Thanks for the answer.... A couple of follow-up questions: Will the following scenario work properly?
RPI4 running Logitech Music Server and PiCore Player will be connected to an external USB DAC via one USB 3.0 port. A Crucial X6 4tb external SSD will be connected to the other USB 3.0 port with all FLAC files. This RPI4 will be connected hardwired to network via ethernet. The external DAC will be connected via RCA to System 1. A Logitech SqueezeBox Touch will be hardwired to the same network via ethernet and then connected to via RCA to System 2.
Questions:
1. This should allow both System 1 and 2 to access and stream music from the Crucial SSD connected to the RPI4?
2. Will PiCore Player run on Android Phone and Tablet to control System 1?
3. Will PiCore Player on the same Android devices control the SBT on System 2 or will I need other software? I also have the SBT factory remote. Suggestions?
4. Also, on the RPI4, is there a way to turn off the USB2.0 and HDMI ports?
5. Will a fan be beneficial in the RPI4 case or will it create "noise" on the USB Port?
Am I missing anything or should this work?
All suggestions are welcome and thanks in advance for your help!
Happy New Year!
Hmm, see if I can help, at least a little.
First of all, you probably want the DAC connected to a USB2.0 port, but you'll say. It may or not be recognized on a 3.0 port. YMMV, not a big issue.
1. to my knowledge, yes.
2. have no clue, but if it acts as a LMS control point it should.
3. as per 2. it should, as it will see any device on the LAN as LMS endpoint.
4. you have no need of this, but at least for the USB hubs (READ: not the single ports, the set of 2, either both the 2.0 or both the 3.0) yes, there is - it is not permanent (after a reboot you'll need to disable them again, and yes, it is a matter of issuing commands on the console via SSH, or to create a script that gets run automatically at boot and does the job for you - but again, I don't see the reason why...). For HDMI there could be the same kind of commands, but ATM I am not aware of them.
5. the need for the fan depends on the case, I have my Pi4 in the case for the official 7'' display, no fan, only heat-sinks, and it stays comfortably at about 50/55 C. I cannot tell if it might introduce noise on the USB, but consider this: the DACs using UAC2.0 (almost all of them nowadays) are immune to the noise because the stream is not being forced by the Pi into the DAC - as per UAC1.0 - but instead it is a) requested by the DAC in chunks as it sees fit, and b) it is reclocked on the DAC side. It is true that your Pi will be under bigger load (PCP + LMS) than mine (just moOde player) so you may want to monitor it for a while, and connect a fan only if its temperature reaches trespasses 60C.
Please, consider my answers with a grain of salt, especially those about LMS (I am not an expert, most probably you'll find more help in the PiCorePlayer documentation about its LMS server / client capabilities), as I said I am confident it should, but cannot guarantee 100%.
HTH
Cheers, Al.