Pics of your Pi-based setups

Discussion in 'Digital: DACs, USB converters, decrapifiers' started by Biodegraded, Nov 29, 2020.

  1. Biodegraded

    Biodegraded Friend

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    Inspired by @JK47 's post this morning, I figured that to give each other ideas it'd be nice to have a collection of pics of how people have incorporated Pi2AES etc. into their systems. Transports, transport-DACs, wired or wireless, touchscreen or remote, different software solutions, all fair game. Here's a starter.

    Bedside system: RPi Zero W with Allo Miniboss DAC in an Allo case, topped with a Vali 2. Volumio on the Pi's card as a renderer only, receiving UPnP from my desktop PC (MinimServer) via wifi, controlled by an Android control-point app (Hi-Fi Cast) on my phone. Nice and compact...

    [​IMG]

    ...except when experimenting with outrageous tubes:

    [​IMG]

    Main system: RPi 3 with Pi2AES in 'traditional clear' case. Coax outs from streamer and CD player go to the switch box under the Modi Multibit, then into the Modi's coax input. Same server - control point - renderer setup as bedroom system, just have to remember to select the right playback device in the control point app to avoid unwelcome results.

    [​IMG]

    Here's the complete setup for good measure. Modi feeds integrated amp which has muteable speaker outputs and a passthrough to MCTH. Playing through the streamer, the mess can be hidden away by sliding the door of the cabinet closed - or all the lovely technology can be appreciated by leaving it open, depending on the tastes of the audience (ie WAF).

    [​IMG]
     
  2. gixxerwimp

    gixxerwimp Professional tricycle rider

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    My main rig from the post your headphone setup thread: rPi Zero W inside the PI2AES case. MCTH is not in the bedroom fed by Modi Multibit and its slot has been replaced by Liquid Carbon v1.

    [​IMG]
     
    Last edited: Nov 29, 2020
  3. earnmyturns

    earnmyturns Smartest friend

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    Home-office-away-from-home headphone setup:

    Top shelf: EC Af; Soekris dac1541; Pi 3B+Pi2AES+PiTouch running RopieeeXL.
    Middle shelf: Goldpoint SA2X-O, switching between Af and Phonitor; SPL Phonitor XE.
    Bottom shelf: Af power supply; Pi2AES power supply.

    Connections: Pi2AES>AES>dac1541>XLR>SA2X-O>XLR>{Af; Phonitor}

    Pi is mostly receiving Roon from a separate fanless server (Zotac CI662 nano, Ubuntu Server 20.04.1, 4TB Samsung SSD).

    No, I'm not the best cable tidier.

    [​IMG]
     
  4. yotacowboy

    yotacowboy McRibs Kind of Guy

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    Is that a Hammond 193L/M choke down there?
     
  5. Koth Ganesh

    Koth Ganesh Friend

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    My set up with the current loaner DAC (Sonnet Morpheus). Lurking below is my regular DAC, the Convert 2... Apologies for the horrible picture.
     

    Attached Files:

  6. Biodegraded

    Biodegraded Friend

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    Step-up transformer - the CDP & tuner are 230 V.

    Edit: That bottom shelf is the overflow for power supplies (the rest are in the cabinet compartment to the right). Transformer, warts for Pi+HAT & Zen Phono, shoebox for MCTH DIY LPS. The Zen Phono is down there to keep it away from the Pi's wifi; its appearance would be accepted out in the open, but there's no room up there.
     
    Last edited: Nov 30, 2020
  7. Azimuth

    Azimuth FKA rtaylor76, Friend

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    So...kind of cheating because the Pi is embedded inside the Metrum, but it is my full desktop setup ATM.

    [​IMG]

    To the left are all the "dumb" boxes...from bottom to top: Powervar line conditioner for computer, Metrum Amber, Midiman C03 digital audio converter that takes in Tos, Coax, AES, and then spits out all three and also can strip the SCMS code (that is not really used anymnore...I I use this box for audio from my Tos on my computer into the coax of the Theta), and Etir (for work laptop into Theta)

    On the Right from bottom up: computer (duh), Theta DS Pro Basic II, Focusright Platinum Voicemaster (for my podcast recording), Presonus AudioBox 44VSL to computer for recording, Cavalli iquid Carbon X, Dynalo DIY (power supply on the left - black box with red LED).

    Headphones of course are Argon T50 w/BM5 angled pads, HD650, LCD-2C.

    PS - and don't worry, I have some headphone hangers on my Santa wishlist.
     
  8. LetMeBeFrank

    LetMeBeFrank Won't tell anyone my name is actually Francis

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    My setup is pretty simple. I have RPi 3 b+ with hifiberry digi+ pro feeding coax to my emotiva PT-100/A-150 to KEF Reference Model Three. All my music is stored on a 2tb WD external drive via USB to the Pi.

    The Pi is nestled back behind my Blu Ray player.
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]

    Edit: Pi is controlled headless by either moOde.local or BubbleUPnP.
     
