Time 4 some Pi.

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TTonyTTony Frets: 27342



I've fancied playing around with a Pi for a while.

And I wanted a better DAC for playing mp3 files through the hifi.

And a better means of creating and playing playlists.


The Pi 4 looks like it should be a viable base, and with 2 USB3 ports on it, that's a lot of mp3 storage just plugged in.  The extra board is essentially a DAC, but with some extra bits (incl a small screen) for touch control of whatever software I use for the playlists.


Might get some time to put it together and set it up tomorrow
:)
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Comments

  • BlaendulaisBlaendulais Frets: 3316
    Update us as u go i too fancy a slice
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  • monquixotemonquixote Frets: 17485
    tFB Trader
    I need to continue my trend of buying every model of Pi having a fun week of building something and then never using the thing I build.
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  • Emp_FabEmp_Fab Frets: 24208
    Likewise my fetish with the Arduino!
    Lack of planning on your part does not constitute an emergency on mine.
    Also chips are "Plant-based" no matter how you cook them.
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  • TTonyTTony Frets: 27342
    Update us as u go i too fancy a slice
    Will do.

    I need to continue my trend of buying every model of Pi having a fun week of building something and then never using the thing I build.
    I think you need to choose what you build more carefully ...
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  • guitartangoguitartango Frets: 1012
    How much was the dac @Ttony ?  I use Runeaudio for 24Bit files and output the music via hdmi 
    “Ken sent me.”
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  • TTonyTTony Frets: 27342
    £60 @guitartango but that’s with the little OLED screen, buttons & remote.
    https://thepihut.com/products/nanomesher-nanosound-dac-pro-w-oled-screen

    More than necessary for a DAC, but not silly ££s.

    Theres also an amp board that fits into it which I might explore when I’ve got this kit working.
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  • guitartangoguitartango Frets: 1012
    Cool @TTony , might have to buy one myself.
    “Ken sent me.”
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  • monquixotemonquixote Frets: 17485
    tFB Trader
    TTony said:
    Update us as u go i too fancy a slice
    Will do.

    I need to continue my trend of buying every model of Pi having a fun week of building something and then never using the thing I build.
    I think you need to choose what you build more carefully ...

    Nah it's because I'm an engineer so I prefer making stuff to using it.
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  • Nice one. I have a 3B+ which I mainly use as a Pihole. There's so many things you can do with them though, they're great. Everyone should get one!

    Also the 4 can run two 4K displays, so that's fun.
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  • TTonyTTony Frets: 27342
    Also the 4 can run two 4K displays, so that's fun.
    Isn't that just mad?

    A 4gb machine, with 2 USB3 ports, capable of driving 2 x 4k displays.  £50.

    I almost feel guilty that I'm planning on wasting all that potential by sticking some freeware media player software (Volumio probably) on it and using it as an mp3 player.
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  • springheadspringhead Frets: 1583
    I've tinkered with Pi's and Volumio for a few years, using a lovely DAC from IQAudio in Scotland.  I've found Volumio's front end, via web browser on phone, tablet, PC, to be a bit flakey.  Recently rebuilt it for Moode and so far it appears to be better.
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  • TTonyTTony Frets: 27342
    For those remotely interested ...

    So far it's been a  pretty easy and successful process.

    There was a slight hitch in that the Volumio software hasn't been released for the pi4,  but a quick email to Nanosound and they emailed me a link to the beta version (pretty much by return), and once I'd downloaded that and flashed it to the SD card, everything has been as easy as easy can be.

    Volumio indexed a 1Gb USB disc full of mp3s ridiculously quickly too.

    With a little luck, I'll connect it to the main hifi amp & speakers tomorrow and see (or hear) how it sounds.

    But, so far, impressed.
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  • darthed1981darthed1981 Frets: 11669
    Im very keen on the Pi4

    Its actually got some great potential business applications now, they would make perfectly decent thin clients now.

    Might get one for work.
    We have to be so very careful, what we believe in...
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  • vasselmeyervasselmeyer Frets: 3664
    As @monquixote has done, I've got every flavour released so far. One of them runs Pinhole and supplies DHCP and DNS for my home network so even visitors have an ad-free browsing experience. The others run RetroPi with a bunch of my favourite vintage games on them.

    They're fantastic little machines
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  • SassafrasSassafras Frets: 30273
    Emp_Fab said:
    Likewise my fetish with the Arduino!
    Is that the 4 door saloon or the hatchback?
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  • TTonyTTony Frets: 27342
    Quick update ...

    The 1Tb USB disc seemed to re-index every time I switch the  Pi off/on, which was a pain given that it was indexing ~80,000 tracks.  Also, Pi only seemed to recognise that there was a disc plugged in if I booted the Pi and then attached the disc.  So, pita and I got bored of that process after the first couple of times.

    I've now got two micro SD cards, in USB adapters plugged in and, although that also seems to re-index every time, it completes within 20secs or so.  Plus, the USB adapters are just left in permanently, no taking out and re-inserting.  That gives me ~70,000 tracks, but I can connect back to the NAS and play from there too - if I remember to power it on.

    Sound quality through my relatively simple hifi setup is pretty damn good, and certainly better than I've heard with other efforts at playing mp3s directly from the NAS, so my conclusion is that the DAC is doing its job at enhancing the source.

    Browser interface seems rock solid reliable too, no issues with different browsers &  devices.

    So it's convenient, cheap, and delivers quality output.  Best combination I've found yet for accessing and playing content from a reasonably large library. 
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