Ropieee with Waveshare WM8960 Hat

Audio Gear Talk RoPieee
1

Hi all, I run two Ropieee loaded ROON endpoints currently and am trying to add a third using a Waveshare WM8960 Audio Hat from PI Hut. This is not specifically listed as a Ropieee hat in the configuration drop down. Has any one used this hat and identifed a definition that woukld work? thx

2

This requires a change to RoPieee: this HAT needs a specific driver (which RoPieee has on board), and needs additional configuration.

Here’s the catch: I’m willing to make that change and release a beta build so you can test with that.
However, there’s a chance that this all won’t work: the guys from Pi Hut have their own driver as well, so I’m not sure if the driver in the Raspberry kernel is actually up to date.

Let me know if you’re willing do to some testing.

Thanks

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Very happy to do some testing. My use case is that I want to re-use a vintage radio as a case for an endpoint. Battery powered and controlled from iphone (of course) using roon. Ideally also have the headpone socket to use to drive a further PA in my garden. Happy to test anything you could provide. Thanks

4

Hi @Nigel_Silverthorn ,

I’ve released a new beta build (2025.08.1) with some fixes, but also support for the Waveshare hat.

If you can test this for me that would be great. You need to switch to the beta channel (you can do that on the ‘advanced’ tab), follow instructions and wait a few hours. Then you’ll receive a popup stating that an update is available. Install that, and when you’re up and running again you should be able to select the Waveshare HAT in the HAT dropdown.

Let me know how it goes!

Thanks

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5

Will do. I can have a first shot today, when downloaded, and then run it over the next week.

6

Good afternoon Harry,

Updated
Raspberry Pi 4 Model B Rev 1.4 with a display 1
Raspberry Pi 4 Model B Rev 1.5 with a display 2
All works fine.

Gr Leen

7

Hi, initial trial and no sound so nto sure where to go next! I tried speakers and headphones as I think they are driven seperately, no joy. I am running a Pi Zero 2 W Rev1.0 and the Hat is brand new so I have not heard it work prior. Kinda feel like it needs a test mode to force a tone out to check! There is a momentary switch on the hat which maybe could be used to verify operation? Any thoughts?
Thanks

8

Can you send me feedback? You can find that option on the ‘advanced’ tab.

And in general: I was afraid of this. The fact that they have their own driver, instead of maintaining it properly in the kernel, was already a warning sign.

Let me check the logfiles to see if I did not make a mistake, so please send me feedback.

Thanks

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Hi,
Feedback ID is 3c0ce17d0bf5374c.
Thanks

10

Well, from the looks of it the audio device recognized.

How did you try to play audio… with Roon?
Can you send me feedback after you tried to play something over Roon?

11

oh. and keep it simple: something at 44.1k and 16 bits. This device is very limited.

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Feedback is in file 21c0ae1a7cc29614. I am using Roon and it identifies a 44.1 Khz 16 bit source, over the Roon advanced audio transport to a WM8960 using ALSA. Music is showing as playing in Roon at time of ‘feedback’ capture. Volume at 90%.
thx

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But are you hearing anything? Or silence?

14

Sorry, complete silence, like it was powered off!

15

Ok. From the logs everything looks ok. Roon thinks it’s ok and playing audio as well.
I think you even played with the volume in Roon, is that correct?

Anyhow, this is where it ends for me. There’s nothing that I can do more, and I’m afraid this is a result of the in tree driver vs their own maintained driver. That last one is against RoPieee policy…

thanks

16

Hi, yes I was fiddling with the volume in Roon. Thanks so much for your assistance, I think I will abandon this device, go back to a non-amplified card (HiFiBerry) and go analog for amp. I want to sticl Ropiee as with my other end points.
Thanks
Nigel

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