damocles Posted August 23, 2010 Posted August 23, 2010 I am looking to change my computer interface soon and have been looking at what is around. I am wanting a high resolution capability (I want to play with iTrax etc). Some Logitech models support 24/96. It looks like Sonos and Airport Express don't (I may be wrong). Ideally I'd like to use a Mac Mini (small footprint), iTouch (as remote) and have the option to play either FLAC (as most of my albums are in this format) or ALAC files. One option would be to use the Mac and buy a SB Touch. I'll use my own DAC Any other recommendations? (Id be happy to skip the iTouch if there was a better remote option).
Ernie1553552694 Posted August 23, 2010 Posted August 23, 2010 Actually the iPod/iPhone has become the default option for 2-way control of music streamers, including Linn and PS Audio. The Logitech touch will work fine for the money. It makes the C.A.S.H. List on the Computer Audiophile. You are right about Sonos and Airport Express not doing 24/96.
got tinnitus Posted August 23, 2010 Posted August 23, 2010 Airport Exp is 16/44. If using a Mac Mini with FLAC you'll need to run Bootcamp/Windows/Foobar. Or if you want to stick with Mac OS, convert the FLAC to WAV/ALAC/AIFF using XLD.
Ernie1553552694 Posted August 23, 2010 Posted August 23, 2010 Flac will run through Squeezecenter and Linn software just fine in OSX.
Flameboy1553552731 Posted August 23, 2010 Posted August 23, 2010 I'm looking forward to getting some 24bit recordings and upgrading to a squeezebox touch. (Xmas prezzie perhaps) Then coax into my eloquence dac. I also use Squeeze Commander on my HTC Desire to control my squeze server. Works great.
nixon76 Posted August 23, 2010 Posted August 23, 2010 I just batch convert FLAC to AIFF using Max, then use iTunes. I use the iTouch as a remote - it's just fine. iPad would be nicer
Antipodes1553552706 Posted August 23, 2010 Posted August 23, 2010 The alternative to what you are condidering is to have a screen and use a simple remote control to run things. Itunes with Pure Music allows high res files to be played with high fidelity and remote controlled volume that is dithered with sound high quality. This can give you a bit more flexibility than using an iPhone/iPad. I use a Keyspan URM-15T which gives me 15 buttons I can assign to any command and then transfer the commands to a learner. This lets me do just about anything I would wish to do in iTunes, for playing music anyway, with a conventional universal remote control, and I prefer it to using Remote on my iPhone. This option does assume you are prepared to have a quiet Mac close to the stereo, but the Mini is very quiet these days. The advantage, of course, with ethernet devices is they enable you to have the Mac in another part of the house and with decent Wifi the iPhone is a good remote solution.
damocles Posted August 24, 2010 Author Posted August 24, 2010 Antipodes;131153 wrote: The alternative to what you are condidering is to have a screen and use a simple remote control to run things. Itunes with Pure Music allows high res files to be played with high fidelity and remote controlled volume that is dithered with sound high quality. This can give you a bit more flexibility than using an iPhone/iPad. I use a Keyspan URM-15T which gives me 15 buttons I can assign to any command and then transfer the commands to a learner. This lets me do just about anything I would wish to do in iTunes, for playing music anyway, with a conventional universal remote control, and I prefer it to using Remote on my iPhone. This option does assume you are prepared to have a quiet Mac close to the stereo, but the Mini is very quiet these days. The advantage, of course, with ethernet devices is they enable you to have the Mac in another part of the house and with decent Wifi the iPhone is a good remote solution. I bought an itouch today. Aside from using it as a remote it is handy for travel. I will buy a Mac Mini next week (is there any benefit to the server version?). The Mac will only be used for music server and I am happy for it to be near the computer (have debated Mac vs NAS). If the iTouch is a capable remote then I dont actually need normal streaming (if the DAC could be hooked up to the server directly etc). Open to any ideas. Looking for good quality playback
nixon76 Posted August 24, 2010 Posted August 24, 2010 The server version runs Mac OSX Server by default. Not sure if this affects things compatibility wise should you wish to use the 'addons' etc in the future (Amarra, Pure Vinyl etc). It comes with two harddrives instead of one - no optical - so assumes you have another machine around for ripping. iTunes can't span drives so unless you use (the built in) software RAID (Level 0 - the riskiest) you can't take advantage of the extra capacity. However it could be argued that using the software raid option may affect sound quality - but I imagine you'd have to be maxxing out the sonic capabilities of the mini for that to come into play. I think the max size you can get in 2.5" drive (that will fit) is 750gb, so you're limited to that (ignoring the RAID 0 option), but something that size will need to be retrofitted - easier in the newer mini but still a mission (esp for getting at the second drive) The second drive would be handy for an internal backup however (using Carbon Copy or the like as the backeruperer). If you have the mini by your hifi then you are open to the world of USB and Firewire DACs and you are only really budget constraining. There have been several threads of late on such DACs.
