If I have something like a Pi or any other small Linux based box (I'm thinking mainly about the cheap Android PC sticks you can get for about £30 with just an HDMI output), would it generally be able to output unencrypted audio over HDMI so that I can break it out using a simple cable[1]?
I'm looking to play with multi-room audio on Linux and little boxes like these seem ideal if I can get audio out of them easily.
I can't think of a good reason why Linux will encrypt things by default (and none of my sources will have evil DRM on them) so this ought to work fine, didn't it?
[1] Eg: www.ebay.co.uk/itm/190893868511
On 20 January 2014 15:05, Mark Rogers mark@quarella.co.uk wrote:
I'm looking to play with multi-room audio on Linux and little boxes like these seem ideal if I can get audio out of them easily.
Sorry, forgot to include a link to the multi-room audio ideas that I'd like to play with:
http://www.hackerposse.com/~rozzin/journal/whole-home-pulseaudio.html
It relies on me being able to get Debian (or more likely Ubuntu) running from one of the Android sticks but that seems do-able.
On Mon, Jan 20, 2014 at 03:13:34PM +0000, Mark Rogers wrote:
On 20 January 2014 15:05, Mark Rogers mark@quarella.co.uk wrote:
I'm looking to play with multi-room audio on Linux and little boxes like these seem ideal if I can get audio out of them easily.
Sorry, forgot to include a link to the multi-room audio ideas that I'd like to play with:
http://www.hackerposse.com/~rozzin/journal/whole-home-pulseaudio.html
It relies on me being able to get Debian (or more likely Ubuntu) running from one of the Android sticks but that seems do-able.
I'd be interested in seeing how this works for you.
I've done Android Tablet -> Bluetooth -> Speakers which seems to work OK, does using the HDMI offer any advantages over using Bluetooth (e.g. better quality)?
On 20 January 2014 17:59, Chris Green cl@isbd.net wrote:
I've done Android Tablet -> Bluetooth -> Speakers which seems to work OK, does using the HDMI offer any advantages over using Bluetooth (e.g. better quality)?
The only advantages I'm working with at the moment are: the stick has an HDMI port that would be more "tidy" if used than not used, and it doesn't have bluetooth so that means sticking a bluetooth USB adapter in. Neither are big reasons (I'm pretty sure the bluetooth USB adapters you can easily pick up from Poundland and similar stores will work fine so it's not a cost issue!)
Also, in some rooms I already have stereo equipment so the idea would be to bring audio into the AUX input on that, rather than directly to speakers. (If a stereo has the ability to take audio via bluetooth from a mobile phone, I assume that would allow me to send it from the Linux box that way instead?)
On the other hand if I want to put something into a room which currently has nothing maybe bluetooth makes more sense in that instance. However I assume that bluetooth would add some latency? The whole idea is that the audio between rooms would be synchronised. (I am of-course assuming that the HDMI output wouldn't add any latency which may well be a faulty assumption.)
Mark
On Thu, Jan 23, 2014 at 08:50:58AM +0000, Mark Rogers wrote:
On 20 January 2014 17:59, Chris Green cl@isbd.net wrote:
I've done Android Tablet -> Bluetooth -> Speakers which seems to work OK, does using the HDMI offer any advantages over using Bluetooth (e.g. better quality)?
The only advantages I'm working with at the moment are: the stick has an HDMI port that would be more "tidy" if used than not used, and it doesn't have bluetooth so that means sticking a bluetooth USB adapter in. Neither are big reasons (I'm pretty sure the bluetooth USB adapters you can easily pick up from Poundland and similar stores will work fine so it's not a cost issue!)
OK, makes sense. In my case I'm looking for the simplest way to provide sound and a tablet (all Android tablets seem to have Bluetooth) plus some powered speakers and a Bluetooth receiver is what I'm using.
Also, in some rooms I already have stereo equipment so the idea would be to bring audio into the AUX input on that, rather than directly to speakers. (If a stereo has the ability to take audio via bluetooth from a mobile phone, I assume that would allow me to send it from the Linux box that way instead?)
You could use a little Bluetooth receiver like I have just bought, it cost £5.99 from a eBay seller.
On the other hand if I want to put something into a room which currently has nothing maybe bluetooth makes more sense in that instance. However I assume that bluetooth would add some latency? The whole idea is that the audio between rooms would be synchronised. (I am of-course assuming that the HDMI output wouldn't add any latency which may well be a faulty assumption.)
Hmm, not sure about the latency issue. In our case we nearly always want *different* things in different rooms, e.g. someone is cooking in the kitchen listening to cricket on 5-live sports extra, I'm in my study listening to Cajun music and there's someone in the lounge listening to orchestral music. Each needs a 'local' way of selecting what they're listening to.
