Hi Ken,

Quote Originally Posted by Qwin View Post
To say the Pi is a cheep option is misleading (not that you said that) because you need all the additional hardware for it to function. Talk of tablets, smart phones, , NAS and "your Network" implies you have to have all this kit to play music, the Pi wont do anything on its own.
Of course. I took it as a given that anyone with the wherewithal to access the Internet from home (and thus post here) would already have a Wi-Fi network (router) and a device to use the Internet with, i.e. a laptop, PC or a smart phone, so none of that was factored into the cost equation I quoted. In terms of operating the Pi, a tablet would take the place of a laptop or smart phone, or vice versa - you don't need all three.

The NAS is simply a music storage device, which contains hard-drives where the music is stored. One could also use a USB drive. The latter is a cheaper option, but not as good. The former was included in the 'less than £350' total price I quoted in my OP.

Therefore, presuming that one has a home Wi-Fi network (landline) and either a laptop or a smart phone, which I'd imagine would apply to the majority of members, £350 for a truly top-notch music source is an UTTER BARGAIN. How much did you spend on your CDP or turntable? The Pi (and IQ-Audio) DAC combo is capable of competing with those, sonically, or significantly outperforming them!!

I am presuming the Pi does not have wifi or internet access and this is done through a networked device?
Of course, as outlined above.

I don't own any of this kit, so it IS expensive for me to set up (I dont even have a land line).
How do you manage to post here then if you don't have access to Wi-Fi?

Don't know how you cope without a landline, mate, as I couldn't be doing with having to use a mobile phone all the time to take and receive calls. Each to his or her own, though.

Yes the real costs of FBA are high....
Not at all, unless you don't already own a laptop and/or smart phone and a home Wi-Fi network, and consider £350, for a high-end music source, as "high".

...and the ongoing cost of updating hardware/software to keep pace and avoid obsolescence, mean it continues to be a drain after the initial set up and you aint bought any tunes yet.
In terms of the latter, you don't need to buy any tunes - simply rip your existing CD or vinyl collection to hard-drive(s) and use that. You may even finds it sounds better! As for the cost of updating hardware or software, in order to avoid obsolescence, for me, time will tell, as I've just gotten into FBA.

However, even if I had to scrap the DAC and buy another more up to date one (which probably wouldn't be necessary), it only cost me £32, and the Pi, £40, so hardly the end of the world.

The most likely scenario will be that any updates/upgrades will either be retrofittable to the existing devices and/or software controlled, and when it comes to the Pi, considering the charitable ethos of the company who produces it, probably free.

Honestly mate, you're painting a rather negative and unrealistic picture of the Pi, and what's involved to buy a ticket for the ride! If it was as difficult or as expensive as you've portrayed, I wouldn't have done it. Simples

Marco.