View Full Version : Raspberry PI as a CD player
Many months back I upgraded the PI board to a 3b+ (didn't know the 4 was coming out...)
So using the IQAudio DAC+ was very happy.
Noticed in the pluggins area that you can use the free Nanosound CD plugin so dug out an old Freecom CD/DVD writer and plugged it into a USB port on the PI.
Blow me down with a feather - not only does it work but sound pretty good too :)
For $31 you can get a key to allow you to extract the CD audio which I may do next.
Anyone else had a go?
I've a spare cd external drive I could try.
Go for it.
Forgot to mention using Volumio as the player software.
Cool, I wonder if I can get this working with my DigiOne Player... would be a bit of a game changer, ultra-low jitter and proper impedance matching from a CD transport costing peanuts.
Just got it working as a player.
Sounds pretty decent I think
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190719/d5dcedeff998ec73f1d449bd8d587152.jpg
Cool, I wonder if I can get this working with my DigiOne Player... would be a bit of a game changer, ultra-low jitter and proper impedance matching from a CD transport costing peanuts.
im using a digione.
im using a digione.
Excellent, time for me to move to Volumio then, and plug in my CD drive.
AJSki2fly
19-07-2019, 16:37
Just tried it with RPI 2, HiFiBerry and an Apple CD/DVD writer, two issues
1. Does not power Apple CD/DVD writer
2. Nanosound CD installed OK and initially sound was fine from Radio and NAS, whoever after trying the CD/DVD player it then failed, result no sound, even after installing the plugin.
So to resolve it I have had to download Volumio clean and reload onto Micro SD and set up from scratch. :doh:
So it might be best to try on a spare micro SD first.
Just tried it with RPI 2, HiFiBerry and an Apple CD/DVD writer, two issues
1. Does not power Apple CD/DVD writer
2. Nanosound CD installed OK and initially sound was fine from Radio and NAS, whoever after trying the CD/DVD player it then failed, result no sound, even after installing the plugin.
So to resolve it I have had to download Volumio clean and reload onto Micro SD and set up from scratch. :doh:
So it might be best to try on a spare micro SD first.
Sorry you had issues - the external DVD drive I used needs power to function (not from the USB) so didn't have the issue that you have seen.
Shovel_Knight
19-07-2019, 17:25
I think Apple external CD/DVD drive can be powered only by certain Apple devices
Mine is a big LG unit. I bought 2 to use with my pcs years ago but had them stored. Fortunately I kept them. The one I pulled is great. And yes it's got its own psu
AJSki2fly
19-07-2019, 18:53
I think Apple external CD/DVD drive can be powered only by certain Apple devices
I have checked and quite correct, I should have done so at the start.:doh:
The Raspberry Pi cannot power the vast majority of external drives, so they need their own PSU, or a powered USB hub.
The Raspberry Pi cannot power the vast majority of external drives, so they need their own PSU, or a powered USB hub.
You can increase the current output via the USB outputs from 0.6 to 1.2 and this will make the majority of USB HD units work (not those that come with there own power supply) . This is a software change and is available on most software flashes such as Max2play and PiCore .
Put Volumio on last night and it’s a slick UI, best I’ve used yet on Pi. System seems solid and responsive, sound is the same as my DietPi / Allo GUI software. I use Mconnect to control TIDAL.
Installed nanosound, but waiting on a Freecom Classic external drive as I want a drawer unit rather than wrestling with my slim drive. :)
Anyone suggest a drive they have tried and been successful with?
The one I have won't read, I think it's because it has 2 USBs, one for data and one for power. I thought it would work because it works with one USB on my Mac but it doesn't work on the Pi even with 2 USBs plugged in.
Anyone suggest a drive they have tried and been successful with?
The one I have won't read, I think it's because it has 2 USBs, one for data and one for power. I thought it would work because it works with one USB on my Mac but it doesn't work on the Pi even with 2 USBs plugged in.
I’ll let you know how I get on with my Freecom Classic, which has a separate PSU. These are quality German units, very heavy compared to my others.
Anyone suggest a drive they have tried and been successful with?
The one I have won't read, I think it's because it has 2 USBs, one for data and one for power. I thought it would work because it works with one USB on my Mac but it doesn't work on the Pi even with 2 USBs plugged in.
Have you tried plugging the power USB into a separate 5v supply?
Have you tried plugging the power USB into a separate 5v supply?I haven't actually, never thought of that. Definitely worth a go!
