A novel way to massively improve the SQ of computer audio streaming

[BigAlMc]

Hi @rickca it was from the intel NUC guide on how to boot from USB but perhaps that's a misstep.

 

@tapatrick - my BIOS settings look exactly like yours.

 

So I'm wondering if its question 1 and I've grabbed the wrong image.

 

But on both SD Card and USB flashdrive I keep getting zero sign of there being a bootable device attached.

 

Cheers,

Alan

[rickca]

4 minutes ago, BigAlMc said:

I keep getting zero sign of there being a bootable device attached

How exactly did you prepare your flash drive?  Will it boot on any other computer you have?

 

On a Windows 10 system, I downloaded the .gz file, extracted the .img file using 7-zip, then used etcher (which is dead simple) to put the .img file on the flash drive.  I don't have a NUC yet, so I booted it on my Macbook Pro to make sure I had a bootable image.

[Holzohr]

2 minutes ago, rickca said:

On a Windows 10 system, I downloaded the .gz file, extracted the .img file using 7-zip, then used etcher (which is dead simple) to put the .img file on the flash drive.

No need to extract the .img file. Etcher does accept the .gz file. Makes it even more dead simple. ?

 

Important is to have a clean USB flash drive.

[BigAlMc]

I tried extracting the image using 7-zip and then burning to the USB drive as DD image using Rufus.

 

If someone can confirm whether it's the BBB version or another AL version that's best for endpoint patrol?

 

Cheers,

Alan

[Holzohr]

BBB is for the Beaglebone Black, you need the headless version for the NUC. The LXQT version (with GUI) is included in the $ 49.

[LTG2010]

1 hour ago, BigAlMc said:

If someone can confirm whether it's the BBB version or another AL version that's best for endpoint patrol?

 

audiolinux_mini_05.img.gz thats the headless one just burn it with Rufus 2.18 DD image.

Chose UEFI boot not legacy.

turn off secure boot.

chose linux os.

[tapatrick]

1 hour ago, BigAlMc said:

Hi @rickca it was from the intel NUC guide on how to boot from USB but perhaps that's a misstep.

 

@tapatrick - my BIOS settings look exactly like yours.

 

So I'm wondering if its question 1 and I've grabbed the wrong image.

 

But on both SD Card and USB flashdrive I keep getting zero sign of there being a bootable device attached.

 

Cheers,

Alan

Looks like one of the BIOS images didn’t load. But @LTG2010 has nailed it. 

 

[Middy]

More than remembering my login, seems like I've joined a conversation on the dark web with a Russian hacker collective. No one said set it to Linux  in bios. Even basics is a relative term...

Thanks for asking the questions Alan..

 

 

 

 

[austinpop]

2 minutes ago, Middy said:

More than remembering my login, seems like I've joined a conversation on the dark web with a Russian hacker collective. No one said set it to Linux  in bios. Even basics is a relative term...

Thanks for asking the question Alan..

 

 

You're not the first I've heard from who's mentioned this thread has turned a bit too technical. Could we focus this back on listening impressions and findings?

 

I am going to encourage people start posting their "how do I" NUC and AL questions over in this thread: 

 

 

[Soma]

5 hours ago, tapatrick said:

Today I set up an NUC7PJYH3 quad core with 16gb ram, as roonserver

Hi all, quick check nuc7pjyh model maximum memory on the intel website says 8GB. Does it mean 8gb for each slot or 8gb for entire system (sorry I am technically disabled). I have ordered 4gb*2 for NUC. If it can take 16gb, I will cancel and buy 8gb*2. Thanks

[elpampeano]

2 hours ago, LTG2010 said:

 

audiolinux_mini_05.img.gz thats the headless one just burn it with Rufus 2.18 DD image.

Chose UEFI boot not legacy.

turn off secure boot.

chose linux os.

Good point. New Rufus version (3.3) don't Works for me. And "ISO image" don't Works too.

[austinpop]

With the blessing of the OP @rickca, I have changed the name of that thread to: 

 

So - please use that thread to ask your functional "how do I" and WTF questions about Audiolinux AND NUCs out there.

 

Thanks in advance.

[lmitche]

Could you please be more precise about the definition of a wtf question?

[lmitche]

2 hours ago, Soma said:

Hi all, quick check nuc7pjyh model maximum memory on the intel website says 8GB. Does it mean 8gb for each slot or 8gb for entire system (sorry I am technically disabled). I have ordered 4gb*2 for NUC. If it can take 16gb, I will cancel and buy 8gb*2. Thanks

Well 16 gb worked here. However for an endpoint, less is more.

[greenleo]

8 hours ago, BigAlMc said:

Two questions on the NUC front.

 

One which might benefit the crowd and one I might need to take offline to PM.

 

Context is I'm trying to install AL on an NUC7CJYH as Roon endpoint.

 

Question that's more universal is can someone please clarify what version of AL is best suited to endpoint duties? There's been loads of references to $29 but of the 8 or so versions on the AL site two are €29, one is BBB and one is Pi3. Is it one of these or a different one?

 

Second question and I suspect I need to take this offline as it's indicative of my own technical dipshitness ?. I followed @greenleogreat install guide as well as checking the Intel forums but no matter what I try I keep getting no install device detected.

 

As per Intel I should:

1. Go to Advanced > Boot > Boot Priority.
2. Disable UEFI Boot and enable Legacy Boot.

But on my NUC7CJYH the UEFI option is not unselectable and the legacy boot does nothing. I flashed the latest BIOS update and the legacy boot window disappeared altogether.