    Last edited: Nov 30, 2020
  9. Azimuth

    Azimuth FKA rtaylor76, Friend

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    Nice KEF's!
     
  10. je2a3

    je2a3 Almost "Made"

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    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    Rpi3B+ in Flirc case > MF V-link > powered by Argone ONE > NOS'd Arcam Delta Black Box
     
  11. bobboxbody

    bobboxbody Friend

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    [​IMG]
    Just finished setting up Pi2AES in the living room/casual listening system. Running mo0de with BubbleUPNP for Tidal from my phone and Airplay for my wife's iPhone.
     
  12. Biodegraded

    Biodegraded Friend

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    Wireless into the Pi, or cable from the router?
     
  13. bobboxbody

    bobboxbody Friend

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    Wireless until I grab another ethernet cable today, thought I had a spare but I do not. I had to rob the Roku for setup.
     
  14. Biodegraded

    Biodegraded Friend

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    If you hear a difference - please report! :)
     
  15. dBel84

    dBel84 Friend

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    Here are my setups - probably would be better off with a more centralized server but it has been an evolution

    First pic - main rig ( with TABAQs being tested ) - Pi 3b+ with PiDesign 502DAC Hat - R2R dac - Liquid Glass as preamp - whatever PASS DIY is getting attention - Maggies

    I put it in a box with a TFT Screen - posted in the rPi I2S to SPDIF thread ( and now lives behind doors below the glass)

    [​IMG]

    Office / desk rig is Pi4 - 502DAC HAT - Transdac ( yep classic vintage with a few tweaks ) - DIY tube unity gain buffer - PASS DIY SIT(3) / Headphone amp ( currently an early version of the Spark )

    [​IMG]

    Basement - kids play zone - Pi2b hifiberry - aging rotel processor - adcom - TABAQ full range

    [​IMG]

    all in the name of fun ..dB
     
    Last edited: Dec 1, 2020
  16. bobboxbody

    bobboxbody Friend

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    I cannot hear a difference, but the Modi multibit is still warming up, I badly need to clean the contacts on the rotary switches of the amp, and this room/life does not allow good speaker placement. So there may very well be an audible difference, but I'm unlikely to detect it. All that being said, I'm enjoying it. Just about everything is improved over the Chromecast audio that it replaced, most notably macro dynamics and instrument separation.
    Edit: better picture in the afternoon sunlight[​IMG]
     
    Last edited: Dec 1, 2020
  17. lehmanhill

    lehmanhill Almost "Made"

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    First off, I'm messy. No WAF helps I guess.

    In my main system, the Pi3/Pi2AES hides behind the CD player and Metrum Pavane. I'm using home made i2s connection to the Pi. The stack of black boxes in the 2nd photo is fully balanced to the power amp and has a Reliaxed2 preamp, Fremen Edition power amp, a 300 watt Holton subwoofer amp using a Minidsp crossover. By the way, the LEDs are hidden behind the Pavane, but they still are surprisingly bright and give an eerie glow at night.

    I have 4 Pi systems and they are all connected to the Pi server by wifi and iPeng on my phone to control it.

    Pavane Pi.JPG


    black stack.JPG

    The speakers are 20 year old DIY Dynaudio towers plus the cement subwoofer with an NHT1259 down firing driver. Yes, those are unfinished MDF speaker enclosures. Remember the WAF (wife acceptance factor)? No wife, so I seem to jump to the next project before worrying about appearance. Hey, I only got the preamp and amplifier into boxes because of Covid.

    DynaAudio.JPG
    The office/project room has the Pi3/Pi2AES server with a SSD attached. At the moment, I am using the SFD-1 dac, but I will also use the Metrum Onyx sitting under the Pi. I'm using iPeng to control volume on this system, so the dac feeds the Pass analog crossover (box with a blue light) which feeds the 4 channel Fremen amp. All of this powers LXmini speakers and the whole system does pretty well in a small room.

    MP4.JPG

    LXmini.JPG
    My exercise room is less critical, but still has a Pi3/502DAC hiding on the shelves below. This feeds a EQDesigns MOS16 dac that has been modified for a coax connection. The Harmon Kardon receiver sends the music to some old Realistic satellites and a subwoofer made from a leftover Focal 8" driver.

    MOS16.JPG

    Finally, the garage/workshop has a Pi3 with an old DIYinHK USB to i2s, a Twisted Pear Opus dac, a homemade balanced line receiver, and an old JVC receiver powering some old Mission speakers that I have updated the woofer and crossover. In the picture, the Pi is mounted on the lid which has been opened for the picture.

    opus.JPG
     
  18. Biodegraded

    Biodegraded Friend

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    @lehmanhill , heroic! I love the cement pipe subwoofer. :punk:
     
  19. je2a3

    je2a3 Almost "Made"

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    Everything was nice! But this bread board thingy stood out. :)
     
  20. SoupRKnowva

    SoupRKnowva Official SBAF South Korean Ambassador

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    @lehmanhill i just want to say, all of that is gd glorious, this is exactly the right brand of jank. I love it
     

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