Dummies Guide to Pi2AES! Throw away your PC or laptop.

That's not possible i think.
Streaming games and movies to pi2aes that is.

 

Using airplay I stream the audio from Netflix, Amazon Prime, Youtube, etc to the Pi2AES without issues. Don't know about gaming.

 

I don't own a mac

 

So am I correct in understanding that if I want all my computer audio to reach my DAC, I cant use Pi2AES?

 

Via UPnP, probably not. Also UPnP is unreliable, having to put up with that for everything would be annoying. As was mentioned, Airplay is an option (for Mac users) but if you're a gamer there's a good chance you're not on a Mac.

The main benefit is audio sounds noticeably better (for many of us) using a Pi2AES for digital input to a DAC instead of USB (optical, even with the Pi2AES, is still supposed to be garbage, never tried it personally). It could also benefit movies and video games, I haven't felt the need to bother due to the hassle involved and not being Mac-only.

If you aren't Mac-only I'd recommend using the Pi2AES for music only to save headaches. IMO UPnP is garbage and I pay Roon a monthly fee to avoid using UPnP.

 

While it is true that optical is not quite as good as BNC or RCA from the PI2AES, it is most definitely NOT garbage. For many DAC’s it so still superior to USB.

 

@Pancakes
Are you able to stream audio from the YouTube to the Pi2AES? This is not working for me. It plays only for 10sec and stops. I use an AppleTV 4K (1st gen) as a source and MoOde.

Regards. QJA

 

Haven't tried Apple TV but both my iPhone and iPad stream audio to Pi2AES regardless of source. For reference, I'm using Volumio.

 

@Pancakes

Thanks by your response. I tested here and the problem occurs only in the AppleTV 4K. It is an old problem without solution....

Regards, QJA

 

This is probably a Shairport-Sync bug, or a tvOS bug exposed by it anyway. There are a few Apple TV related issues on there and some fixes on the developer branch so help might be on the way soon.

https://github.com/mikebrady/shairport-sync

 

what is a typical upgraded power supply for the pi2aes?

I was looking at those mean well boxes, not the switching power supply, but the one that somewhat resembles a hard drive and youre able to tweak the settings with a screw driver.

Not sure if that's an upgrade, but I did purchase a while back a barrel plug that has an unterminated end for a unit like that. Any suggestions? I did read that it makes a very small difference, however I do not own any power supply at the moment so might as well get the better one now rather than pay for an upgrade later. My i2s cable is arriving this week, so it should be time to rock n roll

 

I replaced the Meanwell with a Studer 900 linear PS: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005002681116932.html?spm=a2g0s.9042311.0.0.6bb74c4dDfZBZ8
I liked it enough to purchase a 5V version for my PC's USB card.

 

In the TC-750 phono preamp thread, a SOLA regulated, linear power supply was used: https://www.superbestaudiofriends.org/index.php?threads/tc-750-phono-pre-amp-continued.150/

Based on that, I ordered a 24v version of the SOLA for my bugle phono preamp, and it really gave it a kick in the pants. Because of the success of using those rather industrial grade supplies with the preamps, I ended up finding three used SOLA hevi-duty sls-05-030-1t 5v supplies for $20 each on the bay for my three raspberries running moode, and noticed a big difference with them as well. You need to do some basic wiring and provide an enclosure, but they can be a smokin deal.

 

Im using li-ion batteries to power my pi2aes. Sounds better than my linear power supply

 

Tried the l-ion battery thing (same pack that the main guy at moode uses) before using the solas and to my ears the solas were much better.

 

Ok I ordered just now 10-24-480 SOLA. Will tell You next week what's better.

 

Based on that model number, it looks like that is a 24v supply.The 5v one that I am using is the SOLA hevi-duty sls-05-030-1t.

 

So i cancelled my order. I am unable to buy this power supply (SOLA hevi-duty sls-05-030-1t.) in my country with the ability to return it.

 

Glad that you were able to cancel that order.

 

Will have to look around it’s 45 for shipping

I found it for 90 on eBay, the pi2aes needs 2.5 x 5.5 plug?