re-purpose boom

[joske]

Hi All,

my boom display is dead for second time (the rest clearly works, as it lights up and takes an IP address. When connecting to squeezebox server, it doesn't play sound though. So there might be more wrong.

Anyway, I have a pi zero with audioberry hat that runs raspotify. Did anyone try to re-use the amplifier/speaker system on the boom? (I'd want to connect the audio output from the pi to the amplifier of the boom).

Any tips?

thx,
jos

[Redrum]

This might help you: https://www.eetimes.com/white-paper-...-audio-design/

Also, I have not looked at the back of my boom (and am afraid to move it - faulty power jack ), but I think it's either equipped with a line in. You could try just plug into that, but I imagine there is an input detect circuit (line in vs sb swap) which hopefully is not part of what isn't working.

But first, so obviously nothing is being displayed, but does LMS see it as a player? If so, are you able to select it on the LMS UI, and play something? If yes, then use anything else to control the blank boom, a phone, tablet, other SB device, browser, etc etc... If no, well...

Aside from that if its just the display it's replaceable.

Jim

[joske]

Hi Jim,

I've read that paper before, unfortunately it doesn't say how/where to inject audio and ignore the rest of the software.

Yes squeezebox server sees the player and says it's playing music, but I don't hear anything.

I know the display is replaceable, Joe has already replaced it once for me. But I want to use it as a kind of spotify player and using the squeezebox software for that was quite clunky (although that worked in the past). The reason is that the audio circuit is very well designed as explained in that paper, so if I could just feed in music from the pi that would give me great audio.

[Paul Webster]

From the old FAQ

Q. Can I plug in my friend's iPod or other MP3 player and listen to music from the external player?

A. Absolutely. There is a line-in jack on the back for this purpose, and there is even a 3.5mm to 3.5mm stereo cable thrown in for doing just that!

Q. Can I plug my computer's line output into the Squeezebox Boom line-input and use the boom as my PC speakers, while listening to streaming music at the same time?

A. Yep, you sure can. You have the choice to use the line-in jack exclusively, or mix streaming music and line-in. The line-in level is adjustable independent of the main volume. In fact, if you have an amplified microphone, you could plug that into the Squeezebox Boom and sing along with your favorite tunes!

https://wiki.slimdevices.com/index.php/Squeezebox_Boom_FAQ.html

[joske]

Yes I used it as such many years ago, but IIRC you had to set the boom to line in mode using the screen + dial. As the screen is not working, I have no idea how I could do that.

[CJS]

If you can live without a display on the boom, you can control LMS + Boom from your smartphone using the Material skin plugin on LMS. In my opinion that gives a nice user interface, and I would not call it clunky. But then you need somehow to get the audio working on the Boom.

The Boom does have a line audio input on the back. So you can try if you get audio when you connect an audio source to that line input. Quote from Boom User Guide:

Back Panel Connectors
A, Line in. Ideal for connecting an MP3 player, portable CD player, or other audio device with a 3.5mm line level output and enjoying Squeezebox Boom’s advance driver design and acoustics. It’s not necessary to select Line In as a source from the front panel; Squeezebox Boom will automatically detect the connection of your device.

EDIT: You say you have a Pi Zero. I suppose with audio DAC board? You can install piCorePlayer on your Pi Zero, and use it as a Squeezebox player that you connect to the line input of your Boom. I run pCP on a Pi Zero W with Hifiberry DAC Zero, and it works without problems. But it will only work if the line input of your Boom is still functional.

[joske]

Oh that's not how I remember it working. I'll try again tomorrow then.

Yes, I know I could use the pi as squeezebox player, but I'm more interested in re-using the audio of the boom as spotify connect player.

[Redrum]

the problem with many of the suggestions, including mine, assume the boom is working, it isn't. Feasibility of anything starts with what sections are not working and what are (if any). With it not producing any audio when controlled by LMS, it's hard to assume it's the fault of the control system and not the audio itself.

You want to salvage the "good sound" but the good sound is thanks in part to the dsp, who knows if that is separate or integrated into the ASIC or ASIC's. I did not read through the white paper, but a hint might be in there.

joske if it were me, I would PM Joe and ask for his thoughts. I personally would try to repair it, or at least take a stab at repairing it, and maybe some light will be shed on what can be salvaged.

