Computer Audio software: Squeezebox server

[tigi]

Any thoughts on how Squeezbox Server (slimserver/ squeeze center) compares to Itunes, XX, Almarra, Pure Music etc?

 

I'm wondering if this is a significant limitation to the Squeezbox/Transporter suite.

[kaka]

It's the hardware below the Transporter level (I've never heard a Transporter, or a modWright Transporter so don't know how good it is) that is the limiting factor.

 

There are old threads on getting more out of a Squeezebox and they usually involve modding things like better power supplies, cutting out the dac, upgrading other electronic components ... The basic concept of network connectivity is excellent.

 

iTunes is the poorest sounding of the players, which is why there are so many alternatives. On the mac front Pure Music and Amarra provide a very audible improvement, and there are any number of PC based players that are better than that iTunes.

 

But what you will get vs squeeze centre depends on the hardware involved.

[Electra]

Squeezebox is very different to the other players you mention - as it streams to a network attached device, as opposed to direct to a USB, PCI or PCI-E attached device. The configuration of the music server is not as important as the bit on the end of the network...

[Ernie1553552694]

I concur with Mr K & Mr T. It's an apple & oranges comparison, but SC will output 24/192 to the Logitech Touch. The Transporter and the MW only go up to 24/96 and downsample higher res files.

 

The other place to look is with Linn software which has UPnP network protocols in common. Both SC and Linn have their forums. I think you'll be better served with advice coming from the trenches.

[tigi]

Thanks for the replies.

Yes i have a modded SB3, running on battery power, and output to a decent DAC. I found the EA offramp to same DAC better. I tried Foobar and J River but in the end struggled with the configurations. My original Foobar install got hi res working but once i started changing skins etc I couldn't get HIres right again. The last suspect was the capability of my computer... too frustrating.

So far EA offramp with hi res best result to date... but that whole set up was temporary (while I had my system setup in a short lived 'mancave') but I'm on the move and need a more domestically friendly solution.

 

I considered a Weiss Int 202, but that required buying a Mac or hack etc... with no promise of being better than the EA Off ramp.

 

Now I just want a decent simple short to medium term solution... low cost easy to use, and high res to 24/96 (no content worth worrying about higher than that.) That means my SB3 is out. but maybe the Touch into my existing DAC. Then i could upgrade in the future to say a Modwright Transporter... BUT i don't want to be limited to SqueezeCenter if it is being left behind by say Pure Music.

[Ernie1553552694]

A Touch would be the most cost effective way to go. It's a question of preference and whether you want to be restricted to 24/96 if you move up the Logitech or Modwright foodchain. The Transporter is a built to order item now. If you ask most dealers who had previously listed Transporters on their website they'll say it's no longer available.

[Antipodes1553552706]

I agree Tim, that the EA Offramp is a lot better than any of the Squeezebox arrangements, to feed a DAC.

 

But done right, a hack plus firewire dac is a long way ahead of the EA and a decent DAC, and a fair way ahead of the async USB Dacs I have heard. So I disagree that there is no promise of an improvement. And a hack is way ahead of a Mac. There are lots of reasons why this might be so, but a demo tends to render the need for reasons superfluous fairly quickly. I did a lot of demos a couple of months ago and the conclusions were obvious for everyone that participated. Unfortunately I sold the Transporter and EA Off-ramp that I was using for those demos, so can't do them any more, but there is a good reason why they were the ones sold.

 

I wouldn't recommend you buy a Weiss INT202 when you could get a MH LIO-8 or Weiss DAC202. With the latter two you are getting genuinely great DAC/Pres together with the firewire interface, for not much more money.

 

But if you are wanting something cheap for the moment that's a different question.

[tigi]

when i was looking at at the int i was recommended to just go to a weiss dac 2 but i use my DEQX as a DAC... and I want to hang on to that for it's crossover abilities (should i ever set up a new bass system to my horns!)

 

Another way I considered was going for a SB Touch... then upgrading by adding a EA Pacecar to that ... but i don't like how the Pace car requires modified gear to feed it.

 

Anyway... it seems TT, Kaka and Ernie are all right... discussing the merits of the software is redundant... it quickly gets back to the associated hardware issues!

[curiousgeorgenz]

There's a great review of the Touch in the October issue of Stereophile.

 

What was really interesting was the mention of a 'hack' that could turn the USB input into USB output for use with USB DACs (i.e. with async like the Wavelengths or Ayres). They also said the SPDIF out was better than previous SB.

[Ernie1553552694]

The Touch gets props over at CA too.

[Electra]

I am now running a touch as my main system music source, albeit a borrowed one. Its better sounding, no doubt about it. but the UI is utter arse, so I am using my Duet controller.

[rumblefish1553552747]

from Stereophile 10

(sacd/sony xa5400)(sqtouch/classe ct ssp pre pro)

the 2 channel sacd offered a more relaxed and spacious sound than even the hi rez downloads but the difference wasnt huge.what was most striking and perhaps not surprizing was that the22/88.2 d/loads (down-sampled to 24/88.2 by squeezebox server on the host Pc)were consistently superior to the original CD-a small excerpt from the review

oh and i have just ordered one:eek:

[Ernie1553552694]

Saw that coming.

