Dedicate CPU core for MPD

[swizzle]

I think the idea is faster processors generate more hf noise, but even if there is more noise does it really affect the performance? The i2s spec is made to tolerate a less than perfect signal.

The core isolation thing is more related to latency and ensuring mpd doesn’t have to fight for resources but the current kernel seems really good and this shouldn’t be a problem.

All things being equal are lower noise and improved latency (and better power supplies, dac chips, etc.) better than not? Sure, but does it make an audible difference, well… I view a lot of this kind of like cable nervosa where if you think you hear a difference then it doesn’t matter if there really is one or not. While it would probably scratch some audiophile itch to support stuff like this out of the box, it’s probably sufficient just to have steps documented like in that thread so those so inclined can do it on their systems and see whether they like the change or not.

[hifinet]

In my system and experience, I can hear the difference in noise between power supplies and RPis in about 5 seconds. Most obvious in the musical silence at the beginning of the track, but also evident during low level musical passages. It is pretty obvious.

To counter this, Archimago has done some measurements here and here . The noise is very low level, and based on his findings, it would not be audible.

He also says there is no significant difference between a battery and SMPS. The problem is that the "battery" he is used is not only a battery, but power banks consist of a battery and a switching DC-DC converter. There may be other methodological errors in his setups.