Quality of Raspberry Pi4 USB For Streaming

[Berwhale]

I connect with my laptop computer to the PiCorePlayer wirelessly and use the computer to navigate Qobuz and control playback. I have seen the screen setups but i would need to get the correct header attachment for the picoreplayer. I kinda like sitting on my couch and not having to get up to touch the screen to change music.

Nothing wrong with that. I also run PlexAmp Headless on a RPi4 in my bedside setup and control from PlexAmp on my phone or tablet. My PiCorePlayer, with the touchscreen, is in my garage where it's nice to not have to get my phone out.

 

[Martin]

You could add a nice screen to that setup... https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...hscreen-pi-based-picoreplayer-streamer.42228/

I had a screen on mine but found it more convenient to use iPeng on my iPhone to control piCorePlayer.

Martin

 

[obsessive9119]

The streamer actually makes sense in a context of networked audio .

Have server in a closet serve music to all rooms in your house even synchronised at times controlled by an app on your pad or phone.

If your living alone in one room you can just use your computer or phone directly .

Also i have a stationary computer it wont lug that around.

You can also setup things like volumio to read from an atached hardrive again controlled by a phone or tablet?

It was never intended as some kind of soundqality enhancement?? Then tou got i wrong

100% - the advantage of the WiiM is convenience, not SQ as such.

I used to connect my phone or tablet to my DAC and stream from my DLNA server using Neutron, then I replaced it with a WiiM Pro - mostly because I wanted to be able to easily EQ streaming services.

Now I have 4 WiiMs around the house, and being able to link them and play the same thing everywhere is awesome.

 

[AndreaT]

Could someone explain to me, as if I were a child, what does this do? At what point in the chain of sound reproduction does it sit? What (push) Roon?

 

[Xombul]

Since Pi4, USB ports are perfectly transparent, there is not debate. My point is about the value for money for rooExtend product : MoOde, Volumio, etc. do the same or even better (like EQ) for free.

 

[amirm]

Could someone explain to me, as if I were a child, what does this do? At what point in the chain of sound reproduction does it sit? What (push) Roon?

You connect a DAC to it using standard USB. Then put it on the network and Roon on any other platform/OS, will see the DAC and let you push content to it as it were a local DAC.

 

[Mnyb]

Could someone explain to me, as if I were a child, what does this do? At what point in the chain of sound reproduction does it sit? What (push) Roon?

It’s ”endpoint” in a Roon system it s connected to your network and to your HiFi . The Roon server sits somewhere else in the house and is also connected to your network .you control the music with an app on your tablet or phone or a computer screen

 

[Mnyb]

It’s ”endpoint” in a Roon system it s connected to your network and to your HiFi . The Roon server sits somewhere else in the house and is also connected to your network .you control the music with an app on your tablet or phone or a computer screen

But a pi is bit more versatile than that it can do many things audio . The point of the test is to show that it has no impact on soundquality and can safely be used in any audio context you whiz to use it .

ROON happens to be a simple environment for amir to test in as he already uses ROON ?

 

[Vuki]

I'm using Rpi for audio (and video) for more than 10y. Currently I have 2 Rpi4s with Picoreplayer. Pcp is great sw enabling Rpi to be used as a LMS server, Squeezeplayer or both. LMS can stream local files (Usb disk or Nas) or be endpoint for any of popular music services (spotify, tidal, deezer, qobuz...) or internet radio.
As a player it offers hires upsampling, dsd playback and even sofisticated DSP via CamillaDSP tool. All that easily managed via web based interface on pc or smartphone.

 

[JakeK]

RPi 3+ had a reported issue due sharing ETHERNET interrupt with USB. I don't know how this actually impact reproduction since I overcomed the problem using Wi-Fi connection (not far from the Wi-Fi router or reapeater).

I didn't know about this (or I had forgotten) and I was thinking about using my RPi 3 based streamer with a new DAC via USB. It's currently on Ethernet as that's easier to set up and more reliable. It looks like I need to upgrade the Pi to a 4 if I want to change from a DAC HAT on that to an external DAC.

Since Pi4, USB ports are perfectly transparent, there is not debate. My point is about the value for money for rooExtend product : MoOde, Volumio, etc. do the same or even better (like EQ) for free.

Worth noting that this test of the RPi USB audio output only applies to the RPi4.

 

[Vuki]

I didn't know about this (or I had forgotten) and I was thinking about using my RPi 3 based streamer with a new DAC via USB. It's currently on Ethernet as that's easier to set up and more reliable. It looks like I need to upgrade the Pi to a 4 if I want to change from a DAC HAT on that to an external DAC.


Worth noting that this test of the RPi USB audio output only applies to the RPi4.

Rpi3 USB audio test

 

[WiFiHiFi]

I'm using Rpi 3+ with Volumio (my primary system with a TOPPING D70) and Moode (my office system with a TOPPING E30II) achieving high quality streaming from a NAS storage (standard 24 bit/96kHz FLAC, but also DSD).
RPi 3+ had a reported issue due sharing ETHERNET interrupt with USB. I don't know how this actually impact reproduction since I overcomed the problem using Wi-Fi connection (not far from the Wi-Fi router or reapeater).
Moode and Volumio are free (if I well remember Volumio has also payed options).
Moode comes with prametric equalizer.

I too use a Raspberry Pi (4 in my case) with moode. Whilst it does have a parametric eq, it is limited to 12 bands and peak type only (no notch, shelves low/high pass etc) and applies to all channels. However it does include CamillaDSP, which gives you full customisation for parametric eq along with convolution filtering.

 

[EJ3]

But a pi is bit more versatile than that it can do many things audio . The point of the test is to show that it has no impact on soundquality and can safely be used in any audio context you whiz to use it .

ROON happens to be a simple environment for amir to test in as he already uses ROON ?

My question: s there a use case if the only streaming done is from within your home audio system? No audio signal of any type comes from somewhere other than the stereo system itself.

 

[WiFiHiFi]

My question: s there a use case if the only streaming done is from within your home audio system? No audio signal of any type comes from somewhere other than the stereo system itself.

absolutely it is.. Streaming is not limited to "Streaming services" such as Spotify, Tidal Apple music etc - but a way of sending "locally" stored music on a NAS for example to multiple devices in the home.

 

[amirm]

My question: s there a use case if the only streaming done is from within your home audio system? No audio signal of any type comes from somewhere other than the stereo system itself.

Yes. Your own music library from any source such as a computer or NAS can be sent over the network to your stereo using these types of digital to digital streamers.

 

[ObjectiveSubjectivist]

Just get rpi4 and burn https://ropieee.org/ on card.
You are welcome.

 

[ObjectiveSubjectivist]

I'm using Rpi for audio (and video) for more than 10y. Currently I have 2 Rpi4s with Picoreplayer. Pcp is great sw enabling Rpi to be used as a LMS server, Squeezeplayer or both. LMS can stream local files (Usb disk or Nas) or be endpoint for any of popular music services (spotify, tidal, deezer, qobuz...) or internet radio.
As a player it offers hires upsampling, dsd playback and even sofisticated DSP via CamillaDSP tool. All that easily managed via web based interface on pc or smartphone.

Yup LMS is also a great free option.
With material skin it also looks nice.

 

[EJ3]

Yes. Your own music library from any source such as a computer or NAS can be sent over the network to your stereo using these types of digital to digital streamers.

Dang, now the up coming plans get more life to them.
Eventually...I'll have to implement them. More WORK!
But, since the reward is easier pleasure...

 

[DrCWO]

My point is about the value for money for rooExtend product : MoOde, Volumio, etc. do the same or even better (like EQ) for free.

This test wasn't a test for rooExtend, but rather a test of the Raspberry Pi's USB port to determine whether it affects the audio quality.

That's exactly why I sent @amirm the Pi and the rooExtend box to test. As the manufacturer of rooExtend, it's therefore only logical to send the Pi with this software. But he could have also performed the test with Ropieee or other streaming software – with the same result.

rooExtend is designed exclusively for Roon. EQ isn't necessary, as Roon provides all of this.
The focus of rooExtend is its Roon extensions (http://diy.rooextend.com). Using it as a streamer is an additional option, but not the primary reason for its existence. Comparing it with other streaming solutions is therefore like comparing a car with a bicycle. You can drive with both, but a car can do even more.

Best DrCWO

 

[Karlinamillion]

This test wasn't a test for rooExtend, but rather a test of the Raspberry Pi's USB port to determine whether it affects the audio quality.

That's exactly why I sent @amirm the Pi and the rooExtend box to test. As the manufacturer of rooExtend, it's therefore only logical to send the Pi with this software. But he could have also performed the test with Ropieee or other streaming software – with the same result.

rooExtend is designed exclusively for Roon. EQ isn't necessary, as Roon provides all of this.
The focus of rooExtend is its Roon extensions (http://diy.rooextend.com). Using it as a streamer is an additional option, but not the primary reason for its existence. Comparing it with other streaming solutions is therefore like comparing a car with a bicycle. You can drive with both, but a car can do even more.

Best DrCWO

So, excuse potentially daft question, are we saying the RPi usb out, with any mature software, (picore, volumio, moode etc) will give identical, or near as damn it, performance?