In article ,
fathom wrote:

I've been using the $249 Squeezebox from SlimDevices as the
main audio player for my primary system. I also have one in
the bedroom.

http://www.slimdevices.com/pi_overview.html

Besides the unprecedented flexibility of the
thing (I can easily find and play any of over 15,000 tracks),
I am finding a few aspects of this system that offer real (and
theoretical) sonic advantages over tradional players and
transports.

The first thing of interest is a playback unit with NO MOVING
PARTS. No spinning disc, no spinning hard drive, no fan, no
static, no rumble, no hiss, no feedback. The audio files
reside on a remote PC (which can be anywhere; mine is in a
closet), and are smoothly streamed to the player via Ethernet
or WiFi. As someone who has worn out over a dozen bedroom CD
players, I can tell you the Squeezebox is a godsend for
playing music in a quiet room.

You mean that the moving parts are someplace else.

The other interesting property is this: The error correction
is performed well before playback, and a bit-perfect stream is
always sent to the player. This is because it is possible to
correct all errors at the time you "rip" a CD. Exact Audio
Copy can do this, re-reading the disc several times if needed,
and the resulting file is a perfect clone which can be
streamed directly to the player's buffer and which needs no
further audio error correction.

There is also the matter of deterioration. CDs do pick up
dust and small scratches over the years, and disc player laser
lenses can also get dirty. The traditional player must reread
and attempt to re-correct the disc each time it is played -
and must do it on the fly, leaving the possibility for
uncorrected data errors. That's not the case when you have a
bit-accurate file to playback, as the file does not
deteriorate and needs no correction.

Of course, to get CD-quality (or better!) playback, you need
to use PCM wav files or a lossless encoder like FLAC (Free
Lossless Audio Codec).

We're seeing a wave of new computer-based systems for audio
playback. They are generally quite inexpensive, but do not
think these can't be high-end devices - it mostly depends on
the quality of the file you serve up, and that is something we
can easily control.

Looks like fun. If I already had a wireless network for the computer, I
might try this in the main system.

Stephen

In article , says...
I've been using the $249 Squeezebox from SlimDevices as the
main audio player for my primary system. I also have one in
the bedroom. Besides the unprecedented flexibility of the
thing (I can easily find and play any of over 15,000 tracks),
I am finding a few aspects of this system that offer real (and
theoretical) sonic advantages over tradional players and
transports.

I've got one of these as well, and it functions as my main playback
device. I do sometimes play CDs on a changer that's hooked up, but the
Squeezebox gets most of the use. It is a cool technology - I'm thinking
of buying another & hooking up powered speakers to add music to other
parts of the house.

--
Bill

In article ,
says...

I have one Squeezebox networked using "powerline" networking
(the electric wires running through the walls). It works
flawlessly - I didn't even read the manual, just plugged in the
Netgear XE102 Wall-Plugged Ethernet Bridges and they worked.

This allowed me to build a networked "boombox" from a Squeezebox
and a set of Aego2 powered speakers. I can plug it into any
electric outlet inside or outside the house, and it gets both
power and signal over the same wire - very cool.

That's a great use of technology! I've been thinking of something
similar to get "portable" music that I can easily take outside, though I
am networked wirelessly at this point in time. Still, the network range
covers a decent portion of my yard so I'd have no problem in that regard
- I'd generally be staying close to the house to power the speakers (&
the Squeezebox) anyway.

The analog sections of these things are probably not that great, but
one that could feed an outboard DAC might be really something.

wrote in message
oups.com

The analog sections of these things are probably not that great, but
one that could feed an outboard DAC might be really something.

How good could these products be in your eyes, Cal?

No toobs, right?

The description of the Squeezebox2 is on the web:

http://www.slimdevices.com/pi_specs.html

The information below is quotedfrom there.

wrote in message
oups.com
The analog sections of these things are probably not that great,

Analog RCA outputs

* High fidelity Burr-Brown 24-bit DAC
* Two dedicated linear power regulators for DAC and line-out stages
* Full 6.0Vpp line-level signals
* Signal-to-noise ratio: over 100dB
* Total harmonic distortion: less than 0.003%

but one that could feed an outboard DAC might be really something.

Digital S/PDIF outputs

* Optical and coax digital connections
* Dedicated high-precision crystal oscillators (no PLL, no resampling)
* Standard IEC-958 (S/PDIF) encoding
* Optical connector: TOSLINK 660nm
* Coax connector: RCA, 500mVpp into 75 ohms
* Sample rates: 44.1Khz, 48Khz
* Audio format: linear PCM, 16 or 24 bits per sample

--
http://www.mat.uc.pt/~rps/

..pt is Portugal| `Whom the gods love die young'-Menander (342-292 BC)
Europe | Villeneuve 50-82, Toivonen 56-86, Senna 60-94

"fathom" wrote in message

Here's some more info on the hardware and possible future
capabilities, from Slim CEO Sean Adams:

* High fidelity Burr-Brown 24-bit DAC
* Two dedicated linear power regulators for DAC and
line-out stages * Full 6.0Vpp line-level signals
* Signal-to-noise ratio: over 100dB
* Total harmonic distortion: less than 0.003%

Missing - which DAC chips and which line out buffer chips.

Despite that handicap they could be pretty good, but running off a wall
wart isn't a great sign.

wrote in message
ups.com

Despite that handicap they could be pretty good, but running off a
wall wart isn't a great sign.

Apparently according to Cal, electrons are permanently warped by wall warts,
and nothing that runs off them can sound good.

Wall warts are single-ended crude supplies and solid state analog
sections of quality usually need bipolar supplies. Therefore a
switchmode converter is needed and in this appliance it's probably on
the single board.

wrote in message
ups.com

Wall warts are single-ended crude supplies

Accepted wisdom is that wall warts typically use full-wave rectifiers for
pretty pragmatic reasons - the second diode (or third and fourth) cost less
money and take up less space than the larger filter cap required to handle
the far lower half-wave ripple frequencies.



and solid state analog
sections of quality usually need bipolar supplies.

Typically, such equipment (example, my highly-regarded Symetrix SX-202 mic
preamp, and Rane equipment) uses AC wall warts and handles the bipolar
supply issue inside the equipment box.


Therefore a switchmode converter is needed and in this appliance it's
probably on
the single board.

There is no reasonable requirement that a switchmode supply would be
required to develop bipolar voltages.

The major advantages of switchmode supplies are size, weight, heat, and
ability to work on a wide range of domestic electrical outlets without user
set switches.

Arny Krueger wrote:
wrote in message
ups.com

Wall warts are single-ended crude supplies

Accepted wisdom is that wall warts typically use full-wave rectifiers
for
pretty pragmatic reasons - the second diode (or third and fourth)
cost less
money and take up less space than the larger filter cap required to
handle
the far lower half-wave ripple frequencies.



and solid state analog
sections of quality usually need bipolar supplies.

Typically, such equipment (example, my highly-regarded Symetrix
SX-202 mic
preamp, and Rane equipment) uses AC wall warts and handles the
bipolar
supply issue inside the equipment box.



Highly regarded by whom? Gosh you are using a discontinued preamp from
the eighties. So much for all your posturing about vintage equipment.




Therefore a switchmode converter is needed and in this appliance
it's
probably on
the single board.

There is no reasonable requirement that a switchmode supply would be
required to develop bipolar voltages.

The major advantages of switchmode supplies are size, weight, heat,
and
ability to work on a wide range of domestic electrical outlets
without user
set switches.

wrote in message
oups.com
Arny Krueger wrote:
wrote in message
ups.com

Wall warts are single-ended crude supplies

Accepted wisdom is that wall warts typically use full-wave
rectifiers for pretty pragmatic reasons - the second diode (or
third and fourth) cost less money and take up less space than the
larger filter cap required to handle the far lower half-wave ripple
frequencies.


and solid state analog
sections of quality usually need bipolar supplies.

Typically, such equipment (example, my highly-regarded Symetrix
SX-202 mic preamp, and Rane equipment) uses AC wall warts and
handles the bipolar supply issue inside the equipment box.

Highly regarded by whom?

Pros that know their stuff. Sorry, I guess that lets you off the hook,
Scott.

