RE: I think you're splitting hairs - try different ways and see for yourself

One of the biggest improvements in the RPi4 is USB and Networking compared to your older RPi3. I have the RPi3 with a SPDIF HAT because USB was not that great. But now that USB is much improved on the RPi4, I just run USB to my DACs.

Older 2.5" USB disk drives consumed more power and some actually shipped with a Y cable.... one leg to plug into the drive, one to plug into dedicated power, the other to plug into the host. Power consumption shouldn't be a problem today with modern 2.5" spinning disks on USB. If it's an issue with your drives, you can buy USB Y-Cables from Amazon and use an outboard 5V supply. But I doubt that you'll need to.

The RPi4 has the option of limiting power to the USB ports vs supplying full power. I have access to these settings in the DietPi Linux based software that I run. I can't speak to other OS distributions and players. If you don't have access to those settings I would assume full power is available over the Pi USB ports.

The link below is about Raspberry Pi power. Scroll down to the table that includes the RPi4 and it will show that USB on the RPi4 can source up to 1.2-Amps. Be sure to use a USB-C power supply on your Pi that can supply at least 3.0-Amps.

[As a side note, some portable USB CD/DVD/Blu-Ray burners are available with outboard power supplies as they consume a fair amount of power while burning a disc and some computer USB ports might be marginal. Using the outboard power supply completely solves that problem.]

RPi USB Power (Open in New Window)

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Follow Ups Full Thread

Topic - Pi Player - Store music on SD card? USB stick? - marc g. 16:01:02 04/26/21 (24)

RE: Pi Player - Store music on SD card? USB stick? - soundchekk 10:53:51 04/27/21 (1)

RE: Pi Player - Store music on SD card? USB stick? - marc g. 12:14:50 04/27/21 (0)

SD card works fine - Jim R 20:39:03 04/26/21 (0)

RE: Pi Player - Store music on SD card? USB stick? - AbeCollins 16:37:22 04/26/21 (20)

How does one unmount a USB from a Pi? - marc g. 17:26:30 04/26/21 (2)

RE: How does one unmount a USB from a Pi? - AbeCollins 19:12:57 04/26/21 (0)

RE: How does one unmount a USB from a Pi? - Cut-Throat 17:55:40 04/26/21 (0)

RE: Pi Player - Store music on SD card? USB stick? - cfraser 17:14:00 04/26/21 (16)

If SD cards are fast enough to record 8K video ... - Feanor 11:41:32 04/29/21 (1)

RE: If SD cards are fast enough to record 8K video ... - cfraser 11:38:53 04/30/21 (0)

RE: I think you're splitting hairs - try different ways and see for yourself - AbeCollins 19:40:56 04/26/21 (2)

RE: I think you're splitting hairs - try different ways and see for yourself - cfraser 07:45:48 04/27/21 (1)

RE: I think you're splitting hairs - try different ways and see for yourself - AbeCollins 10:32:20 04/27/21 (0)

I use a USB powered Drive, works fine.... but I have 1.5TB of Music......nt - Cut-Throat 17:57:28 04/26/21 (9)

RE: I use a USB powered Drive, works fine.... but I have 1.5TB of Music......nt - cfraser 19:14:10 04/26/21 (8)

RE: I use a USB powered Drive, works fine.... but I have 1.5TB of Music......nt - Cut-Throat 05:04:25 04/27/21 (7)

RE: I use a USB powered Drive, works fine.... but I have 1.5TB of Music......nt - cfraser 07:28:54 04/27/21 (6)

Here is what I use for Travel ................ - Cut-Throat 09:16:50 04/27/21 (5)

RE: Here is what I use for Travel ................ - cfraser 16:40:54 04/27/21 (2)

RE: Here is what I use for Travel ................ - Cut-Throat 17:02:03 04/27/21 (1)

RE: Here is what I use for Travel ................ - cfraser 17:46:46 04/27/21 (0)

RE: I like your Travel setup.... - AbeCollins 11:05:39 04/27/21 (1)

Gracias! -- I think I have about $200 into it, less powered Speaker ........nt - Cut-Throat 12:34:13 04/27/21 (0)

I'm was wondering the same... - marc g. 17:22:08 04/26/21 (0)

Follow Ups

RE: I think you're splitting hairs - try different ways and see for yourself - AbeCollins 10:32:20 04/27/21 (0)

RE: I think you're splitting hairs - try different ways and see for yourself

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