Squeezebox query

Depends on the drive, most likely. My Synology CS-406 uses a native ext3 file system but there has been no problem with funny file names containing æ, ø, ä, etc.

 

Hi Steve, I think my ubuntu machine and also uses ext3 (or might be ext2) and I've had issues with ? and :. Other character (including Oriental and Russian looking) seem OK.

 

I checked for ? marks and, for example, Erasure's track from Chorus called "Am I Right?" is stored as far as Windows sees it as X:\Erasure\Chorus\Am I Right_.mp3 and the same in unix if I telnet to the NAS, but the tag information is correct from within e.g. iTunes. (The track was originally ripped with itunes on a windows machine.) I suppose if you use something that doesn't have tags, like FLAC, then it could be a problem.

 

Sorry, I just realised we are talking about different things. I have no issues at all wiith any names in the local drive. I only have an issue with smb drive mapping. I use Samba on my server, where I backup my flac and mp3 files to.

 

Could this be a solution?
When backing up, connect the NTFS formated NAS drive and the NTFS formated external hard drive using an USB cable; instead of feeding data through the router.

Haven't tried; just a thought!

 

Dev, Grsi Is Going All The Way To Have Sb As All His Source, Contacting Him I Am Sure That It Will Be Helpful, Nando.

 

I know Joseph, I spoke to him.

I too have bought a SB3, but I'm not planning to sell off my CDPs. Still times when you just want to handle CDs.

 

What transport do you people use for ripping CDs?
The CD/DVD player in you PC or have you found a way to use your hi-fi CDP?

 

PC. The software is Sound Juicer running on ubuntu Linux.

 

I have been using a Sony CAV-U5 and a Sound Blaster Audigy 2 NX during the last few weeks. Fed through a DAC, both are much better than I expected.

Now I have been offered a SLIMP3 and an original Squeezebox.
They are compared at
http://wiki.slimdevices.com/index.cgi?HardwareComparison
But not sure if they can play FLAC

Has anyone tried either or both of them?
Apart from the difference in DTR and other features, are these old models inferior in sound quality in some way?

 

Check out the Slim forum-

http://forums.slimdevices.com/

For anything approaching decent quality you likely won't want anything older than a SB2.

I don't think the slimp3 supported internet radio either.

IIRC the SB2 and SB3 only differ cosmetically, but if you have wireless networking difficulty, the external aerial on the SB2 may be helpful.

Jim

 

Anybody tried a Transporter yet? I read the Stereophile review

http://www.stereophile.com/mediaservers/207slim/index.html

and it seems like it's the business.

Is it?

 

Been trying out the SLIMP and an original wireless SB for couple of weeks. No speed problems with SB and being 100% wireless is convenient. Streams FLAC and othe lossless formats but sound quality wise nothing special. Playing though a DAC showed a noticeable improvement.

Has anyone compared these old ones with SB2 and SB3 ?

Transporter is an interestesing innovation but rather expensive considerng that the basic function of streaming can be achieved at fraction of its price. Unless the quality of sound reproduction is something fantastic, I am not going to be tempted. Unless they integrate a NAS with a 500GB HD plus a hand-held wireless remote/colour-dispay, 8 inch minimum.

Haven't listened to the Transporter, so would like to hear from those who use it.

 

sb2 / 3 is mules better than sb 1 when it comes to jitter and digital output connection - i have both and the sb2 wins the external dac contest by a country mile.
however if you just want a box to plug into your amp that streams music off a hdd then the 1 is perfectly adequate.

 

Howdy,

I'm a bit confused about this. Is there any advantage in sound from using a sb2 rather than wire connecting the computer directly to a DAC?

Logically, It seems like given equal recording formats, the sound from any cdp, sb2, or piped directly from the computer and run in each case through the same DAC should produce the same sound.

What would produce variation?

I imagine there might be some difference in quality between firewire and USB or an optical line vs an RCA line, but even that I'm sceptical of. It just seems like any transport of digital info, given the same recording, will produce the same sound as long as its converted at the same DAC.

On the other hand, I haven't noticed an overabundance of people trying to offload their 5000$ cdps for pennies. what gives?

 

Main advantage of using an SB is the conveniance of wireless connection. Also, the manufacturer has packaged it very well with Slimserver software, being able to play lossless file formats, support from many models of NAS, good promotional activities and so on.

If wireless in not a technical requirement and if one is prepared to stream using cable, then there are other options:
- a simple PC to amp connection using analogue interconnects;
- from PC > external sound card > analogue ouput > amp; or best of all,
- PC/NAS > Wireless router > laptop > USB to SPDIF convertor > DAC > amp.
- Ethernet or Firewire connection to amp may also be a possibility but I am not aware of any gizmos for it.

 

Bluemax,

thanks for the response. For the most part, I'm aware of those possiblities, and, there are firewire gizmos mostly designed for people who are recording and mixing, and most come with a DAC which you may or may not want to bypass by way of a digital out.

The - PC/NAS > Wireless router > laptop > USB to SPDIF convertor > DAC > amp. option is interesting. I'm actually thinking of having a computer (hopefully a very quiet one) next to my stereo, so the wireless router and laptop steps would be superfluous. There wouldn't be much of a difference would there, as long as the computer and hard drives are very quiet?

In any case, I am curious if anyone has tried to make sound comparisons between the various paths by which digital information can be transferred to a DAC. (or comparing a harddrive transport to a cd transport)

The great IC debate seems to have settled into two static camps of those who believe and those who refuse to try.

I couldn't participate because I live in Spain, but some of you could get together and do some bbqing and wire switching and blind tests in this realm, I'd be happy to reap the benefits of your insights though sad to miss out on the fun!

Cheers!