Sqeezebox or Soundbridge for networked Audio??

[guido]

Have been wading through the threads regarding networked audio and trying to sort out what I want from solution... so here goes...

Want to be able to have all my CDs avaiable for easy access... also need extra storage to back up my PC... therefore need some sort of external hard drive as my current PC maxed out with 3 drives already.

Would want a disk with fan as will be on 24/7 and have have killed a couple of external Maxtor USB drives transferring large amounts (several Gb) of data.
Been thinking about LaCie 1TB Ethernet Disk.

So then started looking at Networked Audio devices... discounted the lower end stuff and ended up looking at Slimdevices/Logitech Sqeezebox 3 and Roku/Pinnacle Soundbridge M1001HR.

Both seem to do what I want but trying to work out what the Squeezebox gives for around £90 more. The Soundbridge seems more flexible in that you can run from a uPnP source such as the LaCie and dont need Slimserver running somewhere. I know you can get disks like the QNAP 101 that will run Slimserver without much Linux hackery... but they seem quite expensive.

I would be using optical or coaxial audio out to connect to my Yamaha RX-V630RDS receiver attached to Kef KHT2005.1 speakers.... the reviews say the SB3 gives the better sound quality.... connected to my kit do think I would notice the difference between the Soundbridge and SB3? I woudl rip my CDs at best quailty.

If I go SB3 then I would probably end up setting up Ubuntu Server as have been playing around with one under Virtual Server for hosting Wordpress (PHP/MSQL Blog). I would resurect an old PC I have lying about for Ubuntu.

Dont really know what to do. Easiest and cheapest woudl be Soundbridge + LaCie. But then would I regret sound quality via my kit? More expensive SB3 + Ubuntu Server running on old PC (then either get new SATA card for PC and new Disks, or still get the LaCie). The Ubuntu option gives more more flexibilty for running other stuff. The Soundbridge option is cheaper and can always add Ubuntu server and media server s/w some other time... I think I read that with uPnP you dont get all the search faetures you get running a full media server with the Soundbridge?

Excuse ramblings...! Any pointers as to sound quality and similar setups with Soundbridge or SB3 woudl be appreciated

Thanks.

[Autopilot]

This has been discussed many times on these forums. The SB3 is the best buy, it's worth the extra. For a start, Slimserver is way more advanced than UPNP and has many more features, such as gapless playback, better format support, great plugins etc etc. UPNP is quite simplistic, designed to work with a wide array of devices. But TBH, I have lost the will to explain again in detail why the SB3 is much better, so do a search or hopefully someone else will help you

Sorry, long day. But trust me, the SB3 is just about the best streamer on the market (excluding the Sono's and Transporter, which cost way more) and excellent value for money.

edit: here ya go for starters;

Audio streaming devices
Squeezebox Wireless or something else?

[guido]

Originally Posted by Autopilot

This has been discussed many times on these forums. The SB3 is the best buy, it's worth the extra. For a start, Slimserver is way more advanced than UPNP and has many more features, such as gapless playback, better format support, great plugins etc etc. UPNP is quite simplistic, designed to work with a wide array of devices. But TBH, I have lost the will to explain again in detail why the SB3 is much better, so do a search or hopefully someone else will help you

Sorry, long day. But trust me, the SB3 is just about the best streamer on the market (excluding the Sono's and Transporter, which cost way more) and excellent value for money.

edit: here ya go for starters;

Audio streaming devices
Squeezebox Wireless or something else?

Thanks for your reply... have read all the threads to do with this subject.. you have posted a lot!

What I was hoping for was to find a proper audio review of the two products. Both can use Slimserver... so one of the things I was interested in was sound quality.. would I be able to hear the difference on my kit? Be nice to see a review of these type of devices in What HiFi or similar.

Can you still get the silver SB3? On logitech site seems to be only in Black now.

[Autopilot]

The SB3 has better sound quality, thanks to the excellent Bown Burr DAC. It's also got a much better screen (not LED, you need to see it in the flesh. Tis a thing of beauty). The build quality is also better on the SB3 and, IMO, looks much nicer.

As for the Roku using Slimserver, last time i checked, it could only use old versions of Slimserver. And it involved a lot of transcoding and misses quite a few features.

[lazymatt]

I'd say the SB 3 too, however, both are good. The SB3 has come down in price and is worth the extra £30 or so.

What Hi-Fi reviewed the SB3 in April 2006 and the Soundbridge in May 2005.

Both got 5 stars, although the Soundbridge was about £80 cheaper.

I've got the SB3 review, but not the Soundbridge review.

[sharper]

Thinking of getting a SB3 with a 500GB QNAP TS-101 - Seagate AS Hard Drive.

Any problems or pitfalls with this set-up?

[lazymatt]

Nope - ideal set up, really.

[guido]

Thanks for all the replies... think have decied what to go for...

Squeezbox 3
Old Dell PC running Ubuntu Server with Slimserver installed
LaCie Ethernet Disk Mini 500Gb

Will access the LaCie from both my main Vista PC and Ubuntu as want to use the LaCie for backups of my PC as well. Will rip on my Vista PC. Have been playing around with Ubuntu Server on VM accessing windows shares via smbfs today... and installed slimserver too on the Ubuntu Server VM (under VMware Server)... all worked very nicely. Also going to be running Wordpress on the Ubuntu Server as want to host my own blog etc.

Just need to find the SB3 in white now as not too keen on the black one!

Will let you know how it all works.. right out with the credit card!

[lazymatt]

You'll love it.

PS rip into FLAC if you can. Sound quality is great.

[sharper]

What the best way/Sound Quality wise to wire up the SB3 phonos or digital?
Are there problems with some copy protected CD?

Any pointers?

[Autopilot]

Over at www.slimdevices.com there is a good wiki on ripping CD's. But generally, the accepted best method is using EAC (Exact Audio Copy) to FLAC (Free Lossess Audio Codec)

Some CD's have protection, but it's rare due to problems with some CD players not liking them. I have never come across one, but it's pretty easy to get around as it's pretty basic. Sometimes it's as easy as holding down the Shift key when you put the CD in your PC.

[happyhomer]

I always hold down the shift key to stop the CD autoplaying-does ctrl have the same effect? As for copy-protected CD's, MediaMonkey has no difficulties with ripping them to FLAC-it detects the .cda tracks perfectly, unlike some other rippers.

[Autopilot]

Originally Posted by happyhomer

I always hold down the shift key to stop the CD autoplaying-does ctrl have the same effect?

Sorry i meant Shift.

I believe EAC is fine with copy protected CD's too. But if not, there are small apps that can run in the back ground while allow all windows programs with work with them.

[mattross]

U could always buy a copy of AnyDVD if U have enough protected audio discs as it will remove protection on-the-fly.

I have a Transporter for my main Hi-Fi and an SB3 as an alarm clock, both are excellent devices.

[sharper]

Sounds like i will have to start teaching the wife all this as she plows through our CD collection.

How have most of you connected your SB3 to your amps?

More questions to follow me thinks!