Hacking a Raspberry Pi into a wireless airplay speaker
Hardware
airplay speaker
SHOW HN2012
Hacking a Raspberry Pi into a wireless airplay speaker
Hacking a Raspberry Pi into a wireless airplay speaker
jordanburgess.com144points
73comments
#136of 1,677 in 2012
Top 9%of 2012 by points
How HN took it
CuriousMostly questions and neutral comments
11 positive, 24 neutral or asking, 3 mixed, 7 critical, out of 45 comments about the project. Thread score +0.07.
Performance: 3 for, 4 againstIdea: 7 for, 0 againstPricing: 1 for, 1 againstExecution: 0 for, 1 againstDocs: 0 for, 1 against
The thread, comment by comment
Each row is a top-level comment and its replies, in HN's order. Select a cell to open that comment on HN.
positive neutral or mixed critical about another commenter or something else the maker
What HN said
What people liked
Commenters like it as a cheap Airport Express alternative for tinkering.
From 3 comments
If you already have the ingredients to do this, then it may be a cheaper solution. My RaspberryPi has been a few things since I bought it (a print server, a file server, a web…
gpmcadam on HNBecause we're a bunch of programmers that like creating our own solutions to things; it's rewarding in more ways than saving time and money.
sk3tch on HNNice, a low cost a version of the airport express is exactly what the market needs. I wonder why no company has done it so far?
garagemc2 on HN
Objections
Not cheaper than an Airport Express once parts are added.
From 2 comments
Why would you do this rather than buy an Airport Express? The cost of the Raspberry Pi, wifi adapter and a basic USB soundcard add up to as much as the real thing, but you spend…
davidblurton on HNCame here to say just this. I never understand these like "money saving hacks" that cost very close to what an actual, legitimate product intended for this purpose would cost,…
ryguytilidie on HN
Setup is finicky and unreliable.
From 2 comments
Did this hack myself a month or two ago - I go the XBMC route (openElec) on the Pi with Airfoil for Windows to stream Spotify. That combination is finicky - sometimes requires…
joelhaasnoot on HNWhy would you do this rather than buy an Airport Express? The cost of the Raspberry Pi, wifi adapter and a basic USB soundcard add up to as much as the real thing, but you spend…
davidblurton on HN
Requests
Synchronized multi-room audio from Linux.
From 2 comments
Is there a way to stream music from a Linux machine to multiple destinations? Currently I have a notebook with Mint connected to my stereo system for all my music needs. It works…
itry on HNI know this is possible with Linux. At my previous job one of the developers used to pipe his music stream to the broadcast address on our LAN. I don't remember much about the…
IgorPartola on HN
Android support.
From 1 comment
Looks cool! Anyone know any of this for Android? At least for Samsung Note. I want to try to wirelessly stream audio from my Note to my Logitech Z2300.
wiradikusuma on HN
Questions
How to play multi-room audio in sync.
From 2 comments
Is there a way to stream music from a Linux machine to multiple destinations? Currently I have a notebook with Mint connected to my stereo system for all my music needs. It works…
itry on HNSynchronizing the clients is the hard part.
itry on HN
Whether HDMI audio works with a receiver.
From 2 comments
What about HDMI audio output? For those of us who already have a decent, digital A/V receiver?
josteink on HNAwesome, Going to try this with my Pi. I presume that it'll work with the HDMI out into my AV receiver well without the distortion from lack of on-board DAC?
davestheraves on HN
Alternatives named
Airport Express
From 2 comments
Why would you do this rather than buy an Airport Express? The cost of the Raspberry Pi, wifi adapter and a basic USB soundcard add up to as much as the real thing, but you spend…
davidblurton on HNI hadn't realized the Airplay keys had been cracked. Last time I looked for something like this they hadn't. I've already bought an extra airport express, but I kinda just want…
FigBug on HN
Sonos
From 2 comments
Yes, Sonos makes nice wireless systems. Search for "Play:5" or "BU250" models, for example.
toni on HNAirplay doesn't really do this. The sound is often slightly out of sync but it's enough to be really irritating if you can hear two of them. The best solution I know of for…
toby on HN
Squeezebox / Logitech Media Server
From 2 comments
I'm not certain it will work but you might look into the Logitech Media Server http://www.mysqueezebox.com/download with SoftSqueeze clients http://softsqueeze.sourceforge.net/…
patja on HNSqueezebox is not perfectly synchronized?
itry on HN
Audioengine D2
From 1 comment
i used to use logitech/squeeze, but recently switched (it's dying, as far as i can tell, and certainly wouldn't run on the latest opensuse) to audioengine D2 -…
andrewcooke on HN