Squeezebox opinions?

[badbob]

Considering buying a Squeezebox, will playback FLAC files over cable LAN. Any owners want to chime in? Only be using the digital output into a DAC.

[andrew1810]

I have one running through a DAC and its excellent, sounds great, easy to use and I've found myself playing more music and more of a variety.

Ripping the CDs is tedious, but worth it, I haven't used one for about a year

My own full review here: http://www.audiofi.co.uk/reviews/sb3.html

[extremelydodgy]

It's your best bet right now I think. Personally I prefer having a 'real computer' wired to a large display, but it's necessarily much more expensive and potentially hassling (especially if you go the PC way rather than Mac) than the Squeezebox. When I was using them I only ran the SB's through a DAC. The results were fine for feeding a decent DAC, although the analog results were also fairly decent - When I half-jokingly had it running through a Sennheiser Orpheus headphone directly from the analog outs and also through the Mark Levinson 32/33 combo, it was surprisingly good (maybe because of low expectations, but nevertheless definitely acceptable).

[badbob]

I'll be buying this for the Hi-Fi that's in another room, since I have no way of accessing the music. For the HTPC is located in the AV room, is there a cheaper method similar to the Squeezebox when the display is located next to the music server? Similar in design to the SB with remote, large display, perhaps USB control to the computer linking to drive/database.

[extremelydodgy]

Not really anything cheaper that'll work properly. I can offer you my Squeezebox V1 (wired) if that helps. I can stick it up for sale again for £60ish since the box o' crap sale fell through.

[badbob]

Order placed :)

[Uridium]

Not really anything cheaper that'll work properly. I can offer you my Squeezebox V1 (wired) if that helps. I can stick it up for sale again for £60ish since the box o' crap sale fell through.

Roku?

[g0pkh]

I have 3 Roku Soundbridges myself, and am very pleased with them indeed.

But for some reason people seem not to like them on here.:( .

[andrew1810]

Roku?

The Roku would work and is cheaper, but doesn't support FLAC as well as the Squeezebox

[Uridium]

I have 3 Roku Soundbridges myself, and am very pleased with them indeed.

But for some reason people seem not to like them on here.:( .

Couldn't agree more, I have 2 and have found them fantastic. The guys are constantly developing the soundbridge and the latest firmware is superb.

Can't knock the Firefly server software either, nice small app, reliable and fast.

[suniil]

does both SB and Roku interoperable with any music server?

Couldn't agree more, I have 2 and have found them fantastic. The guys are constantly developing the soundbridge and the latest firmware is superb.

Can't knock the Firefly server software either, nice small app, reliable and fast.

[andrew1810]

does both SB and Roku interoperable with any music server?

They each need different software servers, the Squeezebox only works with slimserver, the Roku works with any of the UPnP programs (firefly, twonkyvision etc.)

I added a supported software section to the page here:
Roku - http://www.audiofi.co.uk/reviews/m1000.html
Squeezebox - http://www.audiofi.co.uk/reviews/sb3.html

The Squeezebox software has a few more features, but can be more difficult to setup, the Roku is more of a plug and go solution

[suniil]

Thanks mate, i've already got one SB version 1 & Kurobox.

Still looking for couple of version 3 SBs

They each need different software servers, the Squeezebox only works with slimserver, the Roku works with any of the UPnP programs (firefly, twonkyvision etc.)

I added a supported software section to the page here:
Roku - http://www.audiofi.co.uk/reviews/m1000.html
Squeezebox - http://www.audiofi.co.uk/reviews/sb3.html

The Squeezebox software has a few more features, but can be more difficult to setup, the Roku is more of a plug and go solution

[badbob]

Just arrived, setup no problems. One thing could be improved though- the pc software, WSIYG system so as you change a screensaver/VU meter type thing squeezebox display is off to one side showing the changes.

Since the SB is another room to the PC have to go back and forth.

Not sure about sound quality, it should be identical to the CD player digital out. Using digital out on SB at 100% gain.

[andrew1810]

You can change the screensaver on the squeezebox, its in the setup menu.

I don't think I've ever loaded it up on the main pc, I either use my laptop or pda

[Falp]

I have a Roku Soundbridge M1000.:thumbsup:

Very good machine, connected to my AV Receiver DACs...:smashin:


Now must sort my firewall/re-buffering problems...:cool:

[mh123]

Tip: Buy the QNAP 101 network-attached storage device with built-in Slimserver 6 software.

Then you're not relying on a PC to serve out your media. Stick it on the QNAP's hard drive instead.

I've had 3 squeezeboxes running concurrently (2 wireless, 1 wired) streaming different tunes at 320k and it performs beautifully.

