Plexamp so good, so bad!

Plex Labs
1

Hello

i am new user here. I am interested in playing hifi music with my Tidal subscription through my Android smartphone as controller.
I tested Roon/Audirvana/BubbleUpnP/JRiver but i was not convinced by the ergonomy of these products which have their own pros&cons.

Without conviction because for me Plex is for video, i discover Plexamp and would like to let it a chance.
My music devices are Devialet Phantom (main), Sonos Play 1 and Google Nest.

Here my feedback:

I find Plexamp android app the best controller ever experienced!
Everything is there, very well displayed, look and feel very efficiency. The navigation/ergonomy is so well thinking, look simple but very riched. TIDAL accound is very well integrated.

BUT 2 big drawbacks :

  • only Sonos/Chromecast devices are supported! My devialet phantoms are not seen.
  • latency with Sonos playback too long and sometimes instable.

These are no go for me, what a pity :frowning:

2

You’re missing the most interesting device, a headless version of Plexamp itself :sweat_smile:

Use the optical input on the Devialet Phantom to connect a Pi running Plexamp headless. Not only will you get bit-perfect output to the Phantom, you’ll get a player which can operate without a controlling phone being present or connected.

3

Hello

What is Plexamp headless?
In fact if i can avoid to connect another device to my installation (WAF concern in my case, my Phantom are fixed in a wall and connected to wifi).

And for Sonos latency playback issue?

4

An embedded version of Plexamp which runs on Raspberry Pi.

I’ve suggested a solution; it may or may not work for you.

If your Sonos supports AirPlay, and you have an iOS device, that might improve things.

5

Wow. That’s super cool. I googled it. The first result was a GitHub project. Should I use it or there is an official release?

6

That i like with your solution Plexamp is the ergonomy/UI of the app, it’s simply superb, congrats.
I am on Android.

With headless RPI, can i still use the same app to control my music playback?

Thanks for suggesting me a solution. Me, as a potential customer, i suggest you a new feature
(play to UPnP Renderer endpoint) wich may or may not work for you :wink:

7

It’s a bit under the radar at the moment. Release links are in the main release thread ~ Plexamp Release Notes - #45 by elan

Instructions for installation are here ~ Plexamp on the Raspberry Pi

Yes, it’s seamless inside Plexamp, that’s the point. Or you can connect to the headless version with a browser and control directly.

UPnP is a nightmare from a technical perspective :slight_smile:

8

Thanks. :+1:

9

Thanks Elan for precisions. You are right UpNP is a nightmare to code.

My setup would be:

  • Windows 10 for Plex media server for my local music library and Tidal account
  • I only use my Android Smartphone as controller.

I have 2 groups of questions:

  • If i buy a RPI, which version is good? Do i need to add a souncard with optical output? If yes, what the best model?
  • Does the Chromecast audio (connected to optical Devialet Phantom) work to play music with my setup? The quality of the music is same than the RPi headless option?

Thanks

10

I like the rPi 4 w/at least 2GB of RAM, personally.
I also like the NanoPi R4S if you don’t need WiFi.

Personally, I use a USB DAC, but the rPi comes with headphones out. Just depends on what you’re looking to do.

Chromecast is limited in several ways:

  • Doesn’t have the advanced player inside Plexamp (can’t do gapless or Sweet Fades, e.g.)
  • It’s not a true standalone player.
  • It doesn’t do source rate matching.
1 Like
11

Thanks Elan for your advice.
I decided to go with RPi and buy a Plex Pass then.
But RPi4 is out of stock everywhere. I am just bought an used RPi 3B+. It is ok?

Now i am looking for a SPDIF interface optical. I don’t know what to choose.
I had a look on 2 models but maybe there are any better:

HIFIBERRY DIGI2 PRO V2.2 (HIFIBERRY DIGI2 PRO V2.2 Module Interface Numérique SPDIF pour Raspberry Pi 24bit 192kHz - Audiophonics)

AUDIOPHONICS Digipi+ Wolfson WM8804 (AUDIOPHONICS Digipi+ Interface digitale WM8804 pour Raspberry Pi - Audiophonics)

If you can help me in a good choice?

12

As long as RPi 3B+ is 64-bit, should be OK (although it may limit you later with some stuff we’re working on).

You can get a hat, but if your need is SPDIF, why not get something cheap like this? https://hifimediy.com/product/hifime-ut23-usb-to-optical-spdif-converter/

13

Hi Elan
your teasing convinced me to get the new RPI4 4go :wink:
Could you tell more about the new stuff you are talking about?

If i well understant, the Plexamp Android app will connect automatically to the headless install?
Maybe the headless version would be able to drive better my Sonos Play 1.

14

If I told you, I’d have to kill you.

You’ll select it from the cast menu, yes.

Unless I’m misunderstanding, the Sonos Play 1 doesn’t have any input ports, so you can’t plug in the Pi to the Sonos, right? Using a Sonos Port e.g. would work, but that’s pretty expensive…

15

ok i well understand now. The headless version can only drive one device and seen as it in the the Plexamp app. I was wrong believing that the headless version was a bridge for all connected devices, wireless included.

Sonos instability is a issue for me, i don’t understand why it does not work properly at home whereas it works flawlessly with Roon / BubbleUpNp / Audirvana softwares.
I am the only one to experience this?

16

We use a cloud-based service as opposed to those others which probably use DLNA locally.

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