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Quick assessment of Rune, Moode, and Volumio

76.27.221.94
Posted on April 15, 2025 at 08:14:09
1974
Audiophile

Posts: 15
Joined: January 24, 2025
 It's been a while since I have done a SQ comparison and they all have recent versions, so I decided to check them out.

My setup is a RP3B+ with a Digione HAT being powered by a Shanti power supply, a Schiit Bifrost 2 DAC, The Consonance Cyber 20 headphone amplifier, and Beyerdynamic DT-770 headphones.

Rune-Not the abandoned project that last has a release on 2014, but the one that is still being developed by rern and was last updated about 2 weeks ago. Even without comparing to anything else the SQ was subpar. The only way I can describe it is like a turntable with a cheap cartridge. It felt like everything from my RP to my headphones were suddenly a cheaper version.

Moode- Instantly much better confirming that I'm not crazy on the SQ of Rune. I have lived with Moode for several weeks thinking that it could be my end game player, but I always try Volumio just to be sure and have never gone back to Moode after hearing Volumio.

Volumio-This is the one I have been using for years and years. I have tried many other RP based audio players and I just cannot live with the SQ. Moode sounds okay and to be honest it may even have a little more "information" but Volumio just sounds more alive and musical.

This setup is not the most revealing, but I have also heard all 3 of these players on friends' systems that were much more revealing than mine with similar results.

I am willing to bet my last dollar that people are going to say that Moode or something else is better, but I have to respectfully disagree. I have tried every possible form of streamer on very nice systems with many people and Volumio running on a RP3B+(Not a 4), with the Digione(not the Signature), with a good linear power supply(not necessarily the Shanti) always comes out on top.

 

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RE: Quick assessment of Rune, Moode, and Volumio , posted on April 15, 2025 at 09:32:16
Kurtle
Audiophile

Posts: 415
Location: Salem Oregon
Joined: December 21, 2002
Contributor
  Since: April 6, 2011
 If you have an extra microSD card laying around, and still in the testing mode, you might want to give PiCorePlayer a spin.

I used Volumio for a couple of years, what drove me away was it was very buggy (at that time, may be better now).

PiCorePlayer has been, for me, pretty much flawless. It has continual development, and in my eyes, a great interface. It just works.

 

Rune not Roon ;-), posted on April 15, 2025 at 09:47:09
AbeCollins
Audiophile

Posts: 49101
Location: Maidenhead Grid Square DM79
Joined: June 22, 2001
Contributor
  Since: February 2, 2002
 At first I thought you misspelled it but it looks like you're talking about Rune Audio. I'm running Roon from Roon Labs and it sounds wonderful.



 

RE: Quick assessment of Rune, Moode, and Volumio , posted on April 15, 2025 at 10:14:35
1974
Audiophile

Posts: 15
Joined: January 24, 2025
 PCP is a no. It has been tried many many times with many many different setups. It is a very convenient and well established ecosystem for playback of audio files, but it has never been preferred by any group of people I have done any A-B tests with for its SQ.

The current incarnation of Rune, not that I would recommend it to anyone.

 

how did Daphile do? nt, posted on April 15, 2025 at 12:31:52
Dawnrazor
Audiophile

Posts: 12794
Location: N. California
Joined: April 9, 2004
 d

Cut to razor sounding violins

 

RE: how did Daphile do? nt, posted on April 15, 2025 at 13:55:57
1974
Audiophile

Posts: 15
Joined: January 24, 2025
 Daphile only runs on a PC as far as I know.

It has a reality nice interface, looks a lot like LMS from what I remember.

The sound wasn't terrible. I know some people swear by it. I tried it on several computers just to be sure, but it always sounded dull compared to the same PC running Foobar 2000 IMO.

 

doh my bad. nt, posted on April 15, 2025 at 14:02:23
Dawnrazor
Audiophile

Posts: 12794
Location: N. California
Joined: April 9, 2004
 s

Cut to razor sounding violins

 

RE: Quick assessment of Rune, Moode, and Volumio , posted on April 15, 2025 at 17:57:38
Kurtle
Audiophile

Posts: 415
Location: Salem Oregon
Joined: December 21, 2002
Contributor
  Since: April 6, 2011
 Well, I guess everybody is entitled to their own opinion....

 

As you admit, posted on April 16, 2025 at 18:25:01
raingerz
Audiophile

Posts: 572
Location: Long Island, NY
Joined: July 20, 2013
 You haven't tried it with an RPi 4. I wonder how that would sound. Anyone?

 

RE: As you admit, posted on April 16, 2025 at 20:57:05
Kurtle
Audiophile

Posts: 415
Location: Salem Oregon
Joined: December 21, 2002
Contributor
  Since: April 6, 2011
 I run PiCorePlayer 9.2 on a Pi4 (via USB to RME ADI-2 FS dac) in my main system, and on a Pi3B+/DigiOne hat in a cobbled together system in the living room.

They both perform flawlessly and sound great to me. Can't really compare if one sounds better than the other (tho I doubt it) as the systems are completely different and I haven't tried swapping them. Systems are listed in my profile.

 

RE: As you admit, posted on May 15, 2025 at 16:47:23
1974
Audiophile

Posts: 15
Joined: January 24, 2025
 I have done a-b testing with the Digione using either a RP3B+ and a RP4, and the difference was small, but the RP3B+ was slightly better with the Digione.

The interesting thing was that the RP4 outputting via USB was nearly as good as the Digione with the RP3. Nearly enough that I might just opt for the RP4 and not bother buying another Digione in the future.

The other interesting thing is that no matter what the thing that makes the biggest difference is the power supply. The quality and type of power supply can make the difference between not that great and world class. A good linear PS is all that is really needed.

 

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