Jim

[CJS]

Feasibility of anything starts with what sections are not working and what are (if any). With it not producing any audio when controlled by LMS, it's hard to assume it's the fault of the control system and not the audio itself.

I agree. Re-use of the audio part requires that the audio part is fully functional. See block diagram below. If for some reason the Xilinx FPGA is defective, that could explain why the display and the audio is not working (I2S is digital audio interface). You can only re-use the audio part if the TAS3204 (DSP/DAC,/ADC) is still fully functional. I guess that audio volume control is done via the I2C interface of TAS3204. So the CPU must also still work. Even if volume control is done on the external Pi Zero, the CPU must set a preset value for the volume control in the TAS3204.

There is a chance that the TAS3204 is still functional, so I think it is worthwhile to check if you get audio when connecting an audio source to the line input.

EDIT: On second thought, I think it will be very difficult to use the audio part of the Boom without controlling the Boom via LMS. The Boom was not designed to be used stand-alone. Configuration of the TAS3204 is done by the CPU, and the CPU is controlled by LMS. If your are lucky, only the VFD Display or its control circuit is defective. You say the Boom does not produce sound. Did you try to control the audio volume of the Boom via LMS? There is a chance that the audio volume setting is zero or very low. If you can't get audio by increasing the volume via LMS, than I think you need to accept that your Boom has reached End Of Life.

[Man in a van]

Plugins are also required



ronnie

[Redrum]

Plugins are also required



ronnie

Funny you should mention that Ronnie...I have seem Line In in my plugins available list for many years, so I assumed it was needed to "repurpose" another jack/socket function (like line out/sub), but in reading the manual it says nothing about needing the plugin for Line In, and there is no documentation or conversation on the plugin I could find.

Jim

[Redrum]

EDIT: On second thought, I think it will be very difficult to use the audio part of the Boom without controlling the Boom via LMS. The Boom was not designed to be used stand-alone. Configuration of the TAS3204 is done by the CPU, and the CPU is controlled by LMS. If your are lucky, only the VFD Display or its control circuit is defective. You say the Boom does not produce sound. Did you try to control the audio volume of the Boom via LMS? There is a chance that the audio volume setting is zero or very low. If you can't get audio by increasing the volume via LMS, than I think you need to accept that your Boom has reached End Of Life.
.

Good observation. It reminds me that as a kid we could drop a bigger engine into a 1970's car, but not anymore

Good call on checking the volume. The one thing I'd add is to see if you get headphone audio. I am not sure what default is, but per Ronnie's post, install the line out plugin and toggle and see if you get audio in the phones. Per the system architecture drawing, it might tell you which block the problem is in.

Similarly, just give the line in a try and see if you get sound, via speakers or headphones.

Also, per the white paper and the drawing, the DSP is handling the crossover, and the analog signal is being fed to two amps, one each for bass and tweeter (L/R), So, it's not just like you can just bypass the dsp and feed the amps with an analog signal without a crossover. Something you can do, but the dsp is being used to tune and separate the audio specifically for the drivers and cabinet dynamics (again, we used to be able to swap out car engines).

I had thought of a squeeze amp, with the existing drivers, but there again, you need a crossover.

joske - if you feel like playing around a bit, go for it, but I would suggest testing the various iterations to see if you can find any volume. I am sure that Joe would have allot of knowledge. Having said that, second hand booms are not unreasonable (here in US ~ $100). Not as easy to find as Radios, but they are out there.

Jim

[joske]

Hi All,

thanks for all the suggestions. My investigations tonight have lead to this:

• boom reacts to LMS power button, volume is synced (can change volume in LMS GUI and on the device and the change is reflected in the GUI)
• tried line in via an old iPhone 6 (checked the line out is working with my PC - fine). Boom recognizes line in and switches to it. No sound from the device. Cranking up volume on iphone and LMS settings doesn't help
• tried line out (set to always on), and only noise comes through

Seems like more is broken than just the display...

[Redrum]

[*]tried line out (set to always on), and only noise comes through

Good tests. Just to be clear, does line out just make noise when using line in?

Jim

[joske]

I did not test line out with line in (I only found 1 3.5 mm jack cable...).

Edit: tested with playing music from LMS.