Using AirPlay is better than Bluetooth because it provides multi-room playback with zero pairing friction. autostream also ensures playback is completely automatic, so there’s no fiddling with phones and apps needed to just play a record. It also works with HomePods, including HomePods in stereo pairs.
The Behringer ADC gets good reviews, but mainly because it’s cheap. But too cheap to use in a deck like this? In practice, it performs surprisingly well—and for most listening environments, likely using small AirPlay speakers, it’s definitely good enough. The autostream web app includes an equaliser if you want a slight lift in the bass and treble for example, but for many listeners using already heavily equalised AirPlay speakers, even this is unnecessary. We’ve prepared a short clip on YouTube here comparing it to a CD of the same track (listen with headphones!).
Yes! autostream runs on any quad-core Raspberry Pi board. Just put one in a readily available case, tuck it behind your Hi-Fi, and connect to your turntable. This is especially easy with USB-enabled turntables like Audio Technica’s LP60XUSB, since it’s just one wire directly from the turntable to the Raspberry Pi.
autostream can be used with any turntable! Connect analogue sources via a USB pre-amp like used in this build, or USB capable turntables directly to the Raspberry Pi board.
The autostream software is only installed on the Raspberry Pi. On your phone, it works as a web app directly in Safari (and can be added to the home screen so it works like an app) without needing to install anything. It works entirely from the Raspberry Pi without any apps to install, cloud dependencies, or user accounts needed.
Some latency is unavoidable with AirPlay. The playback buffer can be set in autostream, and using speakers like Apple HomePods it’s possible to reduce this to about 0.5 seconds. Many speakers seem to want about 2 seconds of buffer.
This build sounds great. There’s no hum or audible hiss, and when played through capable speakers (we have a set of converted B&O HT3702s) it’s sharp, fast, and deep – just like it should be. The autostream web app includes a six-band equaliser (with both 40Hz and 100Hz controls) to dial the sound in.
Yes! Many turntables available today have USB output, which can be connected directly to a Raspberry Pi tucked behind it. If you have a turntable with analogue outputs, you’ll need a USB pre-amp like the Behringer UFO202 used here. Better, more Hi-Fi oriented USB preamps are also available.
Yes — both connect directly to the Raspberry Pi via USB with no additional hardware needed. autostream detects the audio automatically, so the moment the needle drops, music plays through your AirPlay speakers. Most USB turntables work the same way; if your turntable has a USB output, it will almost certainly work with autostream.
Yes. The settings page is PIN protected. The PIN is set during installation and can be changed at any time from the web app.
