Advise to a newbie (again, I'm sure)

[Piriformis]

Hi Gents,

up for this exciting area of playback and have som questions. Tried to search for each subject, which I'm sure has been up for debate, but couldn't find answers I understood.

I will buy a Raspberry Pi3 version B, the housing in stainless steel available at Kjell & Co and a suitable power supply, which probably will be replaced soon, I guess. Questions as below:

1) Is this above unit possible to configure in RuneUI for bit correct audio output from one of the USB-ports in 24-96? Will perhaps RuneOS perhaps autodetect a Bell Canto 24-96 USB-to-S/PDIF (coax) converter, its max performance and set it up automatically in RuneOS device handling management (plug'n'play)? If not, pls. link to proper guide how to do manually. If not doable manually, I must find something else.

2) Is Spotify Premium possible to integrate in RuneOS and will then be displayed in RuneUI? If so, pls. link me this info how to connect.

3) I'm also holding a Tidal HiFi account, which finally would be really nice to remotely control from my tablet. Tidal themselves apparently cannot see the advantages with this feature as in the Spotify app. If you know the info how to connect, pls. show me a link.

4) Can RuneOS and RuneUI open and display for example SVT Play? Can the software play video files at all? Stream from internet?

If all of this 4 questions I have would be resolved by you and your joint expertice, nothin will hold me back buying tomorrow. I even cleared it with my wife, that is the bonus when budget discussions is below EURO 100. It is not that easy + EURO 1000, I'm afraid.

Perhaps I go all in even if some issues cannot be resolved ...

Thank you in advance, now my hopes are in your skilled hands.

/Stefan

[hondagx35]

Hi Stefan,

1. If your DAC is "USB Audio Class 2.0" compliant it should work out of the box.
Things like hardware volume may need some tweaking.

2. Yes, but with limitations. You can only play from your spotify playlists.

3. No TIDAL integration.

4. No video playback is not possible.

Frank

[Piriformis]

Thanks, Frank!

I went to buy it anyway, so now I'm currently trying to make things work. I'm glad you told me about the things not possible, so I can just drop it for the time being. I've got this tiny, tiny, machine to play music from my NAS! Almost an euphoric sensation. Nothing have ever been ready to play within such short notice, except when buying a dedicated CD-player (boring ...).

Now, the autodetect USB audio-out worked nice in RuneAudio software. It found the USB-to-coax-converter (S/PDIF) right away and presented it with correct name and all. But it wasn't smart enought to adjust sound format output automatically. How do I manually (I guess?) configure the audio out format to always be 24 bit and 96 kHz? That means both down- and up-sample, depending on source format. Your kind attention is highly appreciated for a newbie like me on this subject.

I have not been able to make Spotify run yet. That's the subject for my next hour or so ...

So far, the device with RuneAudio software sound really great. The background is pitch black finally and all the tiny details reveals beautifully. And I haven't even got my hands on a more audio grade power supply yet. Promising indeed ...

Thanks for now and looking forward to your specialist replies with anticipation.

[JohnC]

Stefan,

A few words on Spotify:
1) Your need a premium account;
2) input your user name (not email address); and
3) create playlist outside of RuneAudio first, you will then see the playlist inside.

John

[hondagx35]

[Piriformis]

Thanks, John, will try that. So far I only used my log-in e-mail. Will try your proposal. Great!

Hi, Frank, and thanks for your kind attention. Exactly as follows. I connect via an USB cable an USB-to-S/PDIF-converter to one of the Raspberry USB ports. It presents itself to the RPi3 and the handshake works. But this converter, as far as I know, asks the computer to send audio in 24/96 format. In windows there's highly automated choices, allowing me to forget any manual special configurations. So I get 24/96 out from a computer USB port. But not here, it plays as is. I wish that my RPi3 re-samples the currently played file to 24/96 format whatever the original format is. In my library I have numerous formats, most commonly wave 16/44.1. But also .flac 16/44.1; 24/192 and some DSD, and 24/96. Forgive me, but there might be occasional .mp3, as well, but I'm not proud of it ... ( ) I want them all to become re-sampled to maximum capacity of this converter. Earlier experience tells me that the converter acts at its best at 24/96 and the following DAC is also sounding as its best when fed with 24/96.

Do you think there is an option, perhaps any edits in the instruction text file, that might command the RPi3 to make this re-sample?

Kind regards,

[Piriformis]

Now I've managed to log in to my Spotify account, I can see the play lists. But when trying to playback an audio track it is stone dead. I guess there's a problem connected to the Bell Canto 24/96 USB-to-S/PDIF-converter here, because I had some problems in my computer too. I had to tell Spotify to use an output device through my former media player's (JRiver) output option. This software was the only Spotify could co-operate with, when I wanted an output format of 24/96. As soon as I told Spotify to use windows audio output settings, which was the same as for JRiver; the Bell Canto 24/96, Spotify kicked back and asked for a 16/44.1 DAC option. No one told me this was going to be easy ... not if, but when I get this to work, with the nice help from you guys, I will pop a beer and shout "cheers" ...

[hondagx35]

[Piriformis]

Hi, Frank. Thanks for you willingness to help out a noob. This is first Linux device ever. I tried to send debug data via a private PM, but the debug data information consists of too many characters, so the forum software will not accept it as a whole. Should I make two messages, or how do you want me to send it?

Kind regards,

[hondagx35]

Hi Stefan,

please read .

Frank