Orange Pi 5 + belaBOX vs Raspberry Pi 5 (DIY SRT sender)
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Orange Pi 5 + belaBOX
Dedicated HDMI-in encoder running the free, open-source belaBOX firmware with SRTLA bonding. The DIY backpack heart.
Trade-off: You assemble it: board, fan/heatsink case, and a microSD flashed with belaBOX via Etcher.
Raspberry Pi 5 (DIY SRT sender)
The general-purpose board for a DIY encoder running ffmpeg or OBS headless. belaBOX does not support it, so bonding is not on the table; a single-line SRT sender is.
Where they differ
| Spec | Orange Pi 5 + belaBOX | Raspberry Pi 5 (DIY SRT sender) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $150 | $199.95 |
| Rating | 4.5 (84) | 4.7 (3,041) |
| HDMI in | Yes | Via USB capture |
| Bonding | SRTLA | SRT (no SRTLA) |
| Codec | H.265 | H.264 (software) |
Only specs where the two actually differ are listed. A teal rule marks the side that wins a row: cheaper on price, higher rated where review counts are close enough to compare. The spec rows carry no winner because which one wins depends on what you are building.
Frequently asked
Is the Orange Pi 5 + belaBOX or the Raspberry Pi 5 (DIY SRT sender) better for streaming?
The Raspberry Pi 5 (DIY SRT sender) costs more and earns it, with a stronger rating across a meaningful number of reviews. The Orange Pi 5 + belaBOX remains the sensible pick if the budget is the binding constraint. At current tracked prices the Orange Pi 5 + belaBOX is $150 and the Raspberry Pi 5 (DIY SRT sender) is $199.95.
What is the price difference between the Orange Pi 5 + belaBOX and the Raspberry Pi 5 (DIY SRT sender)?
The Orange Pi 5 + belaBOX tracks around $150 and the Raspberry Pi 5 (DIY SRT sender) around $199.95, a difference of $49.95. Prices here are tracked estimates, so check the retailer listing before buying.
How do owner ratings compare for the Orange Pi 5 + belaBOX and the Raspberry Pi 5 (DIY SRT sender)?
The Orange Pi 5 + belaBOX rates 4.5 out of 5 across 84 retailer reviews, and the Raspberry Pi 5 (DIY SRT sender) rates 4.7 across 3,041. Both figures come from the retailer listing rather than our own testing, and review volume matters as much as the score.
Neither of these is the whole decision. What quality your stream holds depends on the encoder, uplink, and platform around this part, which is what the configurator works out. Ratings are from retailer listings, not our own testing.