Noob here so apologies for the weird title. I'm looking for advice on replacing my audio system on my boat, which currently runs through a W10 mini computer and Alpine head unit. Sorry if this post is a bit long but I wanted to be as explicit as possible, so here goes...
All my music is on a 2TB external hard-drive, plugged into my mini-computer that runs Windows 10. I've always used Foobar2000 to manage my music collection because it can handle large libraries, plays every type of audio file and it has a great Android app.
The headphone jack is then plugged into an Alpine Link Terminal (KCA410C), which in turn is plugged into the head unit, an Alpine CDA 9812RB (I think this is 150w). This allows me to take the two channels from the computer and split them into four. I have four speakers in the saloon and four in the cockpit, which I can switch between using external switches.
This set-up has served me well for years but the head unit is now playing up and, more importantly, it's a PITA to turn the computer on every time I want to play music. Also it is adding to my current draw. I listen to music when the engine isn't on, so power consumption is an important factor. The head head unit draws around 1.1amp when on stand-by, the computer another amp or so and perhaps a little draw from the hard drive. 2-3 amps is manageable.
I'd like to find a solution that allows me to avoid having to turn the computer on every time I want to listen to music. I was looking at the Raspberry Pi because it only requires 5v so I could feasibly leave that on all the time. Perhaps it could be set up so that I don't require a head and I can just flick a switch and it's ready to go?
I'd like to get another head unit with 200w as I have speakers that can handle it. But one issue I have with buying a head unit is that I only ever use it as an amp. I don't need it to play CDs, it doesn't need a USB port in the front, and I don't use the radio. The only interaction with the head unit is to play with the front/rear balance and use a remote for volume.
So then I thought perhaps I should be looking at a stand-alone amp, and that's where I start to get a bit confused. How could I run four speakers if a Pi is plugged directly into it from its headphone socket? Is this even sensible? Maybe the Pi is a bad idea due to interference? And a Pi won't run Foobar (easily) so I'd need to find a replacement jukebox system that can play all audio files and have an Android (or Apple) app to control it from.
And just to throw a spanner in the works - I still need something to play films (I use Kodi) and that still has to go through the head unit. I'm not bothered about current draw when watching movies because I only do that when plugged in to shore power or when the batteries are fully charged (i.e. not often). In my mind I thought I could separate the music from the movies and have two different systems (a Pi for music and the mini computer for films) but they'll still need to go through the same amp/head unit.
Perhaps there is something out there that does exactly what I want that I'm just not aware of. Any recommendations or suggestions? Budget around $400. Appreciate any feedback, thanks.
All my music is on a 2TB external hard-drive, plugged into my mini-computer that runs Windows 10. I've always used Foobar2000 to manage my music collection because it can handle large libraries, plays every type of audio file and it has a great Android app.
The headphone jack is then plugged into an Alpine Link Terminal (KCA410C), which in turn is plugged into the head unit, an Alpine CDA 9812RB (I think this is 150w). This allows me to take the two channels from the computer and split them into four. I have four speakers in the saloon and four in the cockpit, which I can switch between using external switches.
This set-up has served me well for years but the head unit is now playing up and, more importantly, it's a PITA to turn the computer on every time I want to play music. Also it is adding to my current draw. I listen to music when the engine isn't on, so power consumption is an important factor. The head head unit draws around 1.1amp when on stand-by, the computer another amp or so and perhaps a little draw from the hard drive. 2-3 amps is manageable.
I'd like to find a solution that allows me to avoid having to turn the computer on every time I want to listen to music. I was looking at the Raspberry Pi because it only requires 5v so I could feasibly leave that on all the time. Perhaps it could be set up so that I don't require a head and I can just flick a switch and it's ready to go?
I'd like to get another head unit with 200w as I have speakers that can handle it. But one issue I have with buying a head unit is that I only ever use it as an amp. I don't need it to play CDs, it doesn't need a USB port in the front, and I don't use the radio. The only interaction with the head unit is to play with the front/rear balance and use a remote for volume.
So then I thought perhaps I should be looking at a stand-alone amp, and that's where I start to get a bit confused. How could I run four speakers if a Pi is plugged directly into it from its headphone socket? Is this even sensible? Maybe the Pi is a bad idea due to interference? And a Pi won't run Foobar (easily) so I'd need to find a replacement jukebox system that can play all audio files and have an Android (or Apple) app to control it from.
And just to throw a spanner in the works - I still need something to play films (I use Kodi) and that still has to go through the head unit. I'm not bothered about current draw when watching movies because I only do that when plugged in to shore power or when the batteries are fully charged (i.e. not often). In my mind I thought I could separate the music from the movies and have two different systems (a Pi for music and the mini computer for films) but they'll still need to go through the same amp/head unit.
Perhaps there is something out there that does exactly what I want that I'm just not aware of. Any recommendations or suggestions? Budget around $400. Appreciate any feedback, thanks.
