Roon Bridge for Raspberry Pi with USB DAC

Audio Gear Talk Raspberry Pi
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Hi all,

First of all, sorry if the question is not completely new. I have found a lot of posts on this topic, but on one side some of them are relatively old, on the other side I could not find all the information I was looking for.

I am thinking of setting up a small Roon Bridge to be used with a USB DAC (a Chord Mojo). I am not looking for a DAC HAT for Raspberry, I already have a music streamer. I would like to use the Mojo in the main Hi-Fi system without having to connect a phone or a tablet to it every time and use it as a Roon end point.

I am not familiar at all with Rasperry Pi, never used them, but I am very familiar with Linux systems. So using ssh, terminals and things like that is not worrying me.

I would like to setup something like this:

Roon core on iMac
Roon Bridge on Raspberry PI
Chord Mojo on USB on the Raspberry PI
RCA cables to the Amp

My questions are:

What is a suitable Rasperry Pi for this application? Do you need a fully-fledge RPI 3B or 4, or something like NanoPi would be enough?

Are there requirements on computational power to keep in mind for high-res files (PCM 192/24, DSD 256)?

Memory? I would not use the RPI for any other application rather than the operating system and Roon Bridge.

SD card or eMMC module?

WiFi or ethernet cable? it will be placed close to the router. I would say cable…

I have read that only the RPI 4 has different bus for ethernet and USB. Choosing a RPI 3, is this a problem for the bandwidth or has any influence on sound? I expect only hickups due to saturated bus, but apart from this the sound should be the same, but there’s a lot of magic, to me, in jitter…

A passive case to dissipate heat would be mandatory of course. Is Flirc case good enough? Any experience with other cases? Is downclocking / running at fixed frequency needed?

Power supply. I’m not going to use battery packs, the RPI would be always connected to a socket. What is the influence of a linear power supply in this case? Is it really worth? Any suggestion for a brand/model?

Which operating system would you recommend?

Thanks a lot in advance to everyone who wants to share experiences and give some suggestions!
Again, sorry for some silly or recurrent question. I’m completely new to Raspberry Pi world and there are tons of options around.

Francesco

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In a few words… RPi 4 2gb as that’s the smallest memory now, ropieee is for the pi or ropieeexl if you want other streaming options and flirc.tv case for it. RPi4 uses usbc for supply at 3A just start with the original supply…worry about the lamps later.

I run many RPi 3 and a single 4 both work fine with WiFi and Ethernet but I find WiFi struggles sometimes above 24/96. Ropieee.org is my os of choice

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I agree with Wizard; I have been using a RP4 in a Flirc case in hot and humid tropical climate (up to 35 C or 95 F) without the core temperature rising above 52 C or 125 F. This case works very well and is nice on the eyes. No downclocking needed. As for the OS, ropieee on a SD card is the way to go.

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Thanks both for the quick reply!

So, is the NOOBS SD card needed to start?
And how do you flash Roopie on the SD card … from an iMac? I hope the slot in the back accepts the same card format! I have never used it…

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Follow this https://codexwilkes.com/downloads/ropieee-guide-for-beginners.pdf and write over the noobs card

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Francesco, to flash the Ropieee image to the SD card, I recommend Etcher. Very easy to use. New micro SD cards come with a full sized adapter which fits in a Mac SD card slot. I have been sucessfully using a 2013 MacBook Pro. As to Ropieee, you’ll find all relevant info on the Ropieee web site.

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You can assemble a Raspberry Pi 4 in about 5 minutes. First you need to download RoPieee or RoPieeeXL to your computer and burn onto a micro SD card using Etcher. The parts can be purchased from Amazon for $74.

If you live in the US, I have one for sale on eBay. Otherwise, you can order Raspberry Pi 4, micro SD card, FLIRC case, and power supply from Amazon.

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I’m in Europe, but thanks for the offer!

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Parts you need:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07TD42S27/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B073K14CVB/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07WG4DW52/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07TYQRXTK/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

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Thanks! Everything available on some web site that ships to the country where I live.

But what about something with an even smaller form factor, like Nano Pi. Would it work?

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Why, this thing is small enough. There is no reason to reinvent the wheel.

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nano might work but maybe not with a dristro like ropieee thats all. you would need to be a bit more ssh hands on with something like dietpi

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Just to add to all the good suggestions you already recieved, i use a flock of SBC’s to do Roon Bridge duties.
They all work very well, none of them have ever caused any glitches in the audio stream and they all sound very good. (Only miniscule differences in precieved quality)
I have NanoPi Neo, NanoPi Neo2, Asus Tinkerboard, Raspberry Pi2B, 3B and one 4B. I prefer DietPi which is available for all of these and is very easy to setup, offer extended capabilities and functions.

I even run a Roon Core with DietPi x86 (not on a SBC though) which sound splendid, listening to it right now!

I dislike the 3B and 4B due to their WLAN and Bluetooth hardware and the 4B for it’s faulty construction where heat is an issue in almost every situation. The Flirc case solves that though, but prevent the use of a HAT.

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Just about any Pi will work, the 4 is better b/c the USB bus is separate for aUSB and ethernet.
If you are just using it for streaming like functions, that case will be fine.
Lots of software options, Ropieee, Volumio, Diet Pi, etc. You should look each one up and see which one seems most suitable for you.
You don’t need the NOOBS. Personally, I’d pick one of the other OS’s and write over it, or setup an SD card with the OS before you get the Pi.
Memory- for your use case it doesn’t matter.
I’d use ethernet if you can. More reliable.
If you get a Pi 4, there are approved official PS that have some noise reduction on them. I’d go with that. You can always upgrade later if you aren’t satisfied.

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Unless you are knowledgeable in these matters, there is no reason to make this more complicated than it needs to be.

The micro SD card comes with an adapter to fit the SD card slot in most laptops.

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I have NanoPi Neo, NanoPi Neo2, Asus Tinkerboard, Raspberry Pi2B, 3B and one 4B. I prefer DietPi which is available for all of these and is very easy to setup, offer extended capabilities and functions.

I dislike the 3B and 4B due to their WLAN and Bluetooth hardware and the 4B for it’s faulty construction where heat is an issue in almost every situation. The Flirc case solves that though, but prevent the use of a HAT.

Interesting information, thanks. As always, and that’s the fun of it, there not a single way!

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Just about any Pi will work, the 4 is better b/c the USB bus is separate for aUSB and ethernet.

This is what I read as well, but I don’t know the real-life impact of this.

{…} If you get a Pi 4, there are approved official PS that have some noise reduction on them. I’d go with that. You can always upgrade later if you aren’t satisfied.

Thanks for all the hints!

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Right, but I’m not scared of setting up Linux systems, I am very familiar with them…
In any case, the “turn-key” solution you suggest is really nice! Here in Switzerland I can get everything for about 120 USD, shipping and taxes included. Not exactly cheap, but manageable.

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Mmh… A NanoPi NEO2 with its heat sink and metal case would cost exactly half… That one, plus DietPi, plus Roon Bridge should do the job, and it’s really tiny.
I’ve only read that it tends to heat up a bit, as does the Raspberry Pi 4.

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I run a bunch of pi’s but the flirc mounted unit inside another case is the coolest (in ac room for a few hours) now. Some of the others are in ambient temp places where that is around 30+C and in enclosed cases like the DiningRoon unit

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Its a DIY DAC setup

Hans is doing one with a NanoPi here in the same thread

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