Computer Audio Players

I have a linear power supply cost me around 50 euros with the 50VA trafo, an placed it in a project box add another 15 euro. I use NAS and USB DAC, if you want audiophile type setup, i would only use two connections only, and let me explain... RPi2 uses common bus for usb and ethernet so ethernet is over USB, any nore than two connections USB DAC and Ethernet (or a USB Hard drive) might increase cpu and memory usage, which is not the best thing for the purest reproduction. Some might dissagree on this but i try to keep it as simple as possible.

 

That's a good point about the USB bus, and your strategy of keeping it simple is definitely good. But consider:

-- When listening to music, you're either using the HD or Ethernet (if NAS), not both.
-- Interactions with the device via its web interface are intermittent (you're not using this to browse the web, watch videos etc while you listen; at most, you're picking another song to listen to).
-- The software buffers x seconds (configurable) of the music, so these short intermittent network interactions with the interface do not affect performance (whether you're using NAS or USB HD).

So given these points, I would argue that using volumio w/ RPi you can have Ethernet, USB HD, and a DAC without affecting performance.

 

Here are some photos:

RPi2 on top of battery. Connected to DAC, USB card, Ethernet (for size reference, the RPi is slightly bigger than a credit card):


Screenshots (using a Nexus 5 form factor):

 

Bug Head Emperor on Windows.

 

I've got an RPi2 recently and have been playing with Moode and Archphile. Probalby not the best idea for "purity," but I'm going to try to make it an AP. I plan to take it with me, so I'd prefer to just connect to it rather than add it to a network every time.

 

Anyone tried Pure Music 3 yet? Seems like a big upgrade from v2.

 

I use Clementine, because it was the best I could find that was free and worked with OSX. I miss the freeware options I had with Windows.

 

Deadbeef is as close as you'll get to foobar on anything that isn't windows.

 

I use Deadbeef. It is a shadow of foobar in terms of capabilities and extensions, but it does all I need, which, essentially, is to play music.

I am open to review as and when the music collection grows (it is quite modest) but I do not want a media management system: I do that with directory trees.

 

What makes you say that? you mean you are using the audio output of the RPi2 then i most certainly agree, if you are using it with USB DAC what affects the purity?

 

Not something I necessarily ascribe to (jury's out), but some claim it's best to limit the number/load of non-audio-related processes.

I'm using it with a y1.5 right now which I actually haven't got working lol

 

It is mostly a myth, arising from the the audiophool point of view that playing music is a really, really hard thing to do, that takes heaps of computing power, and is subjecting to getting infected by noise at any point in time just because the machine is doing something else. Oh, and you have to run your file server and your media player on different machines, but not even a Cray is up to doing both at once.

That is all bollocks.

But, on the other hand, life and computing is also not that black and white.

Historically, once upon a time, it was not entirely bollocks, especially with Windows, which wasn't that good at multi-tasking.

Now, even one other process, if it runs at a higher priority than audio, can interfere with the audio. Many of us have cringed as we hear the mouse moving on the screen.

So, the jury is not out. The risks and possibilities are well understood. Not, I hasten to add, in detail, by me --- which is why a I use a Linux distro where someone has sorted out interupt balancing, priority of audio processes, and other such esoteric stuff.

(EDIT: Computers, hahaha... I just had to reboot mine before I could pot this!)

 

You are most certainly a happier man, and with cash to spare, if you believe that any computer (digital media device) will sound equaly good.( I mean anyone not particularly you).

 

Well, no, it isn't quite that simple. I've been through DPC Latency Hell, and ended up chucking the machine out. I don't use a laptop, but I'm reliably informed that poor quality lap-top power supplies can cause audible noise, and, whether it is audiophilia nervosa or not, I share concerns about USB power to DACs. I spent a long time selecting physically quiet fans. I had a very good, silent power supply, and I am not so happy with the one that replaced it a few months ago. There's always something to nitpick!

But, on the whole, yeah: a machine that works... works. May I be lucky enough to avoid the ones that don't .

I detest the audiophilication of computers and network gear, and the growing market in the sale of components with audiohile labels that have nothing whatsoever to do with audio.

 

Yes!

This is exactly why I gave RPi + volumio (a free Linux distribution with all the audio-specific setup done right) a shot. It's pretty awesome especially if you have NAS. I bought a wireless dongle for it because ethernet in the location I want to use it is not convenient (haven't tried it yet though) and I'm running it off of a battery. I'm willing to include this "server" (with the wireless dongle but probably without the battery since it's a hassle to ship) in the loaner program if there is interest and people want to try out a <$50 server before committing to it.

 

The same here, or at least something similar... my list of experiments are too long to write here with various pc based low to hiend window installations, and i have stopped the experiments when i setup my RPi2.

An exact setup like mine (RPi2/Linear PSU/50 VA toroidal/NAS/Ethernet/Cat6 and USB DAC with self supplied receiver and Galvanic isolation) sounded NO DIFFERENT than a 5000 euro Aurender Streamer with the same DAC. This was in a system that has so much resolution that you hear any change on it, and that was the result.

I am a happy man and will not pursue this further.

 

I've been using it on my MBP Retina. I'm primarily a classical listener, and Pure Music has always done a great job with
imaging (illusion of spatial extent == not sure what to call it) of large symphonic works.

Is it better than v2. I'm not sure I can say, since I started using Sonarworks at the same time and so my listening is now
through this AU plugin.

But great program for music in my experience.

 

Do you still have Bifrost Multibit? Try that filter on Bifrost Multibit's NOS mode for fun.