Streaming DSD from Linux - Not as hard as I thought!


You might care about this even if you are a Windows / Mac person because Linux PC's are ridiculously cheap, like $100 or less if you go with a Raspberry Pi3.

Since I want to game and do video streaming I didn't go that cheap though. I got a mini case with a mini ITX motherboard and installed Ubuntu 16 on it. The music part of this was super easy. The hard part was getting the video and Steam games set up. This is the reason why I didn't go full miniature server, I want to do games and online video from the PC.

Anyway, I downloaded Logitech Media Server 7.9, and Squeezelite.  Enabled DSD plugin on LMS, and used the -D switch on Squeezelite.  I used a USB 3.0 hub so I could hide the PC in a cabinet, and pull the connection out to the audio gear. Set my Mytek Brooklyn DAC to USB and like Magic, it all works.  I also can use the Android app Squeezer to control it, as well as the Web interface.

I spent around $500 for the complete set up, including an A10 CPU, motherboard, 650 watt power supply, case, 2 TB hard drive, and DVD drive so I can rip CD's.

I may also do a raspberri Pi solution to make the music independent.  One thing that I don't like about my current set up is I have to disable Squeezelite to do video/games. It hogs the audio connection.  Having a mini, cheap player dedicated to music won't sound better, but it will make switching sources easier.

Best,

Erik
erik_squires

Showing 4 responses by sbank

Heard some good things about Daphile freeware for music on Pi servers. You might wanna check it out. Cheers,
Spencer
The microRendu is $649 ($49 for the optional iFi Power Supply), so I don't understand your comment. It's smaller than a pack of smokes or deck or cards and can be plugged right onto the back of your dac. Most users don't even see it in situ. So your "ugly" comment makes me think you are talking about a different component. SQ of the Touch isn't in the same league, sorry. Have you heard it? Have you read the reviews by Chris Connaker and Michael Lavorgna? They do a pretty good job (especially Chris's) of explaining it. It does have LMS mode. What wouldn't you "have control over"? Cheers,
Spencer
For your use LMS makes sense, but for my music only library, with microRendu I prefer the gui of Lumin app vs. the LMS mode. 
If you at some point want to maximize sound quality via LMS the Sonore can't be beat, especially for the price. 
Cheers, 
Spencer 
All the info is more easily found on CA site because they have a sponsored board there and respond regularly to questions, etc. Of course, Chris Connaker's review is also on that site:
http://www.computeraudiophile.com/content/698-sonore-microrendu-review-part-1/

One of the reasons I encourage you to read it is because of the benefits explained over full purpose PCs. Cheers,
Spencer