Squeezebox Wireless or something else?

[stormeh]

Hi,

I am looking to get a Squeezebox to use in my living room to stream FLAC and high bit rate MP3s from my PC.

The Squeezebox looks like it will do everything I want and support last.fm which is also important to me.

Is there anything else which will do something similar? I did have the thought of buying something which would do audio and video but the video wireless components all seem to have issues and flaws which would just annoy me too much.

Cheers,

Mike (sorry if this is the wrong forum, not sure where it fits exactly)

[Autopilot]

The Squeezebox 3 is absolutely amazing, i plan to buy my second one when i am in NY. It offers the best value for money too when you consider the excellent sound quality, format support, build quality and all the extra plugins/internet radio (inc Last.fm).

It's also worth a look at the Sono's. Also amazing, has a fantastic remote (although i prefer the screen to be on the main unit personally). It's not quite as good value for money as the SB3 though IMO.

You will be very happy with either, there are the market leaders. There are a few good budget option (i.e. Roku) but if you have the money i don't think there are any other devices worth getting.

Of course they are just audio players. Some people want video too, but the lack of Video is a strength IMO. The developers have just concentrated on making very good music devices, and succeeded, rather than the jack of all trades, master of none, which the Audio/Video streamers tend to be. If you want video streaming, you are much better getting a separate device if you can afford it.

[Uridium]

Still loving my Roku soundbridge even after trying a friend's SB3 (horse for courses i guess though)

[Blue_Max]

Consider a USB to SPDIF converter such as a Creative Labs Sound Blaster Audigy 2 NX

If you do not need to use wireless or is concerned about an RFI device sitting so close to your hi-fi components, this USB device has excellent spec. Includes ability to record using analog or digital inputs from your hi-fi CDP. Has a remote control with comprehensive facilities.

24-bit/96kHz Stereo, 5.1 and 7.1 surround outputs - analogue and digital
24-bit/96kHz ADC for various analog inputs for recording from LPs, cassettes or why?
Optical in, SPDIF and Optical out
Signal to Noise Ratio : 102 dB
Many other features including Mic-in, headphones, Dolby Digital decoding, HD for 24-bit DVD-A, etc.
It has an external PSU and a remote control.

One feature I still have to try out is its ADC (Analogue to Digital Converter) to rip LPs cassettes and such analogue sources into HD.

http://in.creative.com/products/prod...5&product=9103

Originally around £99. Production ceased recently. Can buy at the internet auction sites for aound £30.

"It is so far, the only USB audio device that uses an asynchronous USB interface, meaning that the computer is slaved to the Audigy 2 NX's clock like a conventional transport connected via wordclock would be".
"As for how good this is as a transport...
A Chinese forum compared it against the Squeezebox and it came out on top; but on the other hand they thought that the UD-10 is ultimately a better transport." -
"wychuah" at M-Audio SuperDAC Group

[stormeh]

Hi,

Thanks for the tips, I needed wireless though because the PC is upstairs and the Squeezebox is downstairs, its coming today anyway now so will see how it goes.

I almost decided on a PS3 with TVersity but it still seems in its infancy.

Mike

[Rich6826]

I picked up a squeezebox 3 just the other day, and it's a stunning bit of kit! So, so impressed...

Tip for Vista users out there. Download the beta version of the slim server software 6.5.3, as it works more reliably in Vista than the offiical 6.5.2. Its on the Slim Devices website.

[Getgaff]

Another thumbs up for the Squeezebox. I absolutely love mine - it has to be the best gadget in the house. Brilliant .

[Blue_Max]

How many of you SB lovers put sound quality on top of the list?

And don't you wish you had the large colourful display of a laptop with pics and graphics, rather than scroll up and down a tiny, ancient looking display?

[stormeh]

Originally Posted by Blue_Max

How many of you SB lovers put sound quality on top of the list?

And don't you wish you had the large colourful display of a laptop with pics and graphics, rather than scroll up and down a tiny, ancient looking display?

Hmm, I didnt realise the SB3 sound quality was bad? I had heard the sound quality is very good? Is this not the case? I wont be able to try mine until the weekend.

As for the display the whole point with it being in my lounge is that is unobtrusive, I don't need the TV on or a PC in the same room to use it.

Mike

[stevos]

The sound quality of the squeezebox out of the box is very good and if you change the transformer that improves further.

I love my squeezebox but something which supports album art/tv display would have been nice.

As for "ancient looking display", i actually think it looks rather modern and funcky.

The combo of the squeezebox and my NAS running slimserver is a huge hit for me.

Only problem is it does support upnp or dlna, which may or may not be important to you.

[Druboo]

Originally Posted by stormeh

As for the display the whole point with it being in my lounge is that is unobtrusive, I don't need the TV on or a PC in the same room to use it.

