'Analog Dinosaur' succumbs to the joys of FBA : enter Raspberry Pi 2/IQ-Audio DAC+!!

[Krisbee]

Would also be interested in knowing if the Pi can do USB out (or rather, **how** to do it) as I have an asynchronous USB receiver board fitted in my DAC ... though have to say the Digi+ is doing rather well with SPDIF. There **is** a very small difference in presentation between the Digi+ and my Audio Note CDT2/II transport but I'd be hard pressed to say which is better!

CAN IT?

If you can play audio files via your MAC when it is connected to the USB input of your main DAC without the need to use additional drivers on your MAC, then the Rpi should recognise the “asynchronous USB receiver board” fitted to your main DAC.

The Rpi needs to see your “asynchronous USB receiver board” as a “USB audio class 2” device. If your board happens to be based on an XMOS chip, for example, then it should be recognised.

HOW TO?

1. Connect USB cable between Rpi and DAC. ( Rpi should auto detect your USB DAC and load the required sound module)

2. Select USB audio device for output – MENU > MPD > Audio Output - Save & Apply

[montesquieu]

CAN IT?

If you can play audio files via your MAC when it is connected to the USB input of your main DAC without the need to use additional drivers on your MAC, then the Rpi should recognise the “asynchronous USB receiver board” fitted to your main DAC.

The Rpi needs to see your “asynchronous USB receiver board” as a “USB audio class 2” device. If your board happens to be based on an XMOS chip, for example, then it should be recognised.

HOW TO?

1. Connect USB cable between Rpi and DAC. ( Rpi should auto detect your USB DAC and load the required sound module)

2. Select USB audio device for output – MENU > MPD > Audio Output - Save & Apply

Thanks, I'll have a go but using Rune Audio I don't see a USB DAC option under audio output, though I didn't see a Digi+ option either till I edited config.txt so I'll have a look there.

The board is a bit of an odd one (Musiland) it works great with a PC laptop but they never got their act together on Mac (there was never a working driver).

[AlanS]

Success! I managed to edit the config.txt file on Rune Audio to enable the Digi+ board, am getting sound out now.

I'll go back at some point and see if any of the above helps with Volumio but for now it's working quite happily with Rune Audio.

Funnily enough the SPDIF output on the RPi is connected via a length of ANVx that probably cost more than the whole RPI setup + NAS combined.

I'll compare sound with £3k's worth of Audio Note transport later, but they are of course doing very different things, in particular this gives me access to a whole bunch of FLAC files that I haven't otherwise been able to play.

Relieved for you. It was quite a struggle. What pointed you to the config.txt file?

[Marco]

Hi Alan,

You have a PM. Cheers!

Marco.

[AlanS]

Btw, Alan, on another issue, regarding Spotify, I carried out a fresh install of Volumio and have now managed to get it to appear on the 'Browse' menu, along with my NAS and Webradio.

However, although Spotify is listed, it is still 'inactive', as I can't actually use it to access my Spotify account. How did you manage to get Spotify to work, with Volumio, once you got it to appear in the 'Browse' menu?

Marco.

I got it to work by entering a device username I had recently got from Spotiy and a newly set password.

I have always used a Facebook account to open Spotify but that doesn't work of course, so a device username was obtained.

Entered those, rebooted and it was away. I like the fact that as well as it giving your your playlists (if you use them) the search also searches the whole of Spotify. Rune doesn't do that.

[AlanS]

Indeed, but do bear in mind that what I'm "enthusing" about is simply its sound quality (which given the price is phenomenal), as this is after all a hi-fi forum. Plus, there is plenty of help available here now (and elsewhere on other forums) to collectively assist newbies and the 'technically challenged' to overcome most problems.

Therefore, all in all, considering the huge sonic and musical benefits that can be had, I don't think there's any good reason for folk to be scared of 'dipping their toes into the Pi pool'. With a wee bit of effort, you will be amply rewarded!



Marco.

So you are only enthusing about the sound quality? I could be confused how folks would dissociate the sound from the source creating the sound.

Wee bit of effort. I am seeing a lot of effort and struggle from those with wet feet so far.

We'll wait and see what happens when say 100 PI-DAC+s land this week eh?

[Marco]

I got it to work by entering a device username I had recently got from Spotiy and a newly set password.

I have always used a Facebook account to open Spotify but that doesn't work of course, so a device username was obtained.

Entered those, rebooted and it was away.

Ok, thanks for that. Trouble is, I've already done all of that, with no joy (including entering a device username and password, which I got from Spotify). Those details have also been tested as working, by the fact that I can use them to log into my Spotify account (without the assistance of Facebook), and operate the service, externally, out with of Volumio.

Yet when I try to access it, via Volumio (using the same details, which have been stored and saved in the System section), and click on 'Spotify' in the Browse menu (the same as I would to play music stored on my NAS), all that happens is I'm taken to a page that says 'Starred' - and if I click on that, nothing happens!

Any ideas? How do you actually get music from Spotify, by going through Volumio? At the moment it seems as if it's there ready to be used, but somehow needs 'prompting'.....

Marco.

[Krisbee]

Thanks, I'll have a go but using Rune Audio I don't see a USB DAC option under audio output, though I didn't see a Digi+ option either till I edited config.txt so I'll have a look there.

The board is a bit of an odd one (Musiland) it works great with a PC laptop but they never got their act together on Mac (there was never a working driver).

Hmm, maybe not Linux compatible then? Assuming you used SSH to connnect to your RPi in order to edit that "config.txt" , then you can use these commands as root on your RPi to see if the USB DAC connection is recognised:

lsusb

Is your USB DAC device listed? - I'd guess not.

lsmod | grep audio

Is "snd_usb_audio" in the list? - Probably not.

[Marco]

So you are only enthusing about the sound quality? I could be confused how folks would dissociate the sound from the source creating the sound.

Wee bit of effort. I am seeing a lot of effort and struggle from those with wet feet so far.

We'll wait and see what happens when say 100 PI-DAC+s land this week eh?

Sure. At the end of the day, as with any other additions to my system, all I can do is report on what's new that I consider is good. That's what a forum is for. In that respect, my eulogising of the RPi is no different to that of my eulogising of a new cartridge or set of cables. It's all about sonic performance (and 'SPPV value'), not necessarily ease of use.

In terms of the latter, folks will discover that for themselves, if or when they try whatever it is I'm recommending. In that respect, those who've successfully managed to set up and use the RPi/IQ-Audio DAC combo have all reported excellent results, which ultimately is what matters!

Exercising patience and perseverance in life always pays dividends

Marco.

[The Black Adder]

Righto...

Not got the Dac board as yet but I decided to fire the Pi up and sort out the settings etc.

So far... er so good with no sound... lol

Volumio is working in my browser, plugged the USB drive in and it's updated with the file list. All files are visible and playable, obviously with no sound at the mo.