Opera Consonance raspberry pi ?

[aussievintage]

Well I didn't know this. Maybe it's common knowledge (I am sure you'll tell me if it is).     I was listening to  a Consonance streamer thing (never checked the model) when I looked at the controlling app on the tablet - and it was Volumio.  So I googled around and found this page https://www.china-hifi-audio.com/en/opera-audio-consonance-amp-cd-player-c-22/opera-reference8-pro-hd-digital-music-player-hifi-audio-dsd-32bit-384khz-p-2219?zenid=e68f764646143bcda06c002c39919712

 

This may be different to the one I was listening too, but it looks like this

 

 

 

 

and lower down the page I see this...     is that a raspberry pi inside of it?  Sure looks like it.

 

 

and at the bottom   "The Android system currently supports dedicated APP software control, which can be downloaded by clicking on the link:
https://www.operaudio.com.cn/new/Download/soft/Volumio-opera-release.apk"   So yeah, they are running a version of Volumio.

 

Edited October 10, 2019 by aussievintage

[bob_m_54]

Looks like an Asus Tinker Board of some iteration.

 

[aussievintage]

12 minutes ago, bob_m_54 said:

Looks like an Asus Tinker Board of some iteration.

 

 

It does.   I wasn't even aware of the competitor products to the pi like this one.  Interesting to be using them in a product like this.

[surprisetech]

These days it just makes good commercial sense.

These types of Microprocessors are now pretty powerful devices and with the necessary I/O already on board why would a manufacturer go to the trouble of designing & manufacturing their own Microprocessor board.

Most of the security products we make require uProcessor chips, and while most are still our own proprietary boards, where it's appropriate we will use an off-the-shelf uP like a beagle bone.

[davewantsmoore]

On 10/10/2019 at 7:52 PM, aussievintage said:

I am sure you'll tell me if it is

Yes.  Designing the with the chips and busses used in "computers" like a Pi (and all the others) is very difficult (they're very fast), and typically waaaay outside of any audio manufactures comfort zone (even ones who make their own DACs or other electronics).

 

Not to mention all the software, and then ensuring the hardware on the board is available into the future.... it's a huge undertaking for an "audio industry manufacturer".

 

It makes much more sense to use a "common" platform like a Pi (or similar) .... or at least have a special version of an open-design computer made for you, which only includes what you need (eg. you might leave out HDMI, and/or wifi, or....)

 

 

Building anything custom is unlikely to do a "better" job if you choose and integrate well .... and will only cause them much more expense and pain.

[Guest RobbC]

I really enjoyed my Ref 8.  Didn't find the GUI that easy to use but sure sounded good...