Pi2 Design Idiot-Proof Ready-To-Go RPi/AES Streamer

Discussion in 'Digital: DACs, USB converters, decrapifiers' started by Michael Kelly, Jan 16, 2021.

  1. clipper

    clipper New

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    I overlooked something when I wrote about GentooPlayer earlier. Instead of having to make a donation to check it out, you can email the developer for a trial key (at [email protected]). See https://gentooplayers.com/Download.
     
  2. Michael Kelly

    Michael Kelly MOT: Pi 2 Design

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    Can anyone help me set up a poll? Maybe we can see if Volumio is no longer the best choice. My familiarity with it and having used it for quite a while may easily lead to me overlooking much of its roughness. Especially because we don’t use the remote access features such as UPNP and DLNA.
     
  3. CongoFather

    CongoFather Acquaintance

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    II have just finished installing GentooPlayer and made the basic settings. But there are some parts about which I could not find detailed information. 14.Ramdisk section is one of the most interesting part of the software for me. I want Squeezelite, Squeezelite-R2, MPD, RoonBridge, LMS to be loaded and run on Ramdisk. But there is no options for RoonBridge and LMS together. Therefore, I had to choose "Mode 9: ALL" in order to load everything into RamDisk.
    According to your experiences/knowledge,

    1) What is the recommended Mode setting for RamDisk? (For Mercury Streamer with 4GBRAM, RPi4)?
    2) I enabled RAM system on system startup. I think it slows down the startup a little bit. Is it recommended to load RamDisk at system startup?

    3) There is a part for RamDiskMusic. As I have already chosen "Mode 9 (only works on Rpi4-min 4gb) : All", it says that there is "1061 MB " free RAM space and wants me to choose the % percantage of RAM space to store Audio Files on RamDisk. I have about 1 TB FLAC storage on Synology NAS. I would expect the player to optimize and load/buffer the flac files in my play list into memory whenever it is necessary. I think Audirvana caches some of the Flac Files following the current playing song and load them into memory so that they it can be played bit-perfect directly from memory. How does Gentooplayer use this pre-dedicated RAMDiskMusic space? What is the recommended size in your opinion?
     
  4. CongoFather

    CongoFather Acquaintance

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    Generally I can say that GentooPlayer is easier to use and better than Dietpi. I started listening Tidal using Squeezelite-R2 player with LMS. Its(Squeezelite-R2) parameters related with buffering, DSD conversion, sample rate limits etc can be configured from the GentooPlayer web interface. It is both flexible and easier to use.. I like it.. Thanks @clipper .

    /**SYNOLOGY/NAS CIFS Folder Share**/
    I only need to run CLI in order to mount(Samba CIFS) Synology drive. It always gives error when I try to mount it using its wen interface.

    Code:
    #Create a folder under /mnt
    mkdir /mnt/Synology_Music
    #Edit file to add mount parameters
    nano /etc/fstab
    
    Change the ip address, mount directory, username and password in the following line. Then save and reboot.
    //192.168.1.25/music /mnt/Synology_Music cifs vers=3.0,username=admin,password=xxxxx,iocharset=utf8,file_mode=0777,dir_mode=0777,rw,uid=1000,gid=500,nofail 0 0

    /**ROON BRIDGE**/
    A screenshot for GentooPlayer RoonBridge EndpoinT :)
    Roon(Mac Mini) --> GentooPlayer (AES)--> Devialet 220(Max 24bit/192khz support)

    https://drive.google.com/file/d/1YrtfW4E5JmYZoE1Gry56WkAmP7swh37p/view?usp=sharing
    [​IMG]

    /**AUDIRVANA UPNP**/
    For Audirvana, I installed GmediaRender and enabled it from the settings. In this page (https://sites.google.com/view/gentooplayer-documentation/info-software/upnpdlna?authuser=0), there is one step --> "In WI > Player Setting > Mpd BitPerfect
    GmediaRender" . I couldn't choose GmediaRenderer in this menu. But I can play Flac files including DSD, bu-y using Audirvana.