Nanosound is great. Sounds the same, or maybe even a bit better, than streaming via TIDAL. I know there can be watermarking and normalisation, and ripping variance via streaming services vs. CD. The drive is silent in use, no excessive spinning up, but such a thing is a more software related issue, meaning that Volumio / Nanosound is doing a good job.
I’d put this up against any CD transport full stop.
Was quite intrigued by this thread and the option of playing CDs via the RPI - haven't used Volumio since V1 having moved to Moode and preferring the interface/performance so decided to kill two birds...
Having gone through the rigermerole setting it up this evening have to say I am not overly impressed so far. I found CD playback not brilliant - even compared to using the same drive though iTunes on my Mac.
Setting up Volumio was a bit of a pain to start with. I tried using the WiFi Hotspot Volumio suggest on their website but the default password they gave simply didn't work so had to resort to pulling the ethernet cable from my Mac and doing it the old fashioned way - also not straightforward (sigh) but managed to get wifi set up (more by accident than design)
Nanasound took a bit over half an hour to install. I used a powered Lite-On DVD drive I had in a drawer and initially found the Nansound interface all a bit cumbersome and clumsy to use - more the fault of Volumio's infuriating screen systems than the Nanosound plugin per-se. Playback quality was quite frankly disappointing - muddy and booming bass and the rest just a bit too smeared for my liking. Also got frequent dropouts and tracks simply stopping for no reason. Playback of the same tunes ripped to AIFF and played through Moode was far better but even (as I said) iTunes CD playback on my Mac using the same drive was much better.
Not something I'll be repeating ..... :(
Hi Mikmas, are you using a dedicated SPDIF or USB HAT with your Raspberry Pi? I really can’t tell much if any difference between streaming FLAC and playing WAV on my setup.
Also, you seem to have general network issues that are resulting in audible glitches and dropouts. Better to use hardwired and a good wired router where possible IMHO.
Hi Mikmas, are you using a dedicated SPDIF or USB HAT with your Raspberry Pi? I really can’t tell much if any difference between streaming FLAC and playing WAV on my setup.
Also, you seem to have general network issues that are resulting in audible glitches and dropouts. Better to use hardwired and a good wired router where possible IMHO.
There are absolutely no problems with the RPi and the network normally or with file playback so don't see this as the issue at all.
Also can't see how wifi or ethernet would play any role at all given that files are sent via USB cable from a CD drive and then to an amp via an Allo Boss DAC hat and analogue RCA cables :scratch:
Sorry you had a faff with getting to try it and also the results for you ended up being worse than your other configuration.
I found the intstallation straight forward (took about 15 minutes to install the Nanosound plug-in) and the process of playing the media again straight forward.
The sound I was hearing was also very similar to the ripped flac I had made of the cd I played, with no issues with the replay (worked from the first track to the last with no issues)
Wonder if the CD/DVD drive was the culprit? (and your aversion to Volumio............:lol:)
Sorry you had a faff with getting to try it and also the results for you ended up being worse than your other configuration.
......
Wonder if the CD/DVD drive was the culprit? (and your aversion to Volumio............:lol:)
No need to apologise Andy (unless you wrote the software :lol: )
Always wondered whether connecting a CD player to the RPi was a possibility so I needed to itch that scratch :)
Shame it didn't work out ... but nothing ventured etc.
Not really too bothered as I'm fine with the quality of ripped file playback as it is.
DVD drive could be the culprit I suppose but strange that it performs flawlessly when connected to my Mac :scratch:
As to Volumio - I doubt I'll be switching from Moode any day soon but again, only find out if you try these things .....
Interesting postscript less anyone has been put off trying this due to my whinging :rolleyes:
Reading through the Nanosound website for any clues or hints I discovered that they recommend a minimum 16gb micro SD for the complete installation (Volumio+Nanosound).
I used an 8GB card I had kicking about ... so this may be the cause of the dropouts (programme struggling with inadequate memory???)
Will give it another whirl with a bigger card sometime soon and report back :thumbsup:
Cracked it !!! :) :) :)
The micro card was indeed the main culprit - that and the buffer settings.
Increasing the card to 16GB made quite a dramatic difference to the playback quality - bass is now tight and direct and the rest is much clearer - more cohesive as a whole by quite a large margin :thumbsup:
Still very occasional (and short) dropouts - but this was cleared up by increasing the Audio Buffer from 2 to 4 MB and 'Buffer before Play' from 10% to 20% (in Volumio Playback settings)
Would now definitely agree with Neil's comment earlier that this combo beats quite a few dedicated CDPs I have heard in my time - quite noticeably!!
Most excellent result - and many thanks to Andy (gninnam) for the heads up on this :thumbsup: : :)
Phew - glad you sussed it.
