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Post by MartinT on Dec 8, 2014 13:28:36 GMT
And DaCapo has no native USB input. Raspberry Pi's output I believe is USB.
Follow more of what we've been saying and you'll see that many of us have bought either an S/PDIF add on board or an onboard DAC. The RPi's USB is the least preferred option. |
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Post by MartinT on Dec 8, 2014 13:37:58 GMT
...to add to what Chris just said, yes I have a HiFiBerry Digi+ add-on board which only cost about €30 or so.
Chris (Strat): I have compared RPi USB output into the Caiman-II DAC compared with optical S/PDIF. No contest, the optical wins hands-down. Stan has done a lot of work on the optical input and it shows in the sophistication of the sound quality.
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Post by Stratmangler on Dec 8, 2014 14:19:44 GMT
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Post by Stratmangler on Dec 8, 2014 14:29:39 GMT
I don't know that I have. As I said above, I use the disc images - taken via a PS3 - so single, very large, ISO files. It's then parsed within JRiver, with stereo and multichannel layers, and registers the resolution, in some cases (not all) as 32/384. Here's some info from the JRiver forums: yabb.jriver.com/interact/index.php?topic=72180.0Of course, I can't play files at that resolution, so downsample on the fly to 24/192. I forgot that JRiver does DSD too. I never played with it when I trialled it. I wonder if there are any user adjustable settings that you can play with - there's no need to be playing with 32bit float at 384kHz. I was intrigued by JRiver indicating that SACD ISO rips are 32/384, so I downloaded Jriver and gave it a whirl. Lo and behold, it came up with a figure indicating summat with 384kHz. Total rubbish of course. There's not enough space on a SACD disc to store all the information. Looks like JRiver is doing some nominal upsampling. It asked if I'd like to resample the file to 96kHz, which is right for the mobo on the machine in question. Anyway, itch is scratched, and JRiver has been uninstalled  |
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Post by Pinch on Dec 8, 2014 15:40:33 GMT
Looks like JRiver is doing some nominal upsampling. Yup - it's covered in the thread that I linked to. |
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Post by John on Dec 8, 2014 16:29:00 GMT
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Post by MartinT on Dec 8, 2014 18:17:24 GMT
I really wouldn't recommend that path knowing that the RPi's USB subsystem isn't the best and you're still routing all the audio through USB to get to the adapter.
Go for a Digi+ and you're routing the audio through I2S, much better for sound quality and uses fewer CPU cycles, not to mention integrates nicely onto the RPi saving an additional cable and adapter.
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Post by pinkie on Dec 10, 2014 16:21:53 GMT
The money has left my account... I opted for the HiFi Berry digiplus card, and have deferred a decision on a DAC pending a bit more research on here as to whether the HiFi Berry or Sabre is the better bet (although I might just try both). Lets get the bloody thing up and running first. I need to order some more ethernet cable and maybe a 1Gbit switch - unless 100Mb will be enough? You are a bad influence Martin - If I get behind with my work I shall set the Mrs on you |
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Post by MartinT on Dec 10, 2014 17:49:34 GMT
Hah! I shall deny all knowledge and tell her I told you to get one of these...
100Mbps is ample for streaming audio. |
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Post by pinkie on Dec 10, 2014 20:25:45 GMT
Confucious say every journey starts with one step.! Well done for taking that step Pinkie! Now you need to check that you have the appropriate drivers selected for your computer's operating system. What are you running? XP? Vista? Win7? Simply put, if it's XP then you need to download some Asio drivers, Vista and onwards it's WASAPI drivers. There are exceptions - I use an interface that has not had any WASAPI drivers written for it, so I use the Asio ones instead. Laptop OS is Win7. You then go into your media player device settings and select the Asio/WASAPI option for the interface you're driving. This will mean that the drivers the PC uses to drive your interface will be optimised, and sound quality should take a hike upward. On the ripping front you need to ensure that your rips are secure, that is bit perfect. It will be there somewhere in the settings. Otherwise your ripper will not necessarily perform an absolutely accurate rip. Speed is not of the essence here, accuracy is what counts. OK - back to this one. I am using windows 7. Jriver had defaulted to WASAPI - "realtek" What's with realtek? Are these drivers specific to software or hardware? Where would I download drivers, or are they part of windows We'll worry about ripping next... |
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Post by pinkie on Dec 10, 2014 20:34:56 GMT
Thanks John. I've read these now. Not sure its all sunk in, but hopefully if I play a bit, then go back and read again a bit more will  |
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Post by Deleted on Dec 11, 2014 9:21:19 GMT
All this sounds horribly complicated!! Can't you just load iTunes and listen to the music?
