Installation and optimism of Audiophonics ES9028Q2M based on DietPi Running AirPlay in Raspberry Pi

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Running AirPlay in Raspberry Pi

The necessary to have a wireless PC-Hifi system. Tough collected a quantity of CD and LP, the digitization for the musics library would be indispensable during some special cases.

Though official site told the capability of Volumio (A multi-platform music players), but I have failed much time and, to be honest, got an upsetting experience when piecing together with Audiophonics and Volumio1.

Even, I make much satisfaction with the voice from DietPi, personally, more clear and pure voice, the efficient start time and the design of UI, finally, the stability by comparing to Volumio.

The article aims to provide a reference for serious philharmonicgeek, the who have limitation of expense but the intension of high fidelity enough quality.

流程图

  1. The Preparation:
  • 1x Raspberry Pi Model B v1.2
  • 1x Audiophonics I-Sabre DAC ES9028Q2M (for Raspberry Pi 3, 2, A+, B+, with SPDIF & I2S input) 
    Since Audiophonics ES9028Q2M has been produced two version: one could be able to connect directly with I2S of Raspberry Pi; in the mean time the Kali version2 requires a [Kali i2s Reclocker](https://www.allo.com/sparky/kali-reclocker.html) . Be sure to choose the right version.
  1. The installation of DietPi in Raspberry Pi

A faithful guide can be founded here: Setup Diet Pi on Raspberry Pi 3 – Lightweight Server OS

Configured it firstly and go forward to III section.

  1. The configuration to DietPi:

After all the configuration of OS, let’s start the configuration to the DietPi part. An adequate proficiency of Linux knowledge would be much helpful and advantageous.

  • Connect Raspberry Pi to wireless

Login into DietPi

Type dietpi-config

Locate to the 7 Network Options: Adapters

Make sure onboard Wifi is Enabled

Select Scan and Connect

Choose your Wireless board case name and insert the password.

Raspberry Pi will restart and would connect to Wifi directly, and thus can be dis-attatched from Ethernet port now.

  1. Set up audio card opinion

Locate to Audio Options, choose sound card i-sabre-k2m AudioPhonics I-Sabre ES9028 Q2M, save and waiting for the installation.

  1. Airplay configuration

Thanks to the project Shariport, which makes it much easier the configuration of AirPlay.

  • Method I

Input dietpi-software and select Software Optimized Select DietPi optimized software for installation

Scroll down to number `Shairport Sync:

    airplay audio player with multiroom sync` (shows number 37 in menu),

    go back to previous menu

    Choose `Install              Go >> Start installation for selected software`

In case of install error which would be occurred:

Error Unable to Install Shairport Sync: airplay audio player with │ multiroom sync

http://ftp.us.debian.org/debian/pool/main/o/openssl/libssl1.0.0_1..0.1t-1+deb8u6_armhf.deb is offline and/or unreachable.

  • Method II

Just install Shariport as a normal application in Linux-based system:

sudo apt-get install shairport-sync

Which works well in the same way.

Till this period, your DAC would be function well and can be recognized directly as AirPlay device in Mac or iOS system.

  1. The improvement of system

As the default configuration would occur choppy playback at a certain probability, it would be necessary to improve the system performance and sound quality.

  • ••Enable Soxr3:

Officially document indicates: Soxr interpolation will improve the output audio quality on Shairport. However, it is extremely CPU intensive. I personally enable it.

method:

    Enable Soxr:

    sed -i '/interpolation = /c\interpolation = `soxr`;' /usr/local/etc/shairport-sync.conf

dietpi-services restart

    Disable Soxr:

    sed -i '/interpolation = /c\\/\/interpolation = `soxr`;' /usr/local/etc/shairport-sync.conf

dietpi-services restart

  • Troubleshoot:

If happened choppy (brokenly) playback, the priority (which call nice in DietPi) should be increased

  • Improve system frenquecy

Type dietpi-config and select 3 Performance Options

Select Change CPU Governor : performance and set up to performance Forces CPU frequency to 1200 MHz.

