Hey all! 
!
I recently built an audioplayer using a Raspberry Pi 3 B+. I wanted the headless possibility to use Airplay (for Tidal) and play music from my Home-NAS on my Stereo-Receiver, so using Volumio was my obvious choice. As the integrated 3,5mm audiojack has a rather bad reputation, I also ordered a HiFiBerry Digi+ (Standard) to connect the Pi via TOSLINK to my Receiver. That should provide a bit-perfect output and distortion-free connection.
To my understanding, that should have been a good setup… BUT:
There is a background noise, that is driving me crazy by now. As soon as I start playblack, the noise starts. In quiet parts of the music, it still is hearable, and as soon as I stop the playback, the noise stops about 3 seconds later.
I tried to get rid of the noise as follows:
Audio-Out
- Optical-Out of the HiFiBerry
- integrated 3,5mm Audiojack-Out
Noise still there.
(I have no possibility to test the HDMI-Out)
Power-Source:
As I have read a lot about Power-related noise, I tried:
- this PSU: amazon.de/gp/product/B01N6FD57M
- an Apple-PSU (as they are supposed to be low on noise)
- a lying-around LG PSU
- a Powerbank as independent powersource
- all of the above on different power-outlets all around the house
Noise still there.
Case:
I’m using HiFiBerry-Case (amazon.de/gp/product/B01FJSU7OQ)
But you never know… so I tried no case.
Noise still there.
Music Sources:
- Different tracks
- Different files
- Different formats (mp3, Flac, Airplay)
- Different sources (NAS, Airplay, Pi Local SD Storage, Internetradio)
Noise still there.
Distribution:
- Volumio
- Moode Audio
Noise still there.
HiFiBerry:
I uninstalled the HiFiBerry Board.
Noise still there.
Other Hardware
- Headphones on Pi
- Different Headphones on Pi
- Audiojack to receiver
- Toslink to receiver
Noise still there.
Network config
- Wifi 2,4 GHz (No ethernet cable connected)
- Wifi 5 GHz (No ethernet cable connected)
- Changed Wifi-channels in router
- Ethernet-connection - Wifi completely disabled
You guessed it: Noise still there.
I am running out of ideas in terms of simple connections and hardware configurations.
All of the above, in all kind of different variations, does not reduce or alter the noise.
Does anyone have some hints or ideas where to go from here?
Any help is much appreciated!
Have a nice weekend,
pucksen