How to route CD and turntable through Volumio

[matteo.tonini]

Hi everyone,

I’m currently using Volumio + DSP plugin. At the moment the DSP only applies to streaming and USB FLAC playback.

However, the results of room correction are so good that I would like to extend it to vinyl and CD playback as well. I looked around the forum, but no super clear answer on how to.

What the best hardware architecture to achieve this?

Current setup:

Amplifier: Argon Audio S1
Streamer: Raspberry Pi 3 running Volumio 4
HAT: HiFiBerry Digi+ Pro (SPDIF out into Amp)
CD transport: Shanling CR60 (SPDIF out into Amp)
Turntable: Pro-Ject Essential III (connected to Amp phono input)

I assume I’d have to buy an external phono stage, but then? How do I connect to the Rpi? Are there hats with multiple inputs for the Rpi to support both Cd and the TT? Can I leverage the USB ports on the Rpi? Do I need premium Volumio or the Free version would be enough?

Many many questions
Thanks to anyone who will help

[SimonE]

There’s a plugin for CD (via USB) playback

Plugin to add CD playback [cdplayer]

Thank you for your work! Volumio 4 is official! See Get Started - Volumio No new plugin will be added to Volumio3! So write your plugin using this : GitHub - volumio/volumio-plugins-sources-bookworm On Volumio 4, the node module discid is available, no need to compile it. Add it in the package.json If you really need something else, provide a compiled version for both arch : x86 and armv7l. ok for that. And remove it in uninstall.sh When you unstall the plugin, check if everything is…

Vinyl? Not possible directly. You could perhaps try ripping your vinyl lps to create flacs.

Vinyl to 24 bit FLAC - low budget

[matteo.tonini]

Thanks Simone,

I dug a bit deeper and it seems that connecting the turntable should be possible given this reply from Volumio founders.

From what I understand I’d need:

• Volumio premium (free doesn’t support audio in)
• external phono stage
• change the HAT to a HIFIBERRY DAC+ ADC PRO

Then the signal should be

TT > phono > Hat line in > Volumio > Hat line out > Amp line in

[BenoitMarhieu]

Hi Matteo,

Easiest route would be to buy a phono preamp having a USB out. You could connect it directly to the USB port of your RPi and it would be recognised as line in input on your Volumio tile inputs. Same as for CD player. Simply use a USB CD transport (one for computer is just fine) and connect it to RPi USB. Bear in mind that CD needs some power to start the disc, and RPi usb does not provide enough current. So an external power source would be needed for the CD transport.

For both you need a paid Volumio to get the audio in function (I think).

Another option would be to use an external USB ADC (like the Tascam 1x2HR) than you can connect to any phono preamp or CD player.

Cheers

[matteo.tonini]

Thanks @BenoitMarhieu for your input.

In the last few days I did quite a bit of research on different configurations.

TT > Phono stage with USB out (MiniDSP Adept ADC) > Volumio
TT > Phono stage > Audio Interface (eg. Motu M2) > Volumio
TT > Phono stage > DAC+ ADC PRO HAT on Volumio

and

USB CD Transport > Volumio

but each one of these sound “meh…” to me. Either because they leave the Shanling CD transport out of the picture (better UX compared to USB CD Transport) or compromise on the DAC/Phono stage.

In the end I think I will compromise on the DSP instead and buy a Minidsp Flex.
I’ll leave some configurability on the table because the DSP in Volumio is more powerful (as far as ChatGPT says anyway…), but all the gear turntable, Volumio and Shanling CD Transport will be connected nicely.