I bought a 250GB version and stuffed it full of tunes. Since then I've strung a number (5 or 6) USB HDD's on the back and now use it for streaming all sorts of stuff - DVD rips, DVRMS TV shows recorded with MCE, home video, music videos etc. all over the house.

It's a stonking piece of kit.

[badbob]

I already have a HTPC so don't need a NAS type HD storage. cheers anyway.

[JohnG]

A few questions about the Qnap NAS if I may:-
How many USB ports does the Qnap have ?
Can it power any of the USB drives you attach ?
If you run a squeezebox from the Qnap server does this allow you to stream any internet radio as well ?
Apart from having the Slimserver loaded does the Qnap offer any other benefits over and above a normal NAS as it does seem a bit more money than Buffalo ones etc ?
Thanks

[extremelydodgy]

A few questions about the Qnap NAS if I may:-
How many USB ports does the Qnap have ?
Can it power any of the USB drives you attach ?
If you run a squeezebox from the Qnap server does this allow you to stream any internet radio as well ?
Apart from having the Slimserver loaded does the Qnap offer any other benefits over and above a normal NAS as it does seem a bit more money than Buffalo ones etc ?
Thanks

3. two rear, one front.
If the drive is bus powered, yes.
Yes, as long as the QNAP has Internet access.
Not really, although the one major advantage in a domestic situation is that it's fanless - although even in British Summer it might need additional cooling assistance. The performance is not that great in my opinion. Read/write throughput sucks big time and is more of a slow megabit class device than a gigabit.

[g0pkh]

The performance is not that great in my opinion. Read/write throughput sucks big time and is more of a slow megabit class device than a gigabit

I think that is the case in nearly all USB Drive based NAS boxes.
Down to the USB chip sets I guess. The NSLU2 for example.

They have tried to impress by saying the QNAP is gigabit, but that is only the speed on the Network Interface, it can't really overcome that much the performance of the USB system.

[mh123]

I just ran the following experiment...

For info my home LAN is 10/100 switched, WLAN is 802.11g so 54meg at best (yeah right!).

I ran two squeezeboxes, 1 wired 1 unwired. On the wired unit I streamed 320K CBR mp3 audio content from the internal HDD of the QNAP. On the wireless unit I streamed 192K CBR mp3 audio from the same HDD.

At the same time from my (wired) MCPC I streamed a huge 20+ Gig AVI CBR video from a USB2 HDD attached to one of the QNAP's external ports. At the same time I ran a photo slideshow from a different USB2 HDD attached to another of the QNAP's external ports.

The Mrs and kid were dispatched to listen for audio dropouts on the squeezeboxes whilst I sat in front of the MCPC.

10 minutes passed and not a single dropout anywhere. The Mrs did comment that the wireless-connected squeezebox was a little unresponsive when scrolling through the menus, and I think that once or twice the photo slideshow was jerky on transitions.

QNAP gets my vote.

[mh123]

3. two rear, one front.
If the drive is bus powered, yes.
Yes, as long as the QNAP has Internet access.
Not really, although the one major advantage in a domestic situation is that it's fanless - although even in British Summer it might need additional cooling assistance. The performance is not that great in my opinion. Read/write throughput sucks big time and is more of a slow megabit class device than a gigabit.

I plugged a 4-port USB2 hub into one of the QNAP USB sockets and now have a total of five external disks spinning attached to the one box. Theoretically it'll go all the way to 128 devices I guess...?!

[badbob]

What are the LAN speed requirements for streaming FLAC?

[andrew1810]

I stream AIFF files (slightly larger than FLAC) over an 802.1b network (11meg) and it works fine.

Any LAN would be much much quicker than that!

[JohnG]

Where's the best place to get a qnap nas from do you reckon ?

[andrew1810]

www.cooltopia.co.uk are the retail side of ProgressivAV who import them and put slimserver on etc.

www.advancemp3players.co.uk also sell them and are a good retailer

[JohnG]

Thanks :thumbsup:
I might limit myself to a 300GB version and then stick a couple of 400GB USB drives off the back of it - if it allows any size drive to be used ?

[mh123]

My largest is 500GB... it plugged & played 1st time

[JohnG]

That sounds promising :thumbsup:

[peterbell]

Where's the best place to get a qnap nas from do you reckon ?

I ordered mine from http://www.ripcaster.co.uk/ and it was delivered about two hours later! :thumbsup:

[Mr_Sukebe]

I have a quick question on the QNAP.
Just how loud is the unit whilst operating?
I'm considering the use of a QNAP with a wired squeezebox, just putting the unit somewhere near my stereo, thus in my listening room. Is it very loud with the drive running?