Totally agree I want to listen to music, not watch it.

Mike, I think you will be more than impressed with the sound quality of the Squeezebox

[Autopilot]

Originally Posted by Blue_Max

How many of you SB lovers put sound quality on top of the list?

Me, that's one of the main reasons i bought it. It's well known for it's excellent sound quality, especially considering the price bracket it's in. The Brown Burr 24bit DAC is as good as the one in many CD players that cost three times as much. It sounds brilliant, especially using FLAC. But if i was a real audiophile, i could use my own external DAC.

Originally Posted by Blue_Max

And don't you wish you had the large colourful display of a laptop with pics and graphics, rather than scroll up and down a tiny, ancient looking display?

No way, why would i want that? I too listen to my music, not watch it. Usually i am blissed out on the sofa or talking to friends. Not staring at staring at a bloody pointless visual on a laptop screen. Or looking like a goon dragging my bloody large laptop into the room (and plugging it in) every time i want to hear some tunes. Takes the spontaneity out of music listening. It's not ancient because it's not colour, and the UI lets me navigate a huge collection with complete ease. The liquid effect of the high quality vacuum tube display (not cheap LCD) is beautiful and has a very cool retro, yet modern, look that fit's in well in a hifi setup that people love. You can't appreciate it in a photo on the net, it's very different in real life.
Having to mess around with a laptop would be a chore, i want a simple elegant and neat solution. It's no wonder the SB3 is the best selling streamer on the market, they are stunning. But Slimserver has a cool (and skinable) web interface, so if i wanted all that jaz i could control the SB3 remotely via my laptop, PSP and PDA and mobile. But the novelty quickly wore off and i went back to listen to my tunes.
The other thing of cause is its very efficient. I have a single PC in my home office that acts as a server for my SB3, PDA (upnp streaming around the home/garden) and a second SB3 which i plan to use in my bedroom).

[parrydave]

Have a look at this screensaver:
http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=35267

When i need a fancy graphics frontend to SB3 I use my laptop as a big remote control. It gives full remote access to slimserver's web interface. Plus running the above screensaver, the laptop (which I could output to TV if I wanted) shows album art for currently playing track together with the track details, full screen. It also shows the next few tracks coming up in the playlist. Looks very nice.

I use it like this mostly with the softsqueeze SB3 emulator installed on laptop. Mobile music with graphics anywhere in the house/garden. For listening to my main system i.e. via the SB3 not softsqueeze, I don't bother with laptop/graphics. THe SB3 user interface is more than adequate for what i need.

[Blue_Max]

"I want to listen to music, not watch it."

"As for the display the whole point with it being in my lounge is that is unobtrusive, I don't need the TV on or a PC in the same room to use it."

I wasn't suggesting that anyone gaze at the notebook screen whilst listening to music. But it is useful to see the CD/LP artwork, full tracklist and other kind of info you find on a CD case or LP cover. A notebook need not be obtrusive like a PC or TV. I place it on a coffee table next to the recliner. It is a simple and quick matter to turn off or dim the display when required. With a notebook not only you get the luxury of a big colourful screen with much more info displayed at the same time but also you have the choice of running Slimserver or one of the many other players that you may like better.

As for the sound quality, I am not saying that SB is bad. But have you listened to any USB to SPDIF Converters playing through a good DAC? I have not listened to SB3 but having compared an original Slimserver and SB2 (with a 4 amp PSU) to two USB devices plus DAC, over a few days, I know the difference.

I also refer you to the post below.

"It is so far, the only USB audio device that uses an asynchronous USB interface, meaning that the computer is slaved to the Audigy 2 NX's clock like a conventional transport connected via wordclock would be".

"As for how good this is as a transport...
A Chinese forum compared it against the Squeezebox and it came out on top; but on the other hand they thought that the UD-10 is ultimately a better transport." - "wychuah" at M-Audio SuperDAC Group

BTW. SB is a welcome innovation and there will be many more like it as internet, PCs and hi-fi merge. But there is too much hype surrounding the SB. All I am suggesting is that do not let the hype prevent you from considering and trying out other options.

Only advantge that I find with SB right now is that it is can give you a 100% wireless connection.

[stormeh]

Originally Posted by Blue_Max

Only advantge that I find with SB right now is that it is can give you a 100% wireless connection.

Which is the most important feature for me. But thanks for your input anyway, I did ask for alternatives.

I just hope the sound quality is ok! I will be putting it through a Sony AV (HTSF-1100) system anyway, so that will prolly do more damage to the sound than the SB3 but I don't pretend to be an audiophile. (I'll compare the Optical, Coax and RCA Analogue out of interest though).

I just want a good enough sounding system, at the moment my PC is rigged up to an ancient Sony Amp and Speakers, so if it can do anything near as good a job as that does then I will be happy.