I should mention that I had tweaked the buffer settings many years ago and use a 32gb card so for me it worked out of the box!!
Woohoo, glad you sorted it Mikmas! Was a bit of a head-scratcher as to why you had issues, but makes sense now. Good sleuthing. :)
just as a bit of a follow up ..
I had some hassles getting the IR controller plug-in to work with v2.599 (I think Volumio are working on a fix) but once sorted I have to say this is a great combo and the sound quality is top notch.
The Lite-On drive I was using turned out to be a bit noisy in operation (and bulky) so I sourced a far smaller self-powered Sony drive off the bay that is practically silent:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SONY-DRX-S70U-R-External-Slim-DVD-CD-Rewriteable-DRIVE/223613895375?hash=item34106d42cf:g:fswAAOSwEAtdNNx 7
All in all very happy with this development (bar one or two very minor niggles with the interface).
... and a piccie of the Sony in place under the RPi :
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48511120797_16f08f7260_z.jpg
Happy coincidence that the drive is pretty much the same width as the RPi case :)
Did a few trials of cd v file, albeit files from audirvana to pi and felt the files won.
Wasn't a lot in it but maybe more relaxed and clear... Less strident.
Just my take
Hooked up a cheap LG DVD spinner VIA IFI IUSB3 Nano (spare) 2Qute DAC, PI3 Allo Digone signature (Longdog clean side PSU)
I used the IUSB3 just to keep the DVD player off of the PI's VBus.
Made a small but nice difference clarity wise.
I Also tried an old freecom DVD unit but it sounded noisy like a jet aircraft taking off during playback. must be a duffer:rolleyes:
Sounding Pretty Good for such an inexpensive add on.
Nice work guy's.:)
Hooked up a cheap LG DVD spinner VIA IFI IUSB3 Nano (spare) 2Qute DAC, PI3 Allo Digone signature (Longdog clean side PSU)
I used the IUSB3 just to keep the DVD player off of the PI's VBus.
Made a small but nice difference clarity wise.
I Also tried an old freecom DVD unit but it sounded noisy like a jet aircraft taking off during playback. must be a duffer:rolleyes:
Sounding Pretty Good for such an inexpensive add on.
Nice work guy's.:)I've got a ifi usb3. I might try it
I've got a ifi usb3. I might try it
Worth a go.
I had my IUSB3 lying around after I switched from USB to SPDIF.
works well to my ears.
Regen should also do pretty much the same thing
Bit the bullet and paid for the Nanosound license (£27) to try the ripping feature.
So - to use is a bit of a faff but nothing too bad!
Go into settings (in Volumio) then choose plugins then the Nanosounds CD plugin.
From here choose the format you want the files in (FLAC or WAV and also if you want it upsampled - I left it at none)
Choose the location to store the files (default is the SD card) - I set it to my NAS drive.
With a CD inserted and still in the settings page for Nanosound, click on the extract the whole CD.
Takes around 40 minutes and it also has a button to show you how it is progressing.
Main bug bare is that the folder it creates to hold the files is not the artist/album name nut the date and time(so just changed it in the NAS drive).
Files played back fine with no issues - not carried out a back-to-back test with the original CD as yet.
mr sneff
15-08-2019, 13:38
That all sounds a bit of a faff. I'm impressed with the playback from a cheap DVD drive, but it's not quite as straightforward as loading a CD player and hitting 'play'. Have you tried the upsampling facility?
A faff it is but the whole solution costs peanuts compared to an all in one player, ripper thingy you can buy.
Not tried the upsampling yet (been busy this evening) but might try over the weekend and report back.
Did a few trials of cd v file, albeit files from audirvana to pi and felt the files won.
Wasn't a lot in it but maybe more relaxed and clear... Less strident.
Just my take
I agree Grant - there's very little in it.
Still find it a very useful, cheap and easy addon even though I usually stick to the stored file versions for ease of use.
However, I have a lot more CDs than I can be bothered to rip and store so for me it saves the hassle for the occasions when I get a yen to listen to something other than my favourite stuff (or pick up a bargain from the charity shop...)
So - I will send an email off to Nanosound.
Set the upsampling to 176.4k and let it rip (had already ripped the same CD to default (44.1k).
First thing was the file sizes were the same.
When selected in Volumio and played both showed as Flac, at 44.1k and 16bit - looks like the upsampling didn't work :(
:doh:
Just checked the website again and I misunderstood the upsampling.
It doesn't work on ripping CD's but only on playback!!