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Post by pinkie on Dec 11, 2014 9:23:17 GMT
All this sounds horribly complicated!! Can't you just load iTunes and listen to the music? Yup. Same way you could sell all your gear at a boot-fair, and do the same on a ghetto-blaster or 1970's music centre. Where's the fun in that?  |
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Post by Deleted on Dec 11, 2014 10:12:48 GMT
All this sounds horribly complicated!! Can't you just load iTunes and listen to the music? Yup. Same way you could sell all your gear at a boot-fair, and do the same on a ghetto-blaster or 1970's music centre. Where's the fun in that? Some of those are vastly under-rated by the hi-fi snobs too |
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Post by pinkie on Dec 11, 2014 13:42:41 GMT
Decided to have a quick play this lunchtime to listen to some of my Linn music (man up Richard, get used to it  ) Generally feeling very clever First - to answer my own question, the Realtek would appear to be the soundcard I have in my laptop. Plugging in the Maplins interface brings up another interface I can't remember which is the correct interface to use DaCapo. It is a WASAPI driver by default. So, the driver belongs to the interface, somehow the machine finds them for itself, and I was using the right one. Interestingly the Maplins device didn't list in the available interfaces when I plugged it in sitting on the sofa - not "latched" to the Dac. It showed when I latched it to the DAC ??Advice anyone? Yet again, I couldn't get sound out of the Dac, only from the PC speakers. I can't remember the chain of events that suddenly produced sound from the DAC, but it included trying different USB ports on the laptop, opening device manager but not actually getting round to doing anything with it. Somewhere along the way the system sounds started coming from the DAC, although the Jriver output stubbornly continued coming from the laptop speakers. I was on the Options>audio device tab, and selecting every damn device on the list. Of course, this won't be a problem with the permanent server, but tiresome at the moment. Edit: as Jriver says on the options screen "changes do not take effect until playback is stopped". This applies, even if nothing is being played back (it has taken over my laptop, so all output wants to go through JRiver now). So even with Jriver not playing anything, pressing STOP allows the new output device selected to become active. I'm learning... I'll post separately about Gizmo |
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Post by pinkie on Dec 11, 2014 13:58:40 GMT
Hey, guess who found, installed and used Gizmo?? Not such a dumb blond eh?? For those not in the know, Gizmo is a free Android app for controlling JRiver. I was drawn to find it, because when I bought the ESL63's I auditioned them on a server controlled by an ipad I was given to pick my music from. Also, there is a tab on Jriver in the "Action Window" entitled sync Handheld. I had hoped this would just make my phone control Jriver - but it must be for transferring MP3 files to a phone when you have one connected and the software properly configured. Red Herring - but it got me searching. I can't say the Jriver HELP is my favourite, and I resorted to some googling. Found and installed Gizmo, only for it to ask me for a key. This , I discovered, persevering with the help, is provided by tools>options>media network. First, tick "Use Media Network to share this library..." Then ,pick the arrow for "WebGizmo (play and control your media from a web browser)" and follow the instructions. For now I have just sat on the sofa with the laptop sat on the Pink Triangle, feeling smug that I can see my laptop library on the Galaxy Note, and control the music I hear from the Note whilst not leaving position A between the speakers. I believe, it can be used, if I set up the router / firewall, for me to access my own server stored music library on the phone from anywhere with a sufficient speed of web connection. How cool is that? It played server files on the phone via the home WiFi. LOVIN' IT! I guess I need to do some ripping and organising next. Meantime I've ordered 2 10m lengths of Cat5e - to connect the Rpi when it arrives, and to replace the mains "homeplugs" whilst I'm at it (the cable routing is adjacent - I haven't been persuaded by the noise issue, and it may speed browsing on the PC in question) I was struck once again, that this is proper HiFi. Whilst the other nights A:B with the CD player showed up the USB interface as less good, when you are just listening to it and not comparing, its more than good enough, and better than many (most) CD systems I've heard. If I could get it no better, I'd still use it. I love the control feature . And dare I say it, (come on Richard man up), some of this Linn music is rather good.  |
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Post by MartinT on Dec 11, 2014 19:00:23 GMT
One thing I found annoying with JRiver was that it messes with the PC sound settings. I got Realtek output optical (WASAPI) working, which sounds really good, but then I couldn't get any sound thereafter from my PC unless JRiver was running. Close JRiver and the PC went silent no matter what I did. I got pretty annoyed as I hate software that does that and I uninstalled it when I had really intended to purchase it. The help, as you say, is pathetic.
Shame, and one lost customer.
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Post by pinkie on Dec 13, 2014 17:29:34 GMT
It's here!! Blimey, its tiny. All parts arrived, including the Cat 5 cable - only the Digi+ card apparantly has to come by St Bernard, so should be here in time for Easter. Lets hope it hitches a ride on Santa's sleigh and gets here for Christmas. I would build it but I've been outside all day leaf clearing and pressure washing, and I am frozen to the core, so sitting by a log fire chillin' Maybe later |
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Post by pinkie on Dec 15, 2014 19:58:50 GMT
OK Yer tis built  Help! What now? Of course, that could be go back and read all the threads for help, and I'll start. But anybody joining here should note this is not "plug and play". The device comes with no guide or manual. The little SD card has preinstalled stuff on it - which appears to be at least one operating system and a readme file. The readme gives instructions for downloading a formatting tool and clicking the format button - surely this is going to wipe all I have on the SD card, Then it says extract the NOOBS zip file. Insert the sd card into your Pi and connect the power supply - your Pi will now boot into noobs and should list display a list of operating systems? On what - the perspex case? Do I need to plug a monitor in? With the HDMI cable I dont have, into my monitor with just a standard VGA socket? Keyboard anyone? OK - before I go back and start trawling, in case you guys can jump start me - Should I copy the contents of the SD card to a directory somewhere for another go later and then start following Martins procedure
- How can I access the Rpi without connecting a monitor and keyboard - can I "work it" from my PC via the network connection? How?
- How do I access an operating system screen to start giving command prompts?
I'll probably take a flyer on "yes" to Q1 and go and read the start of Raspberry Pi thread again. With shaking hand...
- List item 2
- List item 3
- List item 4
- List item 5
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Post by pinkie on Dec 15, 2014 21:21:06 GMT
Oh my giddy aunt - it f*** flipping well is (nearly) plug and play. Followed Martins excellent instructions, Put volumio formatted sd card in the device (metal contacts up!) plug in an ethernet cable, plug in a 3.5mm stereo jack for now (the dac is in a room occupied by others atm) Power up wait no more than a minute type "volumio.local/" into Firefox AND I GET A VOLUMIO on my screen, and music coming out the speakers. I'm gonna have to get the SDS drill out and route that Cat5e at the weekend. I hope the Digi+ or whatever the SPDIF card is called arrives by then. Now to get JRiver controlling it. That may be one for another night |
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