 

So for the benefit of the thread is there something obvious I'm missing?

 

If its me being a dumbass then please ping me offline as I don't want to derail this great thread.

 

Cheers,

Alan

 

Pi3 is another physical platform.  Just buy one for PC.

 

For end point when using HQP, I will buy the headless (lxqt will be included) as an end point NAA in the audio PC.  The HQP in the control PC then runs in lxqt.

 

Roon may be run in the headless, which Larry knows much better and I know nothing.

 

So you need to know what you need and then buy the AL you want.

 

No need to flash bios.  You may pm me if needed.  The basic need is to relax the security boot thing.  Just take one or two minutes.

[austinpop]

2 hours ago, lmitche said:

Could you please be more precise about the definition of a wtf question?

 

Another attempt at humor by me, nothing more. Must. remember. emoji.

[BigAlMc]

6 hours ago, austinpop said:

You're not the first I've heard from who's mentioned this thread has turned a bit too technical. Could we focus this back on listening impressions and findings?

 

I am going to encourage people start posting their "how do I" NUC and AL questions over in this thread: 

 

@austinpop So Rajiv, I'm mostly listening to complete silence, interspersed with occasional swearing! ?

 

More seriously the other thread is a great idea and many thanks to @rickcafor creating it. Likewise thanks to @tapatrick, @greenleo

and @LTG2010 for their help.

 

I'm still a bit confused by all the references to the 29 buck version when it's the €49 version I need so some clarification on what version(s) work best as endpoint vs what works best as server might benefit the crowd here. Might be my rookie mistake but there were two at 29 and I knew I didn't want Pi so I wrongly concluded it must be the BBB one.

 

Oh well, onwards and hopefully upwards today.

 

Cheers,

Alan

[austinpop]

10 minutes ago, BigAlMc said:

 

@austinpop So Rajiv, I'm mostly listening to complete silence, interspersed with occasional swearing! ?

 

More seriously the other thread is a great idea and many thanks to @rickcafor creating it. Likewise thanks to @tapatrick, @greenleo

and @LTG2010 for their help.

 

I'm still a bit confused by all the references to the 29 buck version when it's the €49 version I need so some clarification on what version(s) work best as endpoint vs what works best as server might benefit the crowd here. Might be my rookie mistake but there were two at 29 and I knew I didn't want Pi so I wrongly concluded it must be the BBB one.

 

Oh well, onwards and hopefully upwards today.

 

Cheers,

Alan

 

This is the only version I’ve bought and used:

Audiolinux headless 1 year support with image        $ 49

[rettib2001]

11 hours ago, tapatrick said:

Today I set up an NUC7PJYH3 quad core with 16gb ram, as roonserver to add to my NUC7CJYH Roon bridge end point, both powered by separate SR4s both running AL in ramboot/extreme Mode. I’ll report more in a day or two but already the sound quality is the best I’ve ever had, no question. 

 

tapatrick, 

 

Can I ask what's running between the two nucs, switch, or directly bridged etc? 

[greenleo]

38 minutes ago, austinpop said:

 

This is the only version I’ve bought and used:

Audiolinux headless 1 year support with image        $ 49

Me too.

[tapatrick]

8 hours ago, Soma said:

Hi all, quick check nuc7pjyh model maximum memory on the intel website says 8GB. Does it mean 8gb for each slot or 8gb for entire system (sorry I am technically disabled). I have ordered 4gb*2 for NUC. If it can take 16gb, I will cancel and buy 8gb*2. Thanks

Yes NUC7PJYH works with 16gb Ram. I have 8gb in each slot. 

[tapatrick]

2 hours ago, rettib2001 said:

 

tapatrick, 

 

Can I ask what's running between the two nucs, switch, or directly bridged etc? 

I have an Aqvox switch between the 2 NUCs not bridged. It’s powered by a modded Teradak DC30W outputting  8v with 2 LT3045 voltage regs in series 7.5>5v. 

[afrancois]

I was getting some strange behavior with Roon in AL headless, but I've found the cause.

My music drive is quitting on me. I will replace the drive and do a robocopy of my main NAS to the music NAS.

I actually stream music from my backup NAS. This is a small NAS that's powered by an LPS.

 

[rettib2001]

1 hour ago, tapatrick said:

I have an Aqvox switch between the 2 NUCs not bridged. It’s powered by a modded Teradak DC30W outputting  8v with 2 LT3045 voltage regs in series 7.5>5v. 

 

Great, that's very similar to what I have in place. 

[rettib2001]

Given the highly subjective nature of our personal findings, this might not necessarily be of interest to many but the nuc7i7bnh (and I assume the more recent i7 nucs) handles upsampling to dsd512 well in terms of playback (smooth/uninterrupted) but the cpu temps are a little worrying when this is done under AL headless extreme. 

 

CPU temps, in this scenario, are hitting 90°.

 

Adding convolution into the mix obviously doesn't do them any favours either. 

 

CPU usage is around 120% when using these 'to the max' settings which suggests the system is being pushed a little beyond what it can comfortably handle, however as I said earlier playback is smooth and as blip/pop/click free as I've heard dsd512. 

 

To my ears the use of the extreme mode offers a sufficiently valuable improvement in sound quality to warrant exploring more creative cooling approaches...