Raspberry Pi audio jukebox and similar...
Discussion
I run LMS )Lohgitech Media Server) on a NUC in the loft with SSD attached storage.
Each room has a Pi running Picoreplayer. Some rooms have an amp HAT on the Pi where quality isn't so important. Others have DAC HATS that run into a proper Amp.
Control is handled by running an app on my Phone/tablet and also via a Touchscreen attached to each PI.
everything is hard wired Ethernet because i can but wifi coverage was easily solved by some UNIFI Access points wired back to my switch. its 90% + reliable and even the wife can use it
I've been used versions of this setup for well over 10 years and whilst I was concerned when Logitech dropped the product its actually got better than its ever been since it went opensource.
https://forums.slimdevices.com/ for more info, whilst it can be quite techie on there setting up a basic system with Picoreplayer is incredibly simple.
Each room has a Pi running Picoreplayer. Some rooms have an amp HAT on the Pi where quality isn't so important. Others have DAC HATS that run into a proper Amp.
Control is handled by running an app on my Phone/tablet and also via a Touchscreen attached to each PI.
everything is hard wired Ethernet because i can but wifi coverage was easily solved by some UNIFI Access points wired back to my switch. its 90% + reliable and even the wife can use it
I've been used versions of this setup for well over 10 years and whilst I was concerned when Logitech dropped the product its actually got better than its ever been since it went opensource.
https://forums.slimdevices.com/ for more info, whilst it can be quite techie on there setting up a basic system with Picoreplayer is incredibly simple.
I've been running a setup along these lines for a number of years now. I have a linux server (bear with me on this!), that runs OwnTone ( https://owntone.github.io/owntone-server/) and a Pi in each room, either using a HifiBerry AMP or IQAudio Digiamp to drive speakers. Each end point is running shairport sync ( https://github.com/mikebrady/shairport-sync), providing synchronised audio in each room. This solution doesn't allow individual rooms to play different music from the OwnTone server, so I also use MoodeAudio ( https://moodeaudio.org) in a couple of rooms where I might want to have something else on (at the same time). Moode can do it's own multi-room thing. It has a nice web interface and can use local displays if you want to control directly, rather than via a browser. Moode includes shairport sync and Spotify connect endpoints (as well as bluetooth, squeezelite and RoonBridge)
OwnTone could run on a Pi - so no need for a NAS or server if you didn't want to go that way.
I've also experimented with headless Plexamp, but that does require a paid subscription to Plex. It works well though, and is good for curating content, as well as being significantly cheaper than Roon.
Horses for courses really, but I'd definitely take a look at Moode - it sounds like it will do a lot of what you want. It has good support via it's forums too.
I suspect your biggest challenge will be laying your hands on a Pi right now!
Do PM me if you've any questions - I'd be happy to help where I can!
OwnTone could run on a Pi - so no need for a NAS or server if you didn't want to go that way.
I've also experimented with headless Plexamp, but that does require a paid subscription to Plex. It works well though, and is good for curating content, as well as being significantly cheaper than Roon.
Horses for courses really, but I'd definitely take a look at Moode - it sounds like it will do a lot of what you want. It has good support via it's forums too.
I suspect your biggest challenge will be laying your hands on a Pi right now!
Do PM me if you've any questions - I'd be happy to help where I can!
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