Plexamp Headless Questions

Plex Labs
1

Hello, I’m looking into setting up Plexamp Headless, but before I start investing in Raspberry Pi I have some questions:

  1. **The most important question…**I have multiple users and each one of them has a unique Plex account. We are all part of the same Plex Home. My question: What account would the Plexamp Headless use? And, how does that impact the other users in the house in terms of their ability to cast to the Plexamp Headless from their own accounts? I want users to be able to use their own playlists and not be logged in to another Plex account.
  2. I see help guides online saying Raspberry Pi 3 with 2GB ram being acceptable. Is this true or should I really look at a 4 or 5 and more ram? This Raspberry Pi will probably only be used for the Plexamp Headless (yes, I know I could use the Raspberry Pi for many other things, but I don’t see this specific unit doing more).
  3. Do current Plexamp Headless users find having a control screen hooked up helpful (which, sort of seems to defeat the “headless” aspect)?
  4. Would I need any active cooling for the Raspberry? It appears it would not.

Thank you!

2

Sorry, I can’t answer your highest priority question because I am the only one who uses headless plexamp on my network.

  1. A Pi 3+ with 2GB will work. I think I have even used a less capable pi zero at one point, but I definitely used a pi 3+ for some years. It will work but it’s not ideal both because the CPU is barely adequate and also because the USB port on the pi 3 is noisy due to sharing resources with wifi. I recently (but luckily not that recently $$$) upgraded my two headless pi’s to pi 4’s with 4 GB. They are noticeably more reliable.
  2. I don’t use a screen on the Pi - plexamp running on my desktop and my mobile are fantastic controllers.
  3. I don’t have any active cooling, but I do have a “caseless” case for the Pi 4’s that radiate heat away. They work great.

PXL_20260608_191431504
PXL_20260608_1914315041920×2550 701 KB

3

These are very helpful! Love the case!! Can you tell me were you found it?

4

Case: https://www.walmart.com/ip/52Pi-Aluminum-Heatsink-Case-Raspberry-Pi-4-4-Alloy-Armor-Case-Passive-Cooling-Raspberry-NOT-Included/5505172861

5

That is beautiful!