Inovato Quadra - $29 Squeezelite player

[wtnh]

I assume you can SSH in and do it from there.


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Yes - SSH is enabled by default. I installed LMS and Squeezelite without a monitor connected - just using SSH, so the box runs fine headless.

[wtnh]

Nice to see RPi alternatives.

I've been mucking about with this box from Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B46D9VCP

It's also $29 (shipping included), but adds a remote control and TOSLink optical output.

I downloaded the Inovato build of Armbian to an SD card, and it boots up just fine on this box (haven't yet tried to burn it to the device's flash).

......

Good stuff - I got a Quadra box and managed to get LMS and Squeezelite running on it together for a friend without too much fuss. This T95 box looks pretty much identical but adds the remote and TOSlink as a bonus. Plus, Amazon is currently knocking another $2 off (coupon). I may get one to play with.

Have you seen any gotchas with this T95 box and the Inovato build? Flashing it would be a more permanent solution, I would think. Thanks for documenting your findings so far.

[threshold350]

Nice work! Maybe on my Christmas break I’ll try one of these out. Fun project for $29


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[chicks]

Measurements of the T95's Toslink output. It truncates everything to 16 bits, but so long as you're happy with CD quality (as I am), it's very clean. The RME test files show it's big-perfect at 16 bits.

filename = in/inovato.wav
freq = 1000, t1 = 1, t2 = 5
frame rate = 44100, channel = 2
shape = (2, 253952), dim = 253952, sample_rate = 44100 channels = 2
track length = 5.76 seconds
low_freq = 10.0, max_freq = 1000.0
low_freq = 10.0, max_freq = 1000.0
channel 1: thd = 0.00007 %
channel 2: thd = 0.00007 %

[chicks]

My experimental Python script attached. Tested on the $29 Android TV box from Amazon, with 7", 24" and 65" HDMI displays, but should scale to any size 16:9 display.

Remote control functions to select which Squeezebox to monitor, pause/play/stop, next/prev, direct select playlist item 1-10 with number keys.

HDMI standby when nothing is playing.

Volume buttons are not grabbed by the python script currently, but work with alsa on the local box. If you're running squeezelite on this box, its volume will be controlled unless you're using the hw: alsa output. Should be simple enough to add to the script.

to prep, from a cmd shell on the box, running the Inovato Armbian distro on an SD card:
sudo apt install python3-evdev
sudo apt install python3-tk
sudo apt install python3-pip

unzip the attached file in the /home/quadra directory
cd sb
sudo pip3 -r requirements.txt

edit the sb.sh file with the ip address of your LMS server
./sb.sh to launch

to set up for auto launch:
sudo armbian-config
under system, select desktop
change to desktop with auto login

In the Armbian menus, set up auto start for /home/quadra/sb/sb.sh, so that it starts at bootup

Have fun!

Running on 24" and 7" displays, currently monitoring my WiiM Mini (LMS->WiiM via UPnP plugin):

[chicks]

The Android box from Amazon comes with an IR remote, which works well, once mapped, under Armbian.

Stumbled upon this great Asynchronous Python lib which makes pulling data from LMS super simple. Mucking about with a Python app to drive an HDMI display of any size, with automatic resizing. Looking good so far...

[castalla]

Spdif works out of the box, and Squeezeplayer works too. Just a clunky (IMO) UI, which requires navigation to the app every power cycle, and defaults back to hdmi audio as well. With Armbian, you can fully automate everything, including screen turnoff when playing is done / turn on when playing starts.

SB Player has a run on startup setting.

[chicks]

Since it ships running Android, you could install a Squeezebox player app such as SqueezePlayer or SB Player. If you want S/PDIF output, probably still need to make the configuration changes you suggested.

Spdif works out of the box, and Squeezeplayer works too. Just a clunky (IMO) UI, which requires navigation to the app every power cycle, and defaults back to hdmi audio as well. With Armbian, you can fully automate everything, including screen turnoff when playing is done / turn on when playing starts.

[Apesbrain]

I've been mucking about with this box from Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B46D9VCP

Since it ships running Android, you could install a Squeezebox player app such as SqueezePlayer or SB Player. If you want S/PDIF output, probably still need to make the configuration changes you suggested.

[chicks]

I've been mucking about with this box from Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B46D9VCP

It's also $29 (shipping included), but adds a remote control and TOSLink optical output.

I downloaded the Inovato build of Armbian to an SD card, and it boots up just fine on this box (haven't yet tried to burn it to the device's flash).

