Streamer to kill the big boys for under $250
- Thread starter Blizzard
- Start date
In order for 256 to work over DoP, the hardware must support 24/705 PCM. I thought the Amanero hardware maxed out at 24/384. Which is why it's called the combo384. You should double check with him.
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I was under the impression it was an hardware limitation. But maybe not. It can do DSD 512 native. But it takes even more processing power for DoP 256 than 512 native. Acko has been trying for a while to get the 256+ support from Amanero for a while. Perhaps he's finally decided to keep with the times.
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I just picked up one of these super compact low profile USB sticks to try with the new image. It's only USB 2.0, and much slower than the other one I recommended, but it doesn't stick way out of the unit. Much sleeker look. So I'll compare boot times. Maybe since it's such a lightweight OS, there will only be a couple seconds difference in boot times anyways. Burning the image will be much slower for sure though.
PiFi – How to Network your Mac music system with the Raspberry Pi and HiFiBerry – Part 1:
http://www.hifizine.com/2015/10/pif...m-with-the-raspberry-pi-and-hifiberry-part-1/
http://www.hifizine.com/2015/10/pif...m-with-the-raspberry-pi-and-hifiberry-part-1/
Thanks for the link. It's a way to connect your DAC to a network, but a very low end way to do it. Alternative to the Airport express I guess.
Blizz, after you got the whole process down with some trials, you need to make another topic only you post in. Reading 15 pages over the span of 2 days that's mostly you arguing with some dude is a mild form of torture.
Questions.
1. Can I install the OS in the unit, and how? Do I just do it on an SSD HD that the unit has room for? (2.5")
2. How do I eliminate the need for a computer server? I take it this unit won't run the player at the same time. Can I run it on a Raspberry PI, with an HD connected to it? Ideally the unit would just have the player and the HD in it... Either way needing some computer somewhere with a lan cable is out the question for me.
3. Forgive my ignorance, I assume this player can be controlled with ones smartphone?
Questions.
1. Can I install the OS in the unit, and how? Do I just do it on an SSD HD that the unit has room for? (2.5")
2. How do I eliminate the need for a computer server? I take it this unit won't run the player at the same time. Can I run it on a Raspberry PI, with an HD connected to it? Ideally the unit would just have the player and the HD in it... Either way needing some computer somewhere with a lan cable is out the question for me.
3. Forgive my ignorance, I assume this player can be controlled with ones smartphone?
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Hi Folsom,
The point of this unit is to be a streamer device for HQplayer/Roon. You don't need to install a hard drive because the OS runs off the USB stick. It's just meant to be a simple, dumb, but very good sounding network interface for USB DAC's Much like the many other streamers on the market, but only with HQplayer NAA support. It could be built to do many other things, but then there wouldn't be anything special about it as it would just sound like the other streamers on the market in the $2000-5000 range.
You will need to look into HQplayer, and the NAA system to understand the merits of this. I've gone over it quite extensively already in this thread. But long story short, it will enable the best sound possible out of your DAC. Also it will allow the server to be located in another room.
Roon and HQplayer will soon be integrated, once it is, it will allow the best mobile app interface to control this unit on the market. Roon also integrates Tidal into your personal collection in 1 seamless GUI.
Blizz,
I want the OS installed just because I don't want the port occupied. It's just like how when I'm done with my soldering iron I like to put it away.
It's clear that this unit is a good way to go. But I don't understand what you're asking me to read over, I just read 15 pages. At no point was it made clear to me if there's options about using an SSD drive and running the player with the unit you're selling a USB loaded stick for. I've seen several setups that are simply a Rpi with an HD to a USB DSD converter. It's all in one, essentially.
There must be a way to remote control it, especially if the server can be, as you say, in the other room.
I want the OS installed just because I don't want the port occupied. It's just like how when I'm done with my soldering iron I like to put it away.
It's clear that this unit is a good way to go. But I don't understand what you're asking me to read over, I just read 15 pages. At no point was it made clear to me if there's options about using an SSD drive and running the player with the unit you're selling a USB loaded stick for. I've seen several setups that are simply a Rpi with an HD to a USB DSD converter. It's all in one, essentially.
There must be a way to remote control it, especially if the server can be, as you say, in the other room.
You can install an SSD inside the box to run the OS. That's not a problem. There's actually even a 4gb flash chip on the motherboard that can run Linux. The only problem is the Linux image I'm using now is too big to fit. We are working on slimming it down over the weekend. Maybe we can get it to fit. that would be perfect. There's 3 reasons for using the USB rather than SSD:
1: The SATA bus on the computer draws power and creates noise. In my recommended configuration, I shut the SATA bus off. It sounds better to my ears running the OS on the USB 3 bus. The USB bus is also separate from the USB 2 bus which I recommend connecting the DAC to. So both the OS and DAC get their own dedicated bus, and USB controller chip.
2: It's cheaper to buy a $8 USB stick rather than a SATA SSD.
3: It's super easy. Pop the stick in and turn it on. Done.
A few posts ago I took a picture of a very low profile USB stick I'm going to test. this will make it hardly visible.
As I mentioned in my last post, the way to control it will be the Roon Ipad/Android app. It's the best mobile app on the market for controlling audio. However we are still a few weeks away from the HQplayer integration. But you can use HQplayer on the server computer to control it as well. You don't even need Roon.
Even without Roon, you can use an Ipad or laptop running a VNC viewer like team viewer to duplicate the remote server display with HQ player. This can be a temporary way to control with mobile device until the Roon integration is ready.
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Blizz,
Thank you for the usb running Linux explanation. It is very assuring. However, is it the best if the NAA have a micro sd input to run Linux os, it will be the lowest noise possible?
Thank you for the usb running Linux explanation. It is very assuring. However, is it the best if the NAA have a micro sd input to run Linux os, it will be the lowest noise possible?
Hi Lateboomer,
This unit has no microsd card slot. There is a way to install one internally though. You need to buy a microSD to mini PCI-e adapter. There's a mini PCI-e slot on the motherboard. But this is more expensive, and SD cards are slower. I'm not even sure if it would produce less noise. The quietest way would be to use the 4gb eMMC flash chip on the mother board. This thing only draws 0.8W max! But the Linux installation as it is now is too big, and it requires more advanced knowledge to copy the image on to it. I'm going to work on trying to get it to work, and if successful, I can post a tutorial if more advanced users wish to try.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0..._m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=0B6BTV73WWM4CSNF5FZ6
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This is very appealing as I learn. What about having a network HD, and running the player on the NUC?
That might be difficult to implement without making everything more complicated.
The player is just stripped down command prompt Linux. As minimalist as possible to buffer the audio into RAMdisk, and stream out the USB port to the DAC. This is also part of the reason it sounds so good. It's only processing audio, and all the heavy lifting is done on the server. The CPU, although not very powerful, only runs at 1-2% even processing DSD 256.
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I posted this earlier in this thread, but I'll post again. I've found that the less the computer uses for power, and the less chips and circuitry enabled, the lower the noise footprint. It also puts more load on the power supply. This is why I disable everything not required in the BIOS. Check out the max power consumption of all the different bus systems on the SBC.
Note the max power consumption of the eDP LCD display port. Just imagine the noise that generates. Let alone the display itself. Think about that when looking at $1999+ commercial streamers with displays on them.
Note the max power consumption of the eDP LCD display port. Just imagine the noise that generates. Let alone the display itself. Think about that when looking at $1999+ commercial streamers with displays on them.
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Looks like you guys have cleaned all of Amazon's $135 stock out! Now on Amazon's 3rd party resellers. 29 of them starting at $138. But watch who you order from. Make sure they say the shipping time up front.
Newegg has too for $145. Stocked by them so probably a safe bet for fast, free shipping:
http://m.newegg.com/Product/index?itemnumber=56-102-061
Newegg has too for $145. Stocked by them so probably a safe bet for fast, free shipping:
http://m.newegg.com/Product/index?itemnumber=56-102-061
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Will this streamer configuration be able to work with the Lampizator 7. Sorry, I just found this thread and did not have time to read through all the pages. Thanks for your assistance.
Great thread, Blizzard! I wish I had a good DSD DAC to try this out with....
A while ago I built a fanless mini PC for home theater and general use, email, web, etc and it's a good way to go. The ASRock might be better than the NUC you're using, the Intel N3000 processor is probably a little better then the Atom... less power use and it doubles speed from 1 to 2 GHz as needed.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...43&cm_re=asrock_beebox-_-56-158-043-_-Product
A while ago I built a fanless mini PC for home theater and general use, email, web, etc and it's a good way to go. The ASRock might be better than the NUC you're using, the Intel N3000 processor is probably a little better then the Atom... less power use and it doubles speed from 1 to 2 GHz as needed.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...43&cm_re=asrock_beebox-_-56-158-043-_-Product