[tigi]

 

curious_george;133524 wrote:

There's a great review of the Touch in the October issue of Stereophile.

 

 

 

What was really interesting was the mention of a 'hack' that could turn the USB input into USB output for use with USB DACs (i.e. with async like the Wavelengths or Ayres). They also said the SPDIF out was better than previous SB.

 

Ahh I recall Mark mentioning that during the beta testing... shame it has stayed as a hack and not been added to the SB functionality.

Still.. pretty cool.. would give me the option to buy a cheap SB touch to feed my DAC and then upgrade in the future to: PC_SBTouch_ Weiss 202.... only limit then would be SqueezeCentre software!!

[tigi]

 

too_tall;133527 wrote:

I am now running a touch as my main system music source, albeit a borrowed one. Its better sounding, no doubt about it. but the UI is utter arse, so I am using my Duet controller.

 

Is there software like SqueezePad to use an Iped or iRobot as a remote? would be similar cost to Duet controller.

[Electra]

Tigi, there are lots of options.

 

Cant use ipeng though as I just refuse to own an iphone - fragile and overpriced. And apple. So when I acutally buy a touch, I will have to look into other options probably. The duet controller is fine though. Or else I just pick up the Asus eee and do web control.

[Ernie1553552694]

Or some other Android device?

[Ernie1553552694]

 

Tigi;133533 wrote:

Is there software like SqueezePad to use an I

ped

or iRobot as a remote? would be similar cost to Duet controller.

 

Yep, iPeng works fine.

[tigi]

 

Antipodes;133518 wrote:

I agree Tim, that the EA Offramp is a lot better than any of the Squeezebox arrangements, to feed a DAC.

 

 

 

But done right, a hack plus firewire dac is a long way ahead of the EA and a decent DAC, and a fair way ahead of the async USB Dacs I have heard. So I disagree that there is no promise of an improvement. .

 

Yeah, I guess I was more meaning the perfomance of the Weiss int202 per se. The primary difference from the EA Offramp is that it uses firewire versus USB, and although I might expect it to therefore be better (if we believe your findings... which I do...) it comes down to implementation (again according to your findings... and my limited experience too)

So the Weiss may not be a better unit just because it uses firewire... probably is... but no guarantee. I agree it does open the door to other better things... such as a hack... and that's why i considered it in the first place.... If cost was not such a present concern I'm pretty clear which way I would be going.

[tigi]

 

Ernie;133536 wrote:

Yep, iPeng works fine.

 

i thought the current IPeng had image quality problems on the IPad. But at least you're confirming it runs on Android systems.. that's good news.

 

 

Rumblefish where did you buy from?

[Ernie1553552694]

 

Tigi;133541 wrote:

i thought the current IPeng had image quality problems on the IPad. But at least you're confirming it runs on Android systems.. that's good news.

 

 

 

 

 

Rumblefish where did you buy from?

 

I never said iPeng ran on Android, but there will be support from the Squeeze community. Feel free to PM.

[Antipodes1553552706]

 

Tigi;133540 wrote:

Yeah, I guess I was more meaning the perfomance of the Weiss int202 per se. The primary difference from the EA Offramp is that it uses firewire versus USB, and although I might expect it to therefore be better (if we believe your findings... which I do...) it comes down to implementation (again according to your findings... and my limited experience too)

 

So the Weiss may not be a better unit just because it uses firewire... probably is... but no guarantee. I agree it does open the door to other better things... such as a hack... and that's why i considered it in the first place.... If cost was not such a present concern I'm pretty clear which way I would be going.

 

Gotcha. Given the DAC you use, and want to keep using, the Weiss int202 may make sense. The price is pretty good too. You would pay more than that for an Apogee Rosetta 200 and still have to buy a firewire card for it, and the Weiss is better. In my experience a quality pro firewire interface beats all the USB devices I have tried, and the EA Offramp you used to have beat all of the squeezebox devices I tried, even after heavy modification of the latter. The Weiss may be a very good idea, now I think about it.

[tigi]

 

Ernie;133542 wrote:

I never said iPeng ran on Android, but there will be support from the Squeeze community. Feel free to PM.

 

oh! but Iped and iRobot are both android IIRC. I'm wondering if there is a iPeng or Squeezepad ( for iPads) equivalent for the knock off iRobot/Ipeds?

 

An Ipad is way to much $$ just to use as a remote control.

[tigi]

 

Antipodes;133544 wrote:

Gotcha. Given the DAC you use, and want to keep using, the Weiss int202 may make sense. The price is pretty good too. You would pay more than that for an Apogee Rosetta 200 and still have to buy a firewire card for it, and the Weiss is better. In my experience a quality pro firewire interface beats all the USB devices I have tried, and the EA Offramp you used to have beat all of the squeezebox devices I tried, even after heavy modification of the latter. The Weiss may be a very good idea, now I think about it.

 

heheh that's right. But it's an awful temptation to start spending on Hacks and Almarra etc. If I got a Weiss it would have to be fed off a secondhand Mini ... sitting there whispering upgrade me....

[Flameboy1553552731]

 

Ernie;133542 wrote:

I never said iPeng ran on Android, but there will be support from the Squeeze community. Feel free to PM.

 

I use squeeze commander on my HTC Desire. Much better than the free ones, although i did suffer with the freebees for a while to save $7