Too many issues with Volumio 3

I have been using Volumio2 for a couple of years now.
My hardware is Raspberry Pi 2B and IQ Digi-amp+.
I have set up an on/off safe shutdown with Led indicator. I installed a rotary encoder and use it for volume ( plugin). I have my music collection on a usb hard drive (with independent power supply ).
I just decided to try Volumio3 on a new flashed SD card. Too many issues so I decided to stay with Volumio2. Will support continue to be available for it as I do not want to continue to steer through the minefield of trying to up grade to Volumio3.

could you elaborate on “to many issues”, as the current version seems pretty stable again.

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Perhaps try a new install and get a RPi4
I know it’s not perfect but works pretty well for me and happy with the interface. The devs seem to be working pretty hard to improve it all the time.

Hi G-rig.
Thanks for your reply. I’m not sure how a new RPi4 will help me. I am quite happy with the earlier Pi and there is no reason why it should not continue to work with Volumio3.
I do of course appreciate the work that the devs are putting in and realise that a lot of work is needed to update plugins etc. to work with this latest version of Volumio.
My main problem at the moment is that although I have flashed 3 new sd cards with Volumio3 so far, I have been unable to get it to run. I have downloaded the files again and re-flashed sd cards but still no joy. When I put my Volumio2 sd card back in my player everything is working fine so I am sure that there is no problem with my hardware.

Hi Wheaten.
The issues that I have with Volumio3 are -
Can’t get hotspot to show up.
System crashes soon after booting up.
Can’t get the plugins that I require.

If you’re not connecting to eth0, then look in your wireless setting on your computer for a hotspot named volumioxxxx and connect to that. configure everything and use the configured ip to connect.

You need to register for a free account to access the plugin store

Crash can be caused by poor power, bad SD or rPi2. Please provide logs so we have something to go with. Plase the link to the log in this topic.

the remark on rPi4 was most likely done as the rPi2 will have it though with Volumio3.xx

Hi Wheaten.
The problem is that I am not getting the hotspot showing in my wireless settings. If I connect by LAN cable I still have nothing showing. I think it is likely that I have for some reason got a corrupt installation. I think that my best approach would be to order some new SD cards. I have noticed that the ones I have been trying to use are 16gb but only rated as class 4 so that could be a problem. I’ll order class 10.
For the plugins, I will open my free My Volumio account and keep an eye on which ones are updated for Volumio3. At present I use the rotary encoder plugin and the one for gpio.
My Pi in use is a Pi3 B+ which I’m hoping won’t present problems as I also have another two spares.
The power supply is a good quality high rating 19volt one which supplies the Pi at ample current 5volts. It does this via the IQ Audio Pi-DIGIAMP+ hat as per the manufacturer’s instructions. This has always worked perfectly.
My music is on a USB hard drive with it’s own independent power supply.
I will let you know how I get on when I order and receive my new SD cards.
Many thanks for your help.

Hi

  • A rPi3 will do just fine, but your opening topic stated the 2B. Was expecting a WiFi dongle :slight_smile:
  • A new SD seems a smart choice,
  • PSU seems fine
  • The GPIO is not in the Plugin store but very easy to update , same goes for the Rotary encoder.

Advice when flashing you new SD, Stay away from Etcher as it seems to give troubles lately flash with Win32DiskImager, Rufus or Raspberry Pi Imager

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Yeah fair enough, was just a suggestion and worthwhile testing. The RPi are great devices and pretty cheap, wouldn’t cost too much to upgrade (very little in the audio world lol). Pretty happy with the performance and sound with mine (USB out is simple, no fancy hats which are expensive delivered to Aus and unnecessary IMO.

Anyway seems a bit odd, you may as well stay with the old version then.

Hi again and thanks for your input.
Firstly, I apologize for mis-leading you by giving incorrect info at the start (Pi2 v P3)
I have now ordered a couple of good spec SD cards. Having had odd issues with other software I always use Win32DiskImager these says but thanks for the warning. The two plugins in question, I will look at what is involved in upgrading them when I eventually get Volumio3 up and running. I have also decided that I will some time build a new player from scratch. That will certainly start out with Volumio3 and Probably a Pi4

Thanks again.

Hi G-rig.
Thanks for your input so far.
I think that what I am going to do is to build a new music player and once that is done I will donate my current one to my daughter. I notice that you use usb out for sound. I’m not sure that that gives the same quality as I2S via a hat. I think I’ll start a new subject on that one.

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All good mate, new projects and tinkering is always fun. Depends if you can hear a difference, I don’t have an allo Digi one or any of that stuff but still interests me. Digital is digital and my ADI 2 can process it fine, as can most DACs

I think it’s all a matter of individual taste using the USB versus hat. I’m sure that you are right. I need to have a look at a few USB Dac’s and compare. Would you have any thoughts on an amp to be fed from the DAC. The thing is, I will be building a player which will be ‘all in one box’ so I would need something sort of ‘chassis style’. My current one is all in one unit, which of course was easier using a DAC/Amp combo hat.

Yeah, if you talk to HAT manufactures, a hat is the way to go, talking to the USB DAC manufactures, they will say USB is the way to go. Both have their pros and cons.

It all comes down to your personal taste and how you want to use your DAC. I am pretty on board with digital is digital, but I can make my NAD DAC sound like shit, using a bad PSU to feed my SBC.

I go along with what you say. I think as time is on my side I’ll do a bit of research before I do anything. Thanks for you help.
I often wonder how much money can be justified in building a system because -
A - About half of my music collection is in MP3 format
B - I’m 72 years old and my hearing 'aint what it used to be.

It’s what you want to spend on it. If I budget 100 euro, i will most likely spend 150 euro.
If my hearing is getting less sensitive, I would stick with a very basic DAC, that at least can cover my range of hearing. If my range sticks between 70Hz and 14kHz, it wouldn’t make much sense to spend 500 euro to go up to 20kHz, which I can’t hear. And use the DSP plugin to power up the lowest and highest frequencies a bit.
choices, choices, choices.

Ok. I’m with you on all that you say.
The thing with my hearing is a bit complicated. Although I can just about hear the whole normal range, I have a severe dip which centre on about14KHz and gives me a partial loss starting at about 11 and running through to 20 at which point I hear nothing. I don’t know what happens in other countries but here in France, When a hearing test is done we are given a result chart in the form of a graph to take along to a hearing aid specialist. With a decent graphic equalizer I could set it up to a reverse curve of my hearing loss and to a certain extent, balance my hearing.
Is the DSP plugin available in the plugins list in Volumio2?

Nope,
@balbuze and Volumio are almost done to deliver the FusioDSP plugin for V3. With the equalizers you can pretty much mimic the inverted graph. But Yes, you need V3 for it

Hi Wheaton.
Many thanks for the info. I followed the link that you gave me and as you said, the FusioDSP plugin is almost there. I expect it will be a while before I migrate to V3 so hopefully It will be ready to run by then.
I have been testing several of my music tracks on AUDACITY using the graphics equalizer in the software and mimicking my hearing loss curve (inverted). The results were very good.

Thanks for you help.

you’re welcome.