On 20 Jan 15:05, Mark Rogers wrote:
If I have something like a Pi or any other small Linux based box (I'm thinking mainly about the cheap Android PC sticks you can get for about £30 with just an HDMI output), would it generally be able to output unencrypted audio over HDMI so that I can break it out using a simple cable[1]?
The Pi has a second audio output of a 3.5mm jack, problem solved, game over, etc. (I use mine primarily as a "hifi" and have it plugged in to a set of cheap but reasonable Wharfdale 2.1 PC speakers).
On 24 January 2014 01:02, Brett Parker iDunno@sommitrealweird.co.uk wrote:
The Pi has a second audio output of a 3.5mm jack, problem solved, game over, etc. (I use mine primarily as a "hifi" and have it plugged in to a set of cheap but reasonable Wharfdale 2.1 PC speakers).
I was trying to avoid standardising on the Pi, partly because I prefer the BeagleBone black and that only has audio via HDMI. But I think you're right - at the moment that's my best choice.
On 24 Jan 13:13, Mark Rogers wrote:
On 24 January 2014 01:02, Brett Parker iDunno@sommitrealweird.co.uk wrote:
The Pi has a second audio output of a 3.5mm jack, problem solved, game over, etc. (I use mine primarily as a "hifi" and have it plugged in to a set of cheap but reasonable Wharfdale 2.1 PC speakers).
I was trying to avoid standardising on the Pi, partly because I prefer the BeagleBone black and that only has audio via HDMI. But I think you're right - at the moment that's my best choice.
Though, if price isn't a problem, you could get some of:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Ex-Pro%C2%AE-AV-Pro-Audio-Extractor-3-5mm/dp/B00ATRH...
At £20 a throw, though, they're almost as expensive as a Pi.
Cheers,
On Fri, Jan 24, 2014 at 01:02:31AM +0000, Brett Parker wrote:
On 20 Jan 15:05, Mark Rogers wrote:
If I have something like a Pi or any other small Linux based box (I'm thinking mainly about the cheap Android PC sticks you can get for about £30 with just an HDMI output), would it generally be able to output unencrypted audio over HDMI so that I can break it out using a simple cable[1]?
The Pi has a second audio output of a 3.5mm jack, problem solved, game over, etc. (I use mine primarily as a "hifi" and have it plugged in to a set of cheap but reasonable Wharfdale 2.1 PC speakers).
Though the quality of the Pi's audio output is not very well thought of in general is it? For casual listening around the house I'm sure it's fine but I wouldn't want to use it to drive 'serious' HiFi.
On 24 Jan 14:45, Chris Green wrote:
On Fri, Jan 24, 2014 at 01:02:31AM +0000, Brett Parker wrote:
On 20 Jan 15:05, Mark Rogers wrote:
If I have something like a Pi or any other small Linux based box (I'm thinking mainly about the cheap Android PC sticks you can get for about £30 with just an HDMI output), would it generally be able to output unencrypted audio over HDMI so that I can break it out using a simple cable[1]?
The Pi has a second audio output of a 3.5mm jack, problem solved, game over, etc. (I use mine primarily as a "hifi" and have it plugged in to a set of cheap but reasonable Wharfdale 2.1 PC speakers).
Though the quality of the Pi's audio output is not very well thought of in general is it? For casual listening around the house I'm sure it's fine but I wouldn't want to use it to drive 'serious' HiFi.
If you're already throwing lossy mp3s at it, you're probably not going to hear a difference, it's plenty good enough for my porpoises.
On Fri, Jan 24, 2014 at 02:51:03PM +0000, Brett Parker wrote:
On 24 Jan 14:45, Chris Green wrote:
On Fri, Jan 24, 2014 at 01:02:31AM +0000, Brett Parker wrote:
On 20 Jan 15:05, Mark Rogers wrote:
If I have something like a Pi or any other small Linux based box (I'm thinking mainly about the cheap Android PC sticks you can get for about £30 with just an HDMI output), would it generally be able to output unencrypted audio over HDMI so that I can break it out using a simple cable[1]?
The Pi has a second audio output of a 3.5mm jack, problem solved, game over, etc. (I use mine primarily as a "hifi" and have it plugged in to a set of cheap but reasonable Wharfdale 2.1 PC speakers).
Though the quality of the Pi's audio output is not very well thought of in general is it? For casual listening around the house I'm sure it's fine but I wouldn't want to use it to drive 'serious' HiFi.
If you're already throwing lossy mp3s at it, you're probably not going to hear a difference, it's plenty good enough for my porpoises.
Nearly all my music is FLAC. :-)
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Brett Parker -
Chris Green -
Mark Rogers