alternative to laptop for playing music

[nandac]

I have been using a laptop for playing FLAC through usb -> dac -> amp etc. So is there any alternative in the market nowadays? Something with usb and a screen (to select album directories etc).

I think squeezebox used to be one. What are the newer options today?

Appreciate the feedback.

 

[greenhorn]

any android tab -> usb dac
Big screen tv + remote -> media centre on raspberry pi -> DAC

 

[sam9s]

DIY non expensive (but quality route)

1.

Rpi with Moode -> USB DAC (or HAT DAC). -> stereo amp -> speakers
Android Tab with bubble UPnP for all playback and album art functionality for locally stored music, on ur LAN or on cloud

2. CCA

Non DIY expensive route

1 Sonos
2. Cambridge Azur
3. or any branded music streamer

 

[nandac]

rpi with moode - is moode a media playing software? is it supposed to be loaded on raspberry pi? is the latter some diy kit?

what is cca?

 

[nandac]

how about amazon fire hd?

 

[sam9s]

rpi with moode - is moode a media playing software? is it supposed to be loaded on raspberry pi? is the latter some diy kit?

what is cca?

Moode is a Linux based audiophile grade audio player with full UPnP and Airplay support, and yes it is supposed to be loaded on Rpi. Search HFV forums and you will find loads of content on how to do that....or Google

CCA is Chromecast Audio.

 

[sam9s]

how about amazon fire hd?

Fire TV is not supposed to be for Audio playback (even though all media players like this can play audio)

 

[nandac]

Moode is a Linux based audiophile grade audio player with full UPnP and Airplay support, and yes it is supposed to be loaded on Rpi. Search HFV forums and you will find loads of content on how to do that....or Google

CCA is Chromecast Audio.

Actually I just bought CCA and CC.

But after struggling to setup CCA with my laptop, was wondering if I should just go for a smaller media player like what we are talking about.

btw whats the popular consensus regarding SQ on wireless vs cable? like CCA vs usb cable.

Appreciate the insights.

 

[nandac]

there seems to be so many models of raspberry pi - not sure which is the right one.

also is there a ready made moode with raspberry pi - without any diy on my part?

if not, what is the shortest route to this? appreciate pointers with specific products and related links pls. Thanks.

 

[sam9s]

Actually I just bought CCA and CC.

But after struggling to setup CCA with my laptop, was wondering if I should just go for a smaller media player like what we are talking about.

btw whats the popular consensus regarding SQ on wireless vs cable? like CCA vs usb cable.

Appreciate the insights.

what were you struggle with CCA??? wired will always be better if you are listening to high bitrate audio files.

 

[sam9s]

there seem to be so many models of raspberry pi - not sure which is the right one.

also is there a ready made moode with raspberry pi - without any diy on my part?

if not, what is the shortest route to this? appreciate pointers with specific products and related links pls. Thanks.

You can go with Raspberry Pi 2 B+ or raspberry Pi 3, both work good. i dont think there is any ready made Moode, but its hardly a thing, all you need is to download the Moode image file (moodeaudio.org) and use something like win32diskimager to burn the image file to an SD Card. pop the card in to rpi connect it to your LAN, power it up. Access it via browser to configure. All info available on Moode website.

below is the setup guide

http://moodeaudio.org/docs/readme.txt

BTW Moode has gone paid, with the latest version.

 

[nandac]

what were you struggle with CCA??? wired will always be better if you are listening to high bitrate audio files.

my computer is not able to locate CCA. But I tried with my phone and it did. have to figure out why it is not working with my laptop.

I just want to be able to stream music and movies wirelessly from my laptop - to this end I bought cca and cc - only yesterday. hope I get it to work.

 

[sam9s]

my computer is not able to locate CCA. .

...and how are/were you trying to locate CCA? from your laptop

 

[nandac]

...and how are/were you trying to locate CCA? from your laptop

yes. I was trying to get it to work from my laptop.

 

[sam9s]

I was asking how were you trying to get it to work .... anyway solution is
install a chrome plugin called videostream for google chromecast ... install it, its basically for video files but works for audio files as well. Once install just point it to your audio file, click the CC icon, connect it with your CCA and start listening to music.

 

[nandac]

I was asking how were you trying to get it to work .... anyway solution is
install a chrome plugin called videostream for google chromecast ... install it, its basically for video files but works for audio files as well. Once install just point it to your audio file, click the CC icon, connect it with your CCA and start listening to music.

so video stream works with both cca and cc? both audio and video?

btw when I bought the cc the sales man in bestbuy told me you don't need a cc to stream video from laptop if the tv was a smart tv. mine is. but I couldn't get video stream to work - with Samsung smartview.

 

[nandac]

I was asking how were you trying to get it to work .... anyway solution is
install a chrome plugin called videostream for google chromecast ... install it, its basically for video files but works for audio files as well. Once install just point it to your audio file, click the CC icon, connect it with your CCA and start listening to music.

but again as I said earlier my computer did not recognize CA. It said 'no casting device found' I think.

 

[sam9s]

so video stream works with both cca and cc? both audio and video?

btw when I bought the cc the sales man in bestbuy told me you don't need a cc to stream video from laptop if the tv was a smart tv. mine is. but I couldn't get video stream to work - with Samsung smartview.

yes video stream works with both. I have no idea about samsung smartview

but again as I said earlier my computer did not recognize CA. It said 'no casting device found' I think.

your computer will recognize CCA when you will have something to make it recognize it like videostream. Hope you have installed the chrome cast plugin before you do anything...

I suggest google extensively to understand how CCA and CC works, if you cannot get CCA/CA work then I would say it would be even difficult to get Moode on Rpi work for the same.

 

[udayan]

Little confused here ... doesn't Fiio X1 / X3 / X5 with inbuilt DAC serve the same purpose?

Sent from my GT-I9500 using Tapatalk

 

[apk]

there seems to be so many models of raspberry pi - not sure which is the right one.

also is there a ready made moode with raspberry pi - without any diy on my part?

For a ready made solution using raspberry pi, you may want to check out the recently released Acoustic Portrait DAC. It is basically a raspberry pi + DAC combination - and can be a good front end for a digital playback system. I have not heard these - but those who have say it's quite good for the money. Costs around 25K if I remember right. More details available on their web-site.

Best,
apk

p.s - no affiliation to acoustic portrait. have heard some of their products and would recommend them