So - will try and find a spare hour so I can listen to a few tracks in the different upsampling modes and see if it adds, takeaway or stays the same.
A few months passed and I was not overly impressed with the Nanosound way.
Main issue was I was hoping to reduce my box count and just use the PI for streaming/CD playing/ripping but I had too many issues with it not being able to play some CD's (or rip either).
The support I got from them was not too good either so ended up not using it much (glad it didn't cost a fortune).
Signed up for the great deal from Tidal (£1.99 for 120 days) the other week and have enjoyed it so far so wanted to play it via the PI but you have to pay Volumio for this.
Today I thought why not as it's only £25 for the year and again, impressed.
But, you also now get CD replay and ripping facilities. On some of the CD's Nanosound couldn't read, the Volumio solution works a treat and the CD interface is so much easier and neater so a complete win-win.
Winner as I found Nanosound quite clunky, but you can use Airplay to Volumio from various apps like Tidal and Spotify on the free version, which is lossless for 16/44.1 files.
Lawrence001
07-12-2019, 22:33
I play Tidal Hifi free on my Pi with Squeezelite.
Have to say as good as my pi, digione is, I never use it now.
After the trial of roon has finished I fear I may never again.
It's more convenient although dearer.
If you use audirvana it can run tidal. In fact it runs it or qobuz very well, and old volumio versions can run av.
Not CD related but added a DSI connected 7 inch touchscreen to my PI (now running a Pi4) and it works a treat (sorry about the crap pics):
https://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a373/gninnamag/Hifi/RPI/20200225_192842_zpssklnl0s9.jpg
https://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a373/gninnamag/Hifi/RPI/20200225_192850_zpsmqsngzka.jpg
https://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a373/gninnamag/Hifi/RPI/20200225_192900_zps6wjc0ni9.jpg
Just need to design a case for it and print it out!
Better pic hopefully.
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200225/7a7e8464411d06f16ca3e29460e8872d.jpg
Yatsushiro
26-02-2020, 09:23
Not CD related but added a DSI connected 7 inch touchscreen to my Pi...!
What screen is it?
Its a "OSOYOO 7 Inch DSI Touch Screen LCD Display 800x480 for Raspberry Pi 4 3 3B+ 2" from Amazon
Decided to house the screen and PI in a case so dusted off the 3D printer and this is the first draft.
Repositioned the PI to the edge of the base so the phono and power sockets face backwards.
Network and USB ports on the left.
Bought a cable to go from the PI to the screen but turns out the screen is not using the standard format so 'tweaked' the cable I bought and now all is good as can be seen below:
https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/a373/gninnamag/20210123_150905.jpg?width=1920&height=1080&fit=bounds (https://app.photobucket.com/u/gninnamag/a/9b8522d7-f8b4-4663-bf0e-4415760b9641/p/79d07a67-e20d-43a8-9a00-75fefd45412e)
https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/a373/gninnamag/20210123_150922.jpg?width=1920&height=1080&fit=bounds (https://app.photobucket.com/u/gninnamag/a/9b8522d7-f8b4-4663-bf0e-4415760b9641/p/6ba2862a-0270-45ca-921e-171a15966c6e)
Will design a new case which will allow me to easily add sides and back.
Updated the DAC to an R2R HAT and I have noticed an improvement in the SQ so all good (although it costs nearly ten times more than the IQ Audio DAC+ I had in before).
Currently listening to the new Foo Fighters album through it and sounding very nice indeed :)
https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/a373/gninnamag/Tidal_6.jpg?width=1920&height=1080&fit=bounds
Currently working on a case to hold the 7inch screen, PI and DAC and this is a rough first pass (3D printed - designed in FreeCAD) - shows the new R2R DAC:
https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/a373/gninnamag/20210130_152901.jpg?width=1920&height=1080&fit=bounds
https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/a373/gninnamag/20210130_152829.jpg?width=1920&height=1080&fit=bounds
A pic of the front view (the screen still has the protective cover over it - picture taken when the IQ DAC+ was still mounted hence the cables coming out of the side!)
https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/a373/gninnamag/20210123_150905.jpg?width=1920&height=1080&fit=bounds
Nice setup. What version of Volumio are you using, looks very different to the last time I tried it?
Cheers - Volumio is now at version 2.861 released December last year
used to use my rpi with volumio as a cd player with a cd rom attached and a program download. was fairly good.. alas my rpi wont connct with my pcs now. no idea why as it shows in router etc. i dont really use it now anyway. it needs unplugged and moved on i guess. Roon and all theabilities of my pathos have made it redundant.
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