Hey you all. I was wondering if I can get the community to help define, implement and grow an open-source, budget streamer. There are commercial solutions out there but I think we can do better than those.
Here are some aspects I am thinking of:
1. Built on a low cost, readily available hardware platform like RPi. Ethernet and Wifi support of course.
2. End-point support for Roon and Airplay. You call can suggest others.
3. Ability to download parametric EQ or FIR filters for speaker and room EQ. Integration with other tools should be provided for automatic Room EQ.
4. Support for active speakers using software crossovers and multiple external DACs. Support for sub-woofer outputs using independent DAC or whatever is in RPi if it is any good. If not, some kind of low cost HAT DAC.
5. GUI in a web-browser for configuration of above.
6. Support of optional display for cool animations/VU meters. I like explore very low latency implementation of this to keep better sync with music.
7. Cloud/automatic firmware update service with proper security fixes and implementation.
8. Availability of a complete solution in a case ready to go (sans DACs of course).
9. No need for internal UI to browse music and such. All of that will be driven by the client app elsewhere. Indeed the device should run headless out of the box. Per #5, web UI should be there for configuration.
I like us to organize this properly with a project leader and master decision maker in accepting changes, revisions, proper testing process and of course developers to work on these bits. I have one capable member (@StefaanE) volunteering to lead the project and some other bits but may need more development resources. I can be the marketing/product planning person.
This will be an adjunct to project @Rick Sykora is running on open-source ASR speaker design. I look to him to be the high level keeper of all of these sub-projects but need a "butt on the line" for this subsystem.
I don't have a name for this project so feel free to suggest some.
Some parts of the above are easy to do but the rest may present some challenges. Let's put all of our energy and resources toward it as I think we badly need such a simple, reliable, yet highly functional product. I know I need one as I am tired of maintaining my Windows PC based server for this use.
To get things started, let's have a discussion on above feature list and define it. Plus see who all can volunteer to help with what part of it.
Thank you all.
Here are some aspects I am thinking of:
1. Built on a low cost, readily available hardware platform like RPi. Ethernet and Wifi support of course.
2. End-point support for Roon and Airplay. You call can suggest others.
3. Ability to download parametric EQ or FIR filters for speaker and room EQ. Integration with other tools should be provided for automatic Room EQ.
4. Support for active speakers using software crossovers and multiple external DACs. Support for sub-woofer outputs using independent DAC or whatever is in RPi if it is any good. If not, some kind of low cost HAT DAC.
5. GUI in a web-browser for configuration of above.
6. Support of optional display for cool animations/VU meters. I like explore very low latency implementation of this to keep better sync with music.
7. Cloud/automatic firmware update service with proper security fixes and implementation.
8. Availability of a complete solution in a case ready to go (sans DACs of course).
9. No need for internal UI to browse music and such. All of that will be driven by the client app elsewhere. Indeed the device should run headless out of the box. Per #5, web UI should be there for configuration.
I like us to organize this properly with a project leader and master decision maker in accepting changes, revisions, proper testing process and of course developers to work on these bits. I have one capable member (@StefaanE) volunteering to lead the project and some other bits but may need more development resources. I can be the marketing/product planning person.
This will be an adjunct to project @Rick Sykora is running on open-source ASR speaker design. I look to him to be the high level keeper of all of these sub-projects but need a "butt on the line" for this subsystem.
I don't have a name for this project so feel free to suggest some.
Some parts of the above are easy to do but the rest may present some challenges. Let's put all of our energy and resources toward it as I think we badly need such a simple, reliable, yet highly functional product. I know I need one as I am tired of maintaining my Windows PC based server for this use.
To get things started, let's have a discussion on above feature list and define it. Plus see who all can volunteer to help with what part of it.
Thank you all.
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