Here is the keycode map I made for it. I expected it to match the tanix_tx5max, but it doesn't. Named it snt... from the mfg name on the box. Here is a great primer on installing the keycode maps and using them for evdev and python-evdev: https://www.sigmdel.ca/michel/ha/opi/ir_03_en.html

[[protocols]]
name = "snt_tx5max"
protocol = "nec"
variant = "necx"
[protocols.scancodes]
0x2fe40 = "KEY_POWER"
0x2fef3 = "KEY_MUTE"
0x2fe10 = "KEY_VOLUMEDOWN"
0x2fe18 = "KEY_VOLUMEUP"
0x2fe16 = "KEY_UP"
0x2fe51 = "KEY_LEFT"
0x2fe50 = "KEY_RIGHT"
0x2fe1a = "KEY_DOWN"
0x2fe13 = "KEY_OK"
0x2fe11 = "KEY_HOME"
0x2fe4c = "KEY_MENU"
0x2fe19 = "KEY_BACK"
0x2fe4e = "KEY_1"
0x2fe0d = "KEY_2"
0x2fe0c = "KEY_3"
0x2fe4a = "KEY_4"
0x2fe09 = "KEY_5"
0x2fe08 = "KEY_6"
0x2fe46 = "KEY_7"
0x2fe05 = "KEY_8"
0x2fe04 = "KEY_9"
0x2fe00 = "KEY_SUBTITLE"
0x2fe01 = "KEY_0"
0x2fe42 = "KEY_DELETE"

To enable the TOSLink, sudo armbian-config / system / Dtc, and add the following just below the sound_hdmi entry:

        sound-spdif {
                compatible = "simple-audio-card";
                status = "okay";
                simple-audio-card,name = "Onboard SPDIF";

                simple-audio-card,cpu {
                        sound-dai = <0x6f>;
                };

                simple-audio-card,codec {
                        sound-dai = <0x85>;
                };
        };

        spdif-out {
                #sound-dai-cells = <0x00>;
                compatible = "linux,spdif-dit";
                phandle = <0x85>;
        };

Scroll down to this entry, and change status from "disabled" to "okay".

                [email protected] {
                        #sound-dai-cells = <0x00>;
                        compatible = "allwinner,sun50i-h6-spdif";
                        reg = <0x5093000 0x400>;
                        interrupts = <0x00 0x15 0x04>;
                        clocks = <0x04 0x63 0x04 0x62>;
                        clock-names = "apb\0spdif";
                        resets = <0x04 0x29>;
                        dmas = <0x24 0x02>;
                        dma-names = "tx";
                        pinctrl-names = "default";
                        pinctrl-0 = <0x2f>;
                        status = "okay";
                        phandle = <0x6f>;
                };

Working on expanding my WiiM display to add the remote control functions, but will also (eventually) look into using this as an LMS / Squeezelite display, assuming WiiM never gets around to adding Squeezelite support.

[chicks]

With LMS and squeezelite both running, playing a FLAC from Tidal, Quad-core CPU is about 96% idle.

[chicks]

Thanks for the reply regarding Squeezelite install. What was involved in getting Squeezelite to output via USB?

Use aplay -L to find the hw: entry for your DAC
Edit /etc/default/squeezelite to enter the data
sudo systemctl restart squeezelite

https://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?116887-Inovato-Quadra-streamer-option-to-Rasp-Pi-for-USB-DAC

[Apesbrain]

Plugged in a Topping D10s, repointed Squeezelite, and 24/192 test works nicely.

Thanks for the reply regarding Squeezelite install. What was involved in getting Squeezelite to output via USB?

[chicks]

Viable for use a server (just LMS)?

Yes. Downloaded the latest ARM .deb of LMS, and it installs with a minor hitch, easily fixed.

dpkg: error processing package logitechmediaserver (--install):
dependency problems - leaving unconfigured
Errors were encountered while processing:
logitechmediaserver
[email protected]:~$ sudo apt install libcrypt-openssl-rsa-perl
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree... Done
Reading state information... Done
You might want to run 'apt --fix-broken install' to correct these.
The following packages have unmet dependencies:
libcrypt-openssl-rsa-perl : Depends: libcrypt-openssl-bignum-perl but it is not going to be installed
Depends: libcrypt-openssl-random-perl but it is not going to be installed
E: Unmet dependencies. Try 'apt --fix-broken install' with no packages (or specify a solution).
[email protected]:~$ sudo apt --fix-broken install
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree... Done
Reading state information... Done
Correcting dependencies... Done
The following additional packages will be installed:
libcrypt-openssl-bignum-perl libcrypt-openssl-random-perl libcrypt-openssl-rsa-perl
The following NEW packages will be installed:

[Paul Webster]

Seems to be similar processing power to RPi3B+ (Quad Core A53)