  • Disable video output 
     Using the Headless option will:                                        │

 │  - Disable HDMI output                                                  │

 │  - Lower energy consumption by 0.1+ Watts                               │

 │  - Set framebuffer to 16x16xD8                                          │

 │  - Improve RAM performance by 1-5% (VideoCore shares RAM bandwidth)     │

 │  - More info here :                                                     │

 │ https://www.raspberrypi.org/forums/viewtopic.php?p=105008#p105008
  • Optional: overlocking

Overlocking CPU would improve the perfernce, but it may increase the instability and lost the guaranteed. I personally choose low 1300 MHz ARM | 400 MHz core | 450 MHz SDRAM | 3 overvolt, it works well till now.

    ┌──────────────┤ Warning! Continue with overclocking? ├──────────────┐

        │                                                                    │

        │ Your selected overclocking choice may void the warranty on this    │

        │ device. Do you wish to continue?                                   │

        │                                                                    │

        │ Use of this tool is at your own risk. DietPi will not be held      │

        │ responsable for any damages due to overclocking.                   │

        │                                                                    │

        │ Although DietPi overclocks are tested for stability, results are   │

        │ not guaranteed and may differ from device.                         │

        │                                                                    │

        │                  <Ok>                      <Back>
  1. Finally

  2. Autostart of AirPlay

Method of Apt-get is automatically starts with system startup, otherwise enable DietPi-AutoStart Choose what software runs after boot.

  1. How to poweroff the system?

Since DietPi is a real deal of Linux system, theoretically, it should be shutdown by soft-off, otherwise have the risk of dataloss. But actually since Raspberry Pi have no physical button of power management, I shut it down by switching off the power supply.

  1. Advanced steps

ALSA Mixer : Launches ALSA Mixer, tweak sound card settings

  1. A brief review of Audiophonics ES9028Q2M

The sound is good enough, hight price but no another choice.

  1. Bug founded

When enable EQ setting, the Airplay will remain with mute after the restart of DietPi service

  1. The main subassembly

  2. 1x ES9028Q2M from ESS Technology (offical website has deleted the details of this DAC, the archive can be found here: https://web.archive.org/web/20170906182019/http://www.esstech.com/index.php/en/products/sabre-digital-analog-converters/sabre-hifi-mobile-dacs/sabre-hifi-stereo-dacs/es9028q2m/)

  3. 1x Low-Noise Dual Operational Amplifier: NJM2114 from New Japan Radio Co.,Ltd ( https://www.njr.com/semicon/products/NJM2114.html)

    General Description

The NJM2114 is a high performance dual low noise operational amplifier that could be replaced in application with the NJM5532. Comparing to the NJM5532; it has superior specifications on Slew Rate，Bandwidth and Offset Voltage. Furthermore lower noise and distortion are achieved，it is applicable for Hi-Fi audio equipments.
  4. 3x NJM2114 (6150G): Low-Noise Dual Operational Amplifier from New Japan Radio Co.,Ltd (NJR) ( https://www.njr.com/semicon/products/NJM2114.html)

  5. 1x CPLD (Complex Programmable Logic Devices), from Altera EPM240T100C5N (detail: http://uk.farnell.com/altera/epm240t100c5n/ic-maxii-spi-cpld-201-1mhz-tqfp/dp/1453503)

  6. 1x Microcontroller: Nuvoton TechnologyN79E825ASG (https://www.digikey.com.au/product-detail/en/nuvoton-technology-corporation-of-america/N79E825ASG/N79E825ASG-ND/4360596)

  7. 1x LDO (Low Dropout Regulator): Advanced Monolithic Systems AMS1117-1.2 ( http://www.ams-semitech.com/attachments/File/AMS1117_20120314.pdf)

    A kind of Linear regulator, its purpose is to provide a stable DC voltage power supply, especially for dropout voltage (the difference of smaller output & input voltage)
  8. 1x 79m09a not sure the manufacture, speculate form STMicroelectronics

  9. 1x E0512XT-1WAR2 DC/DC Converter, from Mrnsun ( http://www.mornsun-power.com/uploads/pdf/E_XT-1WAR2.pdf)

    VDC 12V
  10. 2x RCA Jack, speculate from AEC Connector

  11. Unknown component: 1x YXC 10,000 AOCQR

  12. Need to practice

Test with linear power supply

Volume has not provided a history version 2.344, unfortunately Audiophonics provides the old version solely. Thus a plugin which provided by AUDIOPHONICS can not fine, if you happened to buy this audio DAC card in this period.

Which can be found here:

http://dietpi.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=5&p=1549


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