Ernie1553552694 Posted August 24, 2010 Posted August 24, 2010 You may max out your capacity, so the server version may be a advantage in this respect. You could get a USB CD drive to rip your disks if this were the case. Sorry, I didn't read the post properly -- just the iPod Touch? The thread has already got you covered. Just remember you also have an iPod, so it's useful for that portable stuff too.
Ernie1553552694 Posted August 24, 2010 Posted August 24, 2010 You may max out your capacity, so the server version may be a advantage in this respect. You could get a USB CD drive to rip your disks if this were the case. You'll be using the Squeezeserver software from Logitech now that you have their Touch so for control software, the iPeng app from the App Store is the way to go, unless you want to transcode your files from FLAC to something more iTunes compatible -- if only for the convenience of having transportable files for your new iPod Touch. Remember it was also once an iPod, not just a touchscreen.
bellapl1 Posted August 24, 2010 Posted August 24, 2010 nixon76;131240 wrote: . I think the max size you can get in 2.5" drive (that will fit) is 750gb, so you're limited to that (ignoring the RAID 0 option), but something that size will need to be retrofitted - easier in the newer mini but still a mission (esp for getting at the second drive). You can 1TB 2.5" drives now, even in NZ: http://www.ascent.co.nz/productspecification.aspx?ItemID=9385381 Not sure if they are too high to fit or not though.
damocles Posted August 25, 2010 Author Posted August 25, 2010 Having played with the iTouch fr a bit, the interface is a lot clunkier than i expected (and I can't download songs from iTunes China - grrr). Tempted to go back down the NAS/Ipeng route
Ernie1553552694 Posted August 25, 2010 Posted August 25, 2010 It might solve the problem, the iPod Touch is underpowered in comparison to say, the iPhone.
Stuzzo1553552685 Posted August 25, 2010 Posted August 25, 2010 Damocles;131271 wrote: Having played with the iTouch fr a bit, the interface is a lot clunkier than i expected (and I can't download songs from iTunes China - grrr). Tempted to go back down the NAS/Ipeng route It's a pity you didn't wait for the new model to be announced soon...A4 processor(or updated one) and Facetime camera and iOS4. For example, the iPad Wi-Fi connection is almost instantaneous but the iTouch has a bit of lag which can affect use as a remote.
damocles Posted August 25, 2010 Author Posted August 25, 2010 Stuzzo;131274 wrote: It's a pity you didn't wait for the new model to be announced soon...A4 processor(or updated one) and Facetime camera and iOS4. For example, the iPad Wi-Fi connection is almost instantaneous but the iTouch has a bit of lag which can affect use as a remote. No worries, I will buy a new one when it arrives. Products appear slowly in China (iPhone 4 and iPad haven’t officially arrived and may not for months). Waiting here is rarely a good idea. Anyone suggest some good NAS options?
Ernie1553552694 Posted August 25, 2010 Posted August 25, 2010 Netgear do some good ones. You can get double bay options and they come loaded with iTunes and Squeezecenter. They are ok for moderately-sized collections, but once you enter terabyte proportions the NAS takes longer to index. There's a few other brands that get recommended on the Logitech user forum as well.
damocles Posted August 25, 2010 Author Posted August 25, 2010 Thanks, I will have a look. I think a TB should do me for a while, collection is only about 600GB at the moment. So will look for something with 2x1TB capacity to allow for backup
jcooze Posted August 25, 2010 Posted August 25, 2010 I got a Noontec V8 Media Player on Trademe recently. 2Tb, 1080p via HDMI, Toslink and analogue audio, Ethernet NAS, USB (Don't do both at once!). Does a good job, we can feed two PCs watching movies from it at the same time over the network. It only really drags if I'm copying Gbs of data to it from a USB drive as well. I got it for the multiple options (media, USB and NAS) which semed to future-proof it as much as possible. It's amazing how quickly it fills up. Triage time is coming I feel.
damocles Posted August 25, 2010 Author Posted August 25, 2010 Ok, I am getting a better idea of how I want this to work. I'll initially use my SB3 into a Netgear ReadyNas. I will setup a new wireless LAN specifically for the server (as opposed to using my current one). I'll also setup wireless backup. Once I have everything setup - then I will look at a SB Touch. Yay!
Flameboy1553552731 Posted August 25, 2010 Posted August 25, 2010 At work I have a ReadyNAS NV+ and SB3. Running the squeezecenter on the NAS produces alot of buffering issues and the web interface was blindingly slow. So I've stuck with running the squeezecenter on a PC. The SB3 is connected over wifi and the tracks are all flac which the readynas would have to decode before passing it to the SB3. This may have been part of the problem. Just my 2 cents.
Ernie1553552694 Posted August 25, 2010 Posted August 25, 2010 Flameboy;131375 wrote: At work I have a ReadyNAS NV+ and SB3. Running the squeezecenter on the NAS produces alot of buffering issues and the web interface was blindingly slow. So I've stuck with running the squeezecenter on a PC. The SB3 is connected over wifi and the tracks are all flac which the readynas would have to decode before passing it to the SB3. This may have been part of the problem. Just my 2 cents. How big is your library, Mr FB?
Paradox1553552678 Posted August 25, 2010 Posted August 25, 2010 I also used to run a Squeezebox off a ReadyNAS (flac files, wired network) and it was dreadful - as Flameboy says the interface is really slow, heaps of buffering problems and regular dropouts, plus updating the Squeezecenter software on it is a 'mare. I wouldn't touch one again. I'm now using an Acer Inspire EasyStore which is miles better and works really well but is more expensive. However the benefits of Windows Home Server in terms of backup make it worthwhile.
damocles Posted August 26, 2010 Author Posted August 26, 2010 Paradox;131382 wrote: I also used to run a Squeezebox off a ReadyNAS (flac files, wired network) and it was dreadful - as Flameboy says the interface is really slow, heaps of buffering problems and regular dropouts, plus updating the Squeezecenter software on it is a 'mare. I wouldn't touch one again. I'm now using an Acer Inspire EasyStore which is miles better and works really well but is more expensive. However the benefits of Windows Home Server in terms of backup make it worthwhile. Cheers, this looks nice (and is actually much cheaper than the ReadyNAS options I was considering)
Ernie1553552694 Posted August 26, 2010 Posted August 26, 2010 Paradox;131382 wrote: I also used to run a Squeezebox off a ReadyNAS (flac files, wired network) and it was dreadful - as Flameboy says the interface is really slow, heaps of buffering problems and regular dropouts, plus updating the Squeezecenter software on it is a 'mare. I wouldn't touch one again. I'm now using an Acer Inspire EasyStore which is miles better and works really well but is more expensive. However the benefits of Windows Home Server in terms of backup make it worthwhile. Are you running Squeezecenter from the EasyStore? It's not bad is it Mr D?
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