow. This non-stacked PCB is easy to *effectively* heat-sink compared to the regular Pi 4, besides having a higher-performance processor (not needed, but...).

Haven't even taken the D90 out of the rack to see if there are ventilation slots in the bottom. For cables. Only need power and Ethernet, assuming I can keep IIS or USB wiring internal (have no actual idea).

Anyway, this is just thinking out loud. For the future. Possibly for the day when the D90 and Pi 4 are "garbage" compared to the contemporary stuff. It's gonna happen.

 

RE: Rpi4 setup for music, posted on April 22, 2021 at 17:22:05
cfraser
Audiophile

Posts: 3208
Location: Pickering, Ontario
Joined: April 30, 2000
 My Pi 2/3 HAT/shield is the HiFiBerry one with two Toslink and two RCA/coax jacks. I never tried the Pi 3 with this item into the D90, I only got the D90 last fall. I am happy to hear the Pi 4 -> D90 via USB is as good as the apparently superior ALLO unit into the D90.

As far as your question, what I would gain is a Project! It doesn't have to make sense, but that's a worthwhile bonus for sure. It's not like I'd ever try to sell a Pi inside a half-decent DAC case. What do you take me for? :)

Edit: I just went with the regular CanaKit 4GB model. Nobody around here sells Pi except resellers who aren't CanaKit, and at grossly inflated prices too. I like the new CanaKit version of the Flirc case, so can get that from them directly, with a Pi 400 basic unit (for future experiments since the regular Pi will be headless and dedicated).

 

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