Schiit Happened: The Story of the World's Most Improbable Start-Up

[AndreYew]

re. desktop/laptop computer vs. Pi for streaming. I use a RaspPi 2 with a Pi2AES hat running Picoreplayer, and couldn't be happier. It's small, low-powered, and runs cool, so I can place it anywhere. It also has a very high quality S/PDIF/AES output, which is something that's hard to get in a desktop computer without having a PCI slot. It reboots quickly when it has a power interruption, and it's easy to use in the Squeezeserver LMS system. I feed the coax input of a Yggy A2 with it. It will stream 192/24 without breaking a sweat.

I also found out recently that Siri shortcuts can issue JSON commands, and the Squeezeserver accepts commands in JSON, so I can do simple things like make it stream from my local classical music and NPR stations, or turn it off with a voice command, which is great for casual listening or if I'm running out of the house. If I'm listening to music, I use iPeng on my iPad to control the server that serves music I've ripped from my own collection as well as bought from places like HDtracks. It's one of the best and most satisfying audio devices I've owned.

 

[Brubacca]

Speaking of Raspberry Pi w Pi2AES-Lite.

Finished my original design for something that compliments my Naim Qute half size amp. No rhyme or reason for the depth other than it looked about right. Support posts are huge. The open front is for the Official Raspberry Pi 7" Touch screen.

It will be an 11 hour print tomorrow. Wish me luck. I have printed pieces of this (the front and the Pi part) to make sure things fit before the long print.

 

[bevanc]

I've bounced around various options and I've built RPis and messed around with the iFi Zen Stream and a lifetime subscriber to Roon, having also built my own server for it with a NUC.

Bluesound OS is actually ok and it does a great job as a streamer. The Node just works, even if I mostly use it as an endpoint for Roon, it also has a functioning HDMI input for the TV as well. On top of that, hooked up to either my Mojo 2 or BF2 over USB, it's the best sounding option I've found without spending silly money.

I do still use the iFi Zen Stream for my headphone setup, but the software could be much better and I was surprised to be able to tell a difference with my preference being the Node.

Roon is great, but if you are looking for a simple solution, a lifetime licence and the Nucleus are probably around $2k now. You can do it cheaper, but it's no longer so simple.

 

[Balthazar B]

re. desktop/laptop computer vs. Pi for streaming. I use a RaspPi 2 with a Pi2AES hat running Picoreplayer, and couldn't be happier. It's small, low-powered, and runs cool, so I can place it anywhere. It also has a very high quality S/PDIF/AES output, which is something that's hard to get in a desktop computer without having a PCI slot. It reboots quickly when it has a power interruption, and it's easy to use in the Squeezeserver LMS system. I feed the coax input of a Yggy A2 with it. It will stream 192/24 without breaking a sweat.

I also found out recently that Siri shortcuts can issue JSON commands, and the Squeezeserver accepts commands in JSON, so I can do simple things like make it stream from my local classical music and NPR stations, or turn it off with a voice command, which is great for casual listening or if I'm running out of the house. If I'm listening to music, I use iPeng on my iPad to control the server that serves music I've ripped from my own collection as well as bought from places like HDtracks. It's one of the best and most satisfying audio devices I've owned.

Thanks for posting this! Looks like one can do much the same thing with Home Assistant's voice controls. Therefore, no crapple cloud dependencies (or exposures)!

https://forums.slimdevices.com/foru...tware/1646135-home-assistant-lms-cli-commands

And this is just the beginning. Should get richer and more flexible month by month!

 

[riffrafff]

I would send an email to Schiit support, and see what they say: that's how people got it in the past. I think there was a nominal fee for it after it got more official. You might want to open your unit up first to see if it already has it: there's a label on an 8-pin DIP chip on the top side of the circuit board that has a sticker with "MD218" if you have the updated firmware. If your MMB is built in 2018, there's a good chance it has it already.

I'll try that! Thanks!

 

[eliottj]

........................right.........so if I want a Schiit product I can just buy another external transformer that I have to be sure is of high quality to not impact the sound, dopuble up on mains cables and also make sure the frequency matchs, which the base does not. All because Schiit a popular online(international) audio company in 2023 cant wind transformers for the rest of the world when even the smallest chinese company can.

This is a limited run product right now. Jason said he might be able to provide it later, IIRC.

 

[eliottj]

That's exactly what a secret agent would say. So, gubmint or freelance?

Uhhhhh......

 

[OldRoadToad]

Yeah, while I resent an intrusion on my privacy, it's not like I'm a secret agent. Now, stay out of my bank account!

If something about some thing really bothers me? I do not buy it.

ORT

 

[Balthazar B]

Yeah, while I resent an intrusion on my privacy, it's not like I'm a secret agent. Now, stay out of my bank account!

"Who are you?"
"I am Number Two."
"Who is Number One?"
"You are number <bank account number>"
"I'm not a number. I am a FREE MAN!"
"Whoa HA HA HA HA HA HA HA ha ha ha..."

 

[OldRoadToad]

That stapler ran out of staples!

ORT

 

[LobalWarming]

I agree. My expectation is Ai's that do not become human. The inherent human traits that will destroy the world and mankind have to go on the executive level of the world.
Humans must just play, make babies and art en listen music etc. NOT rule the world.

Sadly the current hotness in AI, generative LLMs have all been trained on data scrapped from the internet... Huge amounts of the worst of us. If AI does rule the world, or at least the internet, it won't be pleasant. But how'd we know the difference?

 

[OldRoadToad]

Sadly the current hotness in AI, generative LLMs have all been trained on data scrapped from the internet... Huge amounts of the worst of us. If AI does rule the world, or at least the internet, it won't be pleasant. But how'd we know the difference?

If AI does indeed learn from humans, it will start every "thought" with either, "I'm like"...or "I'm all".

ORT

 

[artur9]

Sadly the current hotness in AI,... have ... been trained on data scrapped from the internet... ...

Maybe, just hear me out, the A.I. will drive the humans off the internet and then people can start doing worthwhile things with their time?

(my name starts with A and I am on the internets )

 

[Ableza]

So, I don't want to pull @Jason Stoddard away from his work, but I'm hoping Jason might find time to respond with a simple yes or no, if he comes across this post. Is the update firmware for the MMB1 still available?

Back in 2019, Jason posted on another site that, "Yep, you should be able to ask for the new firmware for Modi Multibit, and have the ROM sent to you if you want. If you bend a pin, static it dead, or otherwise bone it up, well, that's your bag."

Is this still the case? I have an MMB1 that I bought in 2018 (SCH-08-M, S/N: 08M06540). I assume that it does not have the updated firmware, and I would love to obtain a copy. Please? Pretty please? Or am I simply far too late? I didn't even know about this until today (been out of the loop).

Thanks

I would email info@schiit.com and ask

 

[centuriones]

Quick Mjolnir 3 update (get your dislikes handy): unfortunately, no 230V version is currently possible without changing the transformers to provide acceptable hum and vibration.

If there are more crazy people who want Mjolnir 3 than expected, however, I will keep the door open for a second run, where we can plan for 230V. Don't get too excited. We're in a "wait and see" mode on this for now.

Please make the 230v version