Best way to run Snakeoil?

[fliptoback]

Thanks guys. I will get the HP thin client used one. I think I saw one that is less than $50.

But will this thin client sound better than a RPI?

If you are comparing audio from the TRSS of each then the Pi is very poor compared to the Thinclient.

Both are able to output to a USB DAC.
The Pi has the option of using i2s HATs.

Pi previous to the Pi4 are memory constrained at 1-2GB
Pi4 can be got with 2/4/8 Gb memory.
Pi4 runs much hotter than earlier Pi though the load when used as an audio player is low so this is not so much an issue..
Pi4 has lower power consumption...
Library updates may work the Pi harder and hotter .
Pi4 is a Quad core CPU.  HP-520/610/ and early 620 are dual core CPU.  Later HP-620s and above are Quad core cpu.

SQ from either form factor running Snakeoil may have more to do with the upstream power supply and downstream DAC than the device itself.
I run both and consider them interchangeable....but have a preference for the Thinclients as they are a little easier to configure, run from ssd rather thansd-card, and respect ATX convention for powering on and off..ie a graceful shutdown can be set in bios for the power button operation.

One thing to note is the available video connectors if using a screen and keyboard for initial install...
Pi have full size HDMI. Pi4 has tiny HDMI
HP-520 has Displayport and VGA
HP-610 has Displayport and DVI
Later HPs are Displayport only...

apologies but what is TRSS?

thanks for your reply also - given that the sound quality is interchangeable (Thin client vs Pi), I will go get the thin client. It is a cost $50 vs $150 (for pi)!