Just wanted to show my latest creation
I make small audio servers (mostly based on Raspberry Pi, but also other, more “powerful” systems), and have had one such system for home listening for quite some time now. However, the system consists of a separate audio server with built-in LCD display (and integrated 24/192 DAC), and a separate amplifier (Class D, 2x50W). In addition, there's also an external hard disk with music.
After a while, I got fed up with separate power supplies, cables, etc. - in short, I wanted something simpler, tidier, but also stylish...
Since I like the design of vintage hi-fi devices, when I came across a beat up tape deck, I got an idea - to put the whole system (audio server, HDD, DAC and amp) into such an enclosure.
So, after quite some time of fiddling, cutting, filing, and making additional brackets, etc, I finally finished my “all-in-one” home hi-res audio device a few days ago.
It consists of a RasPi server, 32/384 Burr Brown DAC, a TPA3118-based Class D amp, an additional headphone amp, built-in hard disk (3.5” size), and built-in switching power supply.
It runs Rune Audio software (which I additionally modified and added various bits and pieces), and can be controlled by smartphone/tablet, or an “ordinary” IR remote - or by using front panel buttons.
One of the things that I particularly like (funny, I know...) is that the VU meters are actually fully functional
There's also a 20x4 LCD display, which shows info about currently playing track, volume, bitrate, etc. The server can play all file formats (mp3, flac, wav, aiff, etc. - except DSD), Internet radio, Spotify, etc.
The LCD display and vu meters can be turned off (e.g. in the evening, when you don't want any light distractions). There's a button on the front which selects speakers/headphones output, so that the speakers are turned off when you plug in the headphones...
There's also an additional USB connector in the front, so you can plug in a USB dongle with music files without any fiddling...
It has Ethernet (wired) and wi-fi network, so it's quite versatile.
It's also very simple as regards connections: there's only the power cable to plug it in the wall power outlet, and connectors for speakers in the back. No messy wires, no interconnect cables, no complications
The RasPi server can be safely shut down using the red button in the front: once the system has been shut down, the LCD display (and control LED) turns off, and it's safe to turn the power off completely using the front main power button.
And, what's best, it looks deceptively “vintage”
There's also a very short video of it in action, here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4MDzo0v2abIDenis
