12-11-2019, 02:03 PM
Hi there fellow members,
I just adhered to the streaming server thing over the last weekend, but I've been planning it for a long time, with rather expensive options on view, until I found out about Raspberry Pi and its ability to work as a high quality audio server. So I went to buy a Raspberry Pi 3b with original box and 2.5A power source and configured it with the following specs and equipment, which I believe was the best option to work with what I have around:
1) The RasPi is running latest Moode version and is connected via WiFi;
2) One of the USB ports is connected to a USB hard drive with autonomous power bus, where I have all my music collection;
3) Other USB port is connected to a USB DAC (SMSL M500), volume control disabled (0 dB), no upsampling.
The DAC has line outputs connected to my main system (PrimaLuna PrologueOne integrated amp -> ProAc Studio 100 monitors), and headphone amp section on which I usually plug my AudioTechnica ATH-M50 or my Grado sr60e.
I have been having a lot of fun with this setup, and the SMSL DAC works fine with the RasPi, converting high-res files with ease (FLAC, DSD, MQA). Moode management of files on the hard disk, and playlists, works really well and it's easy to learn.
But being new to this digital world, I cannot help but to feel a little bit suspicious that perhaps I've made something wrong...
Soundwise, everything seems fine. The M500 is a hellova DAC, very clean and authoritative (a little bit hot on the highs on some kinds of music).
But...
There are occasional glitches, mainly on the first seconds of very large files like DSDs. Sometimes it also happens in other lower resolution files... It is not a very common aspect, but when it happens, I get that weird feeling I have something configured the wrong way. Usually it glitches on the 2nd or 3rd second of some tracks... Is this normal?
The Bluetooth (BT) on the Pi has very bad connectivity. At 2 or 3 meters it is always glitching. Fortunately I don't use it often, but yesterday evening I was listening to some music on my headphones and had to watch a YT video, so instead of stopping the Moode stream, I connected the smartphone to the Moode BT, and it was arguably one of the worst BT experience I had so far. Is this normal?
The Moode Spotify connect works well for the most part, but I cannot listen to Spotify podcasts, they wont play. Also I had some difficulties listening to my downloaded libraries on Spotify. Does someone have the same problems?
As an old audiophile that comes from the record era, I am always trying to perfect a system by looking at the details... Maybe the cables, maybe a USB filter, maybe a bigger power brick...
But I'll keep having fun with Moode!
I just adhered to the streaming server thing over the last weekend, but I've been planning it for a long time, with rather expensive options on view, until I found out about Raspberry Pi and its ability to work as a high quality audio server. So I went to buy a Raspberry Pi 3b with original box and 2.5A power source and configured it with the following specs and equipment, which I believe was the best option to work with what I have around:
1) The RasPi is running latest Moode version and is connected via WiFi;
2) One of the USB ports is connected to a USB hard drive with autonomous power bus, where I have all my music collection;
3) Other USB port is connected to a USB DAC (SMSL M500), volume control disabled (0 dB), no upsampling.
The DAC has line outputs connected to my main system (PrimaLuna PrologueOne integrated amp -> ProAc Studio 100 monitors), and headphone amp section on which I usually plug my AudioTechnica ATH-M50 or my Grado sr60e.
I have been having a lot of fun with this setup, and the SMSL DAC works fine with the RasPi, converting high-res files with ease (FLAC, DSD, MQA). Moode management of files on the hard disk, and playlists, works really well and it's easy to learn.
But being new to this digital world, I cannot help but to feel a little bit suspicious that perhaps I've made something wrong...
Soundwise, everything seems fine. The M500 is a hellova DAC, very clean and authoritative (a little bit hot on the highs on some kinds of music).
But...
There are occasional glitches, mainly on the first seconds of very large files like DSDs. Sometimes it also happens in other lower resolution files... It is not a very common aspect, but when it happens, I get that weird feeling I have something configured the wrong way. Usually it glitches on the 2nd or 3rd second of some tracks... Is this normal?
The Bluetooth (BT) on the Pi has very bad connectivity. At 2 or 3 meters it is always glitching. Fortunately I don't use it often, but yesterday evening I was listening to some music on my headphones and had to watch a YT video, so instead of stopping the Moode stream, I connected the smartphone to the Moode BT, and it was arguably one of the worst BT experience I had so far. Is this normal?
The Moode Spotify connect works well for the most part, but I cannot listen to Spotify podcasts, they wont play. Also I had some difficulties listening to my downloaded libraries on Spotify. Does someone have the same problems?
As an old audiophile that comes from the record era, I am always trying to perfect a system by looking at the details... Maybe the cables, maybe a USB filter, maybe a bigger power brick...
But I'll keep having fun with Moode!
Raspberry Pi 3b -> SMSL M500 -> PrimaLuna Prologue One -> ProAc Studio 100
