Build a Network Audio Player
What kind of hardware do you need?
There are 2 types of hardware you might need depending on what you have.
1. Full System
To build a complete system, you will need several components. Please note that investing in high-quality speakers, priced between 150-400 USD/EUR for a pair, is crucial as they significantly impact the overall audio performance and longevity of your setup.
The essential hardware components for a full system are a Microcomputer, a DAC (Digital-to-Analog Converter), and an Amplifier. You have the option to purchase a pre-assembled “Plug and Play” system or build it yourself.
The microcomputer is the brains of the operation.
The microcomputer serves as the central processing unit for this setup, acting as the brains of the operation.
You have many choices for software players:
- Volumio
- DietPi
- MoodeAudio
- Max2play
- Picoreplayer
- and more
The Raspberry Pi 3, a highly popular single board computer (SBC) with a widespread userbase and millions of units shipped worldwide, is the chosen microcomputer. It boasts stability, speed, energy efficiency, and comes equipped with various connectivity options such as an Ethernet port, USB ports, WiFi, and Bluetooth.
When using the Raspberry Pi 3 as the SBC, it can be configured to be recognized on the network or WiFi as an Airplay, DLNA/UPNP, or Bluetooth device. This enables seamless streaming from iOS devices using Airplay and from Android/PC devices using a DLNA client. While Bluetooth is available, it may not be the preferred option for high-fidelity audio.
To address the Raspberry Pi 3’s limitations as an audio player, the i2s bus comes into play. The digital audio is sent to the next stage, which involves a dedicated i2s DAC (BOSS) that is placed on top of the Raspberry Pi. This DAC enhances the audio quality and ensures optimal audio playback performance.