    /**(MOBILE) MCONNECT LITE(Free Version) GMEDIARENDERER Integration**/
    Although I enabled "Gapless" from settings, It sends 24bit 192khz audio files as 16bit 192khz which is shown on the screen of the app while it is playing. It downscales from 24 bit to 16bit which is not acceptable !!!!. When I play the same song from Roon using Roon Bridge on GentooPlayer, it sends it bit-perfect as 24 bit 192khz.
    @clipper if you have 24 bit files, would you pleas try to play them from MConnect if possible? Let's see whether it's the same for you, or not.

    @clipper do you use any mobile app with a simple interface for Squeezelite-R2 ?

    The Italian engineer that gives support for Gentooplayer seems to prepare preconfigured scripts for all the customizations. He probably prepared the configuration web interface and bind the parameters on each screen to related pre-configured script's parameters and run it. Otherwise, we need to run a lot of command on SSH window to do that. It saves a a lot of time and it becomes easy for non-technical user.
     
    Last edited: Mar 12, 2022
  5. dasman66

    dasman66 Self proclaimed lazy ass - friend

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    I can't imagine that would give you any worthwhile ROI. I'd vote for something else... if someone wants Volumio then they can subscribe on their own.
     
  6. Michael Kelly

    Michael Kelly MOT: Pi 2 Design

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    There are a few benefit to us though. It would allow us to get support directly from Volumio as an OEM, not just a single customer. Also, we could, if we wanted to, private label the software so it looks like our own. This is what Pro-Ject, Bryston and some others do.

    I think much of the knock on Volumio is due to it's origins as free software. This forced them to compromise support and use the subscriptions to gain revenue. It's not surprising they branched into HW as it offers another revenue stream. All in all I greatly respect and admire the folks over there.
     
  7. CongoFather

    CongoFather Acquaintance

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    I have shared all my experiences/test results related with GentooPlayer in my previous message. I generally liked the way GentooPlayer works more than all other alternatives(DietPi, VolumIO, MoodeAudiO Player, RopieeeXL).

    Finally, I think I found the right player for me, at least for now :).
     
  8. Zachik

    Zachik MOT XMEMS

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    I agree. Case in point: I have been using the free Volumio (from Michael) on the Mercury, and quite like it.
    I use my Samsung tablet and/or my Samsung phone to control it, and it works great :)
     
  9. haywood

    haywood Friend

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    All of the Pi based distros are primarily based on GPL open source software and as such are in turn licensed under the GPL. If they’re charging $10,000 to OEMs I’m sure the developers of mpd, etc. would like to know when their check is getting cut because without those projects their software wouldn’t do anything.

    Rather than spending that kind of money with someone who views you as a competitor to their own hardware you’d be far better off hiring a developer to fork one of the projects and make any improvements you feel are necessary. You can offer the primary developer of the project a mercury and submit any changes back to the main project as a show of good will but I don’t think you don’t have to. Of course life will be easier if you’re on good terms with them and they merge your changes — best case scenario is your hardware just works rather than you having to maintain a complicated software project on top of your hardware company.
     
  10. CongoFather

    CongoFather Acquaintance

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    I am not allowed to edit my previous message. Therefore, I continue writing my observations with this new post.

    /**SqueezeLite-R2 /LMS As Main Player**/
    I think this is the best part of the GentooPlayer. It sounds clean, detailed with black background and lets your DAC do its work with a clean digital input signal with precise timing(I use RAMDISK and load the app into main memory). I found a android app for my mobil phone named "Squeezer". It is great. It lets us control the SqueezeLite player, the installed apps(like Tidal) and its settings from a clean mobile interface. As it is just a controller app unlike Mconnect(UPNP), there is no signal downgrade(24bit to 16bit conversion etc. does not happen), everything is running on the server side(I mean the SqueezeLite-R2 player running on Mercury hardware). Squeezer with SqueezeLite-r2 is a great combination.

    /**Using RAMDISK**/
    Loading all the selected applications(there are 9 different modes) with their disk requirements into main RAM on startup improves the overall performance and audio timing accuracy a little bit. I prefer playing files with RAMDISK enabled. 4GB RAM is currently enough for everything in this world for now. But I think if there is an option of 8G RAM for Mercury, it would be better to choose it thinking for the future.

    /**KERNEL OPTIONS**/
    I learnt that choosing different Kernel versions(Real-Time / Non-Real Time) is possible with GentooPlayer. And it is said to effect how you hear the song. But it is completely experimental. I read in several posts, at Audiophilestyle.com, that Kernel 8 is advised. I updated my Kernel version to Kernel-21 which I guess is the RealTime equivalent of Kernel 8 --> 5.15.21-GentooPlayer-RT-MIN-NOGRAPH-176400-rt30+. In the following days, I will continue listening by choosing different Kernel versions.
    For this kernel version, SquuezeLite-R2/LMS on Ramdisk plays DSF files from NAS without any interrupt, very clean. In the previous version, I frequently hear clicks..

    The CPU runs on max frequency currently with this kernel.

    My Current Configuration:

    RamSystem Mode 9
    Free memory: 926MB of total 3855MB

    5.15.21-GentooPlayer-RT-MIN-NOGRAPH-176400-rt30+
    ───────────────────────────────────────
    GentooPlayer | 21:57 | Sun 13/03/22
    ───────────────────────────────────────
    v6.60-67 | Raspberry Pi 4B+ (aarch64)

    Code:
    ~ #  cpu-info

    ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────
    Gentooplayer CPU Info
    Use cpu-governor to change CPU / performance options
    ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────
    Architecture | aarch64
    Temp | 57'c : 134'f | Running warm, but safe.
    Governor | performance

    Current Freq Min Freq Max Freq
    CPU0 | 1500 MHz 600 MHz 1500 MHz
    CPU1 | 1500 MHz 600 MHz 1500 MHz
    CPU2 | 1500 MHz 600 MHz 1500 MHz
    CPU3 | 1500 MHz 600 MHz 1500 MHz


     
    Last edited: Mar 13, 2022
  11. clipper

    clipper New

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    @CongoFather, I'm glad you are liking GentooPlayer!

    I'll try to respond to some of your questions and comments...

    >>@clipper do you use any mobile app with a simple interface for Squeezelite-R2 ?
    Since you are a Roon user (as am I), I suggest that you try using Roon with Squeezelite or Squeezelite-R2. That's what I do. I love the Roon interface, and have always found that this combination sounds better (to me) than using RoonBridge. Hopefully you like the Roon mobile app. For this to work, you have to turn on Squeezebox support in Roon (Settings, Setup, set Enable Squeezebox Support to Yes). Once you do this, and if Squeezelite or Squeezelite-R2 is running on the Mercury, you can configure the Mercury as an audio device in the Roon audio settings (under Squeezebox devices). I mostly use the Roon desktop app (and send audio to Squeezelite or Squeezelite-R2 running on GentooPlayer), but the mobile app works great too.

    Ramdisk - I agree with you that things sound a little better in Ramdisk mode. I use it. I agree with you that an 8 gig Pi would be preferable. I think (but am not positive) that once installed, GmediaRender will be present on all ram disks. And, if I recall, it's pretty large (in memory footprint).

    Kernel options - I agree with you too. There are many to try, and it best to experiment. In the TWK menu (web interface, System Config Advanced, TWK various) I have Force Turbo set to enable to have the CPU run at the maximum frequency all the time.
     
  12. Marius Bikelis

    Marius Bikelis New

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    Hello All,

    This is my first post here :) I am the owner of both PI2AES and the new Mercury Beta. I have purchased PI2AES last year and built it using recommendations by Goldensound - the RPi4 and PI2AES units are powered separately by Allo Shanti Linear Power Supply. I am using it with moode software. The source is Roon Server (including Tidal). The DAC is Denafrips Pontus II which has all necessary inputs including I2S via HDMI so it is easy to test various combinations. So far PI2AES is the best transport I ever had (tested various Allo production like USBridge (Sig), DigiOne etc.). I have it connected via AES/EBU XLR and I2S HDMI.
    Now about Mercury: I received it about a week ago and tested in my setup with the included switched power supply. Connections I2S and AES/EBU are working ok. Just to mention that I2S pinout differs - in Mercury it uses standard PS Audio pinout and in PI2AES some pins are swapped. Luckily my DAC allows to configure any combination of pins so I am able to use both via I2S. In terms of the sound I can't say that Mercury sounds better but I still need to change the power supply (12V LPSU is ordered) of the Mercury. What I noticed is that in moode s/w Mercury is working only with Hifiberry Digi+ Pro driver which allows up to 24/192 resolution. There is Denafrips Pontus driver in moode but it doesn't work correctly in Mercury. With the Denafrips driver in moode in PI2AES I am getting higher resolution - up to 24/384. I am unable to play DSD native neither in PI2AES nor in Mercury. Also I noticed that comparing PI2AES via AES/EBU XLR to Mercury I2S via HDMI PI2AES via AES sounds louder (there is no difference in sound level in PI2AES between AES and I2S).
    And now the bad news: as in the manual was written that it is possible to connect up to 18V power supply I tried to connect my 18V LPSU and... bricked the Mercury. It appears that my LPSU actually outputs 18,12V and probably that additional 0,12V killed it. Now it is on the way back to Michael and once it is fixed I will continue testing it.
     
  13. Ksaurav402

    Ksaurav402 Friend

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    I guess Someone confirmed that new Mercury only works with 12v. But ya something to be careful about as Pi2AES could take wider range of input.
     
  14. Marius Bikelis

    Marius Bikelis New

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    Unfortunately I didn't know that, in the manual it was said it accepts from 7V to 18V (now it is changed to 12V +/- 20%).
     
    Last edited: Mar 14, 2022
  15. Woland

    Woland Friend

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    Hi Michael.. not sure if it is what you want but we did get a lot of responses in this SBAF poll on Pi software. I was surprised that Volumio is favored by less than 1 in 4 of our Pi users... well behind Ropieee and also behind Moode.
     
    Last edited: Mar 14, 2022
  16. Marius Bikelis

    Marius Bikelis New

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    I never use Volumio in such devices like PI2AES and Mercury. I prefer moode which is more stable or Ropieee in case if I want simpler interface and less options. In some cases I also use DietPi.
     
  17. Michael Kelly

    Michael Kelly MOT: Pi 2 Design

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    Sadly I misunderstood the power supply chip data sheet. It says operational voltage up to 18V and can withstand up to 24V, but in reality a steady voltage above 18V kills it! Since we optimized everything about Mercury around 12V it was mistake on my part to allow anything else. So now it is changed.
     
  18. CongoFather

    CongoFather Acquaintance

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    I have similar preferences for the players. Moode is good(found better choice than VolumIO) but GentooPlayer is currently my favorite with flexible kernel choices. In addition to this, RopieeeXL is very good for simplicity.

    @Woland, Why don't we see GentooPlayer in this list?
    Edit: I thought the poll has recently been created for Mercury users but I see that it is an old poll.
    https://www.superbestaudiofriends.o...oll-which-pi-audio-software-do-you-use.11738/
     
    Last edited: Mar 14, 2022
  19. Michael Kelly

    Michael Kelly MOT: Pi 2 Design

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    Mercury Production Status 03/14/22 - The assembly house building the first production batch is located in Shenzhen, China. As of today the entire region is on lockdown. Everyone is staying at home this week. We don’t know yet if they plan to re-open next week or what conditions will be required to let everyone go back to work.

    Due to this we are looking at domestic US production. Based on the quotes from an assembly house we are using on another project, our cost would be $60-$80 higher per unit. Not horrible. Depending on what we hear next week we may have to do a separate build as a backup.
     
  20. uncola

    uncola Friend

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    That’s too bad about the lockdown in shenzhen :(
    In other news, the brand new Moode 8.0 is working well with my mercury. Using local file playback on a nas share and Spotify connect, too
    Did anyone get jriver idpi to boot on the mercury? I still havent
     

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