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Spotify Box

evanhailey.com

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Re: Spotify Box

#131

Post by kesslern »

bayindirh wrote: post #91
sneak wrote: post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't understand why they didn't just use a pi; it would have been cheaper and easier. It already has ethernet and analog audio out.

Raspberry Pi's analog audio out is not very high quality either. I run a HiFiBerry on a Raspberry Pi, and while it's really delicious to use (good sound, good app, good ergonomics), it's just mount, flash and play. It's not something you make from scratch. I'd love to have time to work on something similar. My targets would be different audio-quality wise, but it's a very nice project. Kudos to its maker.

I use a cheap USB audio device with my Pi. I got a constant buzz through my CRT with the built-in analog output. The USB device fixed that and all other audio issues I had.

Re: Spotify Box

#132

Post by pjerem »

bayindirh wrote: post #91
sneak wrote: post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't understand why they didn't just use a pi; it would have been cheaper and easier. It already has ethernet and analog audio out.

Raspberry Pi's analog audio out is not very high quality either. I run a HiFiBerry on a Raspberry Pi, and while it's really delicious to use (good sound, good app, good ergonomics), it's just mount, flash and play. It's not something you make from scratch. I'd love to have time to work on something similar. My targets would be different audio-quality wise, but it's a very nice project. Kudos to its maker.

> Raspberry Pi's analog audio out is not very high quality either.

On this point, can't you use some USB DAC ? I know nothing on this topic but there must be something that sits between "Raspberry Pi sound quality" and "multi thousands $ DAC".

Re: Spotify Box

#133

Post by hamburglar »

sneak wrote: post #33
mikewave wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Any recommendations for the DAC? I'm using a USB sound card right now on my Volumio Pi but haven't been thrilled about it. What I really want is SPDIF coaxial or optical output, on the cheap.

You can use the DAC on the pi itself; you will not be able to tell the audio quality difference on any equipment you own (your ears included). There is a stereo mini jack audio output on the pi. Just use that and don't waste your money on audio woo. (This is also a standing bet of $5000 to anyone who can pass an ABX in front of me to discern the difference between the two in headphones of their own choosing. You pay…

If you plug headphones into the Pi's minijack and turn the volume down to a comfortable listening level, the noise floor on the Pi DAC is very, very obvious. It sounds like hell. Try it yourself before you lose your $5000. :)

Re: Spotify Box

#135

Post by hamburglar »

bambax wrote: post #100
bigtones wrote: post #9

A $30 Raspberry Pi with free Volumio serves the same purpose for me, and I can attach a DAC hat to the top of the Pi for high fidelity audio - but this looks so much better with it's beautiful wood finish.

Where can you buy a $30 Pi?? The 4 is about €120 on Amazon, and I can't find the 3B for less than €60...

CanaKit sells the 3B for $35. Not sure if they'll ship to Europe though.

Re: Spotify Box

#136

Post by christilut »

antihero wrote: post #109
weq wrote: post #72

Earlier quoted context omitted.

all my friends use spotify and everytime i am with them i hear the same music. sure its the music they like, but its the same over and over and over again with no variation. They tell me spotify is great at discovery but i havnt heard it. i listen to djs, radio stations and other internet channels that mix the music i like into new and exciting compositions.

Yeah, I used to use Spotify for discovery when the radio function acted like...radio. Now it's just a 30 track playlist on loop generated based on things you have liked. So absolutely fucking pointless for discovery. I am SCREAMING OUT for a service that was like the old Spotify radio. Currently just going to gigs again and finding bands through bandcamp the organic way is what I'm doing. Also, here is a script I wro…

Try this app I made for fun a while back: https://www.tuneful.app

It uses Spotify under the hood, similar to how the radio used to work.

Re: Spotify Box

#137

Post by bayindirh »

pjerem wrote: post #132
bayindirh wrote: post #91

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Raspberry Pi's analog audio out is not very high quality either. I run a HiFiBerry on a Raspberry Pi, and while it's really delicious to use (good sound, good app, good ergonomics), it's just mount, flash and play. It's not something you make from scratch. I'd love to have time to work on something similar. My targets would be different audio-quality wise, but it's a very nice project. Kudos to its maker.

> Raspberry Pi's analog audio out is not very high quality either. On this point, can't you use some USB DAC ? I know nothing on this topic but there must be something that sits between "Raspberry Pi sound quality" and "multi thousands $ DAC".

You can, but I’m not very knowledgeable about USB DACs which works on Linux.

The HiFiBerry amplifier I use is $50, has great software and enough power and top notch DACs from TI. On top of that it’s a hat, has a dedicated steel enclosure and everything is powered by a laptop brick.

It’s unbeatable at that price point IMHO.

Re: Spotify Box

#138

Post by Symbiote »

antihero wrote: post #108
kristjansson wrote: post #87

Separating the internet-connected (and therefore low life-expectancy) bits from the analog sound-reproduction (and therefore expensive and high life-expectancy) bits is a great way to build a solid system that can grow and adapt over time. This is a super cool and gratifying way to deliver the internet-connected bit at low cost (at least for those with hardware inclination, and access to means of production). For tho…

Thing is, cool as this box is, this outputs analog and has DAC inside it. One of the key reasons that people wouldn't use Alexa input, Muso Cobblestone (these were pretty great in all fairness), etcetera long term is that the internal DACs were not even remotely "audiophile" quality. If these devices had some sort of digital output so we could attach our own DACs, it would be much nicer.

The Chromecast Audio had one, but Google discontinued it.

Re: Spotify Box

#139

Post by pjerem »

bayindirh wrote: post #137
pjerem wrote: post #132

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Raspberry Pi's analog audio out is not very high quality either. On this point, can't you use some USB DAC ? I know nothing on this topic but there must be something that sits between "Raspberry Pi sound quality" and "multi thousands $ DAC".

You can, but I’m not very knowledgeable about USB DACs which works on Linux. The HiFiBerry amplifier I use is $50, has great software and enough power and top notch DACs from TI. On top of that it’s a hat, has a dedicated steel enclosure and everything is powered by a laptop brick. It’s unbeatable at that price point IMHO.

That's interesting, thank you !

Re: Spotify Box

#140

Post by jxcl »

bayindirh wrote: post #137
pjerem wrote: post #132

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Raspberry Pi's analog audio out is not very high quality either. On this point, can't you use some USB DAC ? I know nothing on this topic but there must be something that sits between "Raspberry Pi sound quality" and "multi thousands $ DAC".

You can, but I’m not very knowledgeable about USB DACs which works on Linux. The HiFiBerry amplifier I use is $50, has great software and enough power and top notch DACs from TI. On top of that it’s a hat, has a dedicated steel enclosure and everything is powered by a laptop brick. It’s unbeatable at that price point IMHO.

I'm not sure about the specifics of the protocol but I've used tens of DACs and only ever run Linux, and I've never had a problem with compatibility. I'm pretty sure the USB audio standard is pervasive enough so that basically any DAC you buy will be compatible. On all the DACs I own I also have no trouble configuring the protocol to higher bandwidth settings like 24-bit 192 kHz signals.
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