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Post by pinkie on Dec 3, 2014 9:34:58 GMT
Cracking cheese Gromit! What a great thread. Just seen this one as a result of reading about a Raspberry pi add-on elsewhere and thinking "I'm sure there was something about that on TAS". Cross ref my 21st century Pinkie thread, I had ignored this thread before on the simple grounds I hadn't the first concept what it might be about. I think this looks the perfect manual for hauling me kicking and screaming into the 21st century. Will definitely give this a go once the silly season is under control, and as soon as I can find a sanscrit:english dictionary to understand it all. Might even have to man up and get over the caravan battery incident and try one of Stans dacs! One thing at a time... Great thread
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Post by canetoad on Dec 3, 2014 10:10:46 GMT
Martin, Are you using wifi for your network connection or RJ45? Any difference to the sound between them? I thought I read somewhere that the RJ45 connection on the RPi was electrically more noisy.
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Post by MartinT on Dec 3, 2014 10:35:01 GMT
Definitely RJ45 Cat5e cable for me. Wi-Fi suffers from heavy packet lag and jitter and I wouldn't try to build any streamer using it, even though I have a strong signal. I didn't compare cable with wi-fi this time around but in the past, using a Logitech Touch, I did make that comparison and felt that wi-fi sounded poorer - lifeless in the way that only poor digital can sound.
The RPi B+ was redesigned to improve the USB and ethernet subsystem design and what you read may well have been about the original RPi.
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Post by canetoad on Dec 3, 2014 11:03:48 GMT
You're probably right. Looks like I'll be joining the bandwagon and getting an RPi for Christmas. I'll be looking forward to comparing it to my Touch.
Last night I was listening to Hi Res versions of Dire Straits - Brothers in Arms and Fleetwood Mac - Rumours. Wow they sounded good! The first time I've had a listen since buying the BMII. Soundstage and musical clarity were exceptional! If the RPi can improve on this I will be very impressed!
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Post by MartinT on Dec 3, 2014 13:58:07 GMT
It does improve on the Touch, but only if you buy the add-on HiFiBerry Digi+ board that gives you optical and co-ax S/PDIF outputs. The BM-II sounds better with optical.
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Post by ChrisB on Dec 3, 2014 14:32:36 GMT
That's precisely what we wanted when we first discussed both Martin's thread and Pinch's one. TAS subsidised some of the cost of getting Pinch going on his project in the hope that we might help to inspire others to have a go too. What we need from you, Richard, is a no holds barred, blow by blow account of a computer music numpty (no offence intended) getting to grips with a Pi system. If you could oblige that would be great and it would be useful to a lot of people.
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Post by MartinT on Dec 3, 2014 14:51:03 GMT
Agreed - Richard, we need you to walk through your trials and tribulations with us!
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Post by pinkie on Dec 3, 2014 14:56:10 GMT
OK. No problem. It's a deal. It may be Christmas before I can do it justice. At the moment I grab the odd five minutes while HMRC's web page is taking an age to file something, or I have a big print running, but I need to be able to give this a few undistracted hours attention. And whilst I have caught up a bit this week (never marry a teacher and say "I can take 5 weeks holiday") - the run up to 31 January is a bloody nightmare in this caper. But I want to do this, and will document the unfamiliarity. Nag me.
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Post by ChrisB on Dec 3, 2014 20:36:21 GMT
That's fantastic, thanks. Words of one syllable only, oh and mind out for those acronyms!
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Post by MartinT on Dec 3, 2014 23:34:01 GMT
Hee hee
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Post by Pinch on Dec 4, 2014 11:02:27 GMT
Yeah, jump onboard Pinky - the RPi is great device; I really enjoyed getting mine up and running, and learnt some interesting stuff along the way. I'll be getting another one very soon, which probably indicates something.
Martin, do you have Spotify working on yours now?
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Post by MartinT on Dec 4, 2014 12:04:37 GMT
Yes, Spotify works superbly with Volumio 1.5, including the all-important high quality setting for high bitrate streams. I'm really please with it and use it a lot.
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Post by Pinch on Dec 4, 2014 12:25:06 GMT
Oh good stuff! I really must upgrade to 1.5.
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Post by MartinT on Dec 4, 2014 12:34:32 GMT
I find it easiest to create a Playlist (just make one in the Spotify app) and drop all the music you want to listen to into it. The RPi can then pick up the playlist and play it.
Reminds me: I will update the TAS playlist with your Album Choice.
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Post by pinkie on Dec 4, 2014 17:42:52 GMT
Ok guys. First numpty question. Do you want me to post my experiences here, or on another thread - like my 21st century Pinkie thread? (That wasn't the numpty question) 2 questions actually. Let me explain the problem. As previously explained, I bought a cheap usb / optical converter and plugged the laptop into the DaCapo. The results were poor, because I was playing mp3 files (and maybe other reasons). I noted that I have FLAC versions of Dave Migden. I think they were a download option with the CD. So I didn't rip them. I thought to double click on a track in the music folder to hear it on the Dac and Windows doesn't reconcile the file type. So 1) How do I play FLAC files ? Should I convert to WAV and will windows media player, itunes etc then play them? How do I convert to WAV? (This is getting more Monty Python and what the Romans did for us by the second) 2) Having got the first 3 questions out the way and called it one, How do I get more FLAC files? How do I rip to FLAC, or WAV or whatever? 3) (I give up on the "2 questions") Is there a recommended player I should use for this new venture - I have Windows 7 PC's? 4) Given that until now I have ripped CD's to get MP3's for synching to a phone to play them portably, what is the efficient way to organise digital music for both Hi res and portable use? That'll probably do for now. Don't forget, you asked for it!
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Post by MartinT on Dec 4, 2014 18:07:43 GMT
Hi Richard
Best if you start a new blog please and we'll answer your questions there. Ta!
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Post by Pinch on Dec 4, 2014 18:09:00 GMT
I can answer some of these for you Pinkie, but I don't wish to derail Martin's RPi thread. But start a new discussion and I'll be right along
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Post by John on Dec 4, 2014 18:09:29 GMT
Good to create your own blog No need to convert FLAC to WAV I suggest just get used to using files before worrying to much about formats Use either Exact Copy or DB Poweramp J River is a good one to use Lots of ways to organise your files You could do by alphabet, genres etc I do think you need a better converter
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Post by pinkie on Dec 4, 2014 19:33:45 GMT
Thank you John, pinch and Martin. I'll pick up on 21st century pinkie just as soon as I'm back at a proper pc.
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Post by MartinT on Dec 4, 2014 21:13:06 GMT
Richard - as it looks like a blog already, I have moved 21st century Pinkie to the Blogs section for you.
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