Headless Plexamp Receiver

#Plexamp #iPodHi-Fi

I have a stack of two iPod Hi-Fi units in my office that I enjoy using as my ambient room sound as I progress through my day-to-day computering. I also have an older Mac mini (M1, 2020) that I use as an accessory server to run my ScanSnap iX500 scanner, package label printer, and this unit also connects to the Hi-Fi units as my Plexamp audio endpoint.

This works great for me as I happen to need the mini to run these other items. During some reworking of my office, I also recently tried out an alternative that is much smaller and much less involved than a whole ass computer.

So what's the setup?

Parts

Hardware

• Rasberry Pi Zero 2 W (with header pins)
  • You could use other units as well, I just had one of these on hand.
• Inno-Maker RPI HIFI DAC Mini
  • They also make DAC hats for other Pi models.
• Optional: 3D printed case for the Pi.

Software

• Standard Raspberry Pi OS install
• Caldera Headless

You don't need VNC, but if you want to do anything via the GUI remotely, you can enable VNC. Enable VNC over SSH Optional

1. SSH into board
2. `sudo raspi-config1
3. Navigate to Interface Options. Press Enter to select.
4. Select VNC. Press Enter to select.

Enabling the DAC as an audio output

1. sudo nano /boot/firmware/config.txt
2. Add to the bottom of the file dtoverlay=allo-boss-dac-pcm512x-audio
3. Reboot

Caldera Install Instructions

• https://caldera.homes/music/headless
• Output 1 is the 3.5mm and Output 2 is the RCA

That should be it! You should now see this as a new audio destination in Plexamp. 🎉🎵