Even though it doesn't come up often on this forum I learned about its existence here, thanks to whoever mentioned it recently. It is a BYOH (bring your own hardware) headless Linux based network media player with a slick mobile-device friendly browser-based web interface. I loaded it on a 15 y/o ASUS Digimatrix Media PC that I was procrastinating to scrap, the installation was a breeze and it runs like a champ, or mostly, some USB audio issues due to the wonky early SiS USB 2.0 chipset, but the integrated optical SPDIF works great.
So, what's good about it?
- runs on older hardware
- you can use a web-browser to control it from any device at home
- can access your media stored on the network via CIFS/FTP
- support for various streaming services Spotify and Tidal including, internet radio, etc.
- Spotify Connect is semi-supported, but it works
- bit-perfect Spotify playback downstream of the OGG decoder
- support for simultaneous output to multiple audio devices, ever wanted to A/B your DACs without switching cables and/or changing output settings in the player app? now you can
- built-in resampling and transcoding to DSD (haven't tried it yet)
- there is support for convolution filters
- rips CDs to FLAC with automatic album art and track lookup
- umm, free?
Not so good:
- limited support
- while effective the browser interface is still limited
- no DLNA support, only supports Logitech Media Server (but doesn't require one)
- things may break down the line, it is developed by a single person, not clear about long term support, but he has been active in supporting it in the recent years
- familiarity with Linux is useful but not required
http://www.daphile.com/
If interested in giving it a try I suggest using the latest beta build from here: http://www.daphile.com/firmware/private-beta/
i486 - 32 bit builds for older hardware
x86_64 - 64 bit builds for more modern 64 bit processors
x86_64-rt - 64 bit builds with runtime Linux kernel, no real good reason to use these
So, what's good about it?
- runs on older hardware
- you can use a web-browser to control it from any device at home
- can access your media stored on the network via CIFS/FTP
- support for various streaming services Spotify and Tidal including, internet radio, etc.
- Spotify Connect is semi-supported, but it works
- bit-perfect Spotify playback downstream of the OGG decoder
- support for simultaneous output to multiple audio devices, ever wanted to A/B your DACs without switching cables and/or changing output settings in the player app? now you can
- built-in resampling and transcoding to DSD (haven't tried it yet)
- there is support for convolution filters
- rips CDs to FLAC with automatic album art and track lookup
- umm, free?
Not so good:
- limited support
- while effective the browser interface is still limited
- no DLNA support, only supports Logitech Media Server (but doesn't require one)
- things may break down the line, it is developed by a single person, not clear about long term support, but he has been active in supporting it in the recent years
- familiarity with Linux is useful but not required
http://www.daphile.com/
If interested in giving it a try I suggest using the latest beta build from here: http://www.daphile.com/firmware/private-beta/
i486 - 32 bit builds for older hardware
x86_64 - 64 bit builds for more modern 64 bit processors
x86_64-rt - 64 bit builds with runtime Linux kernel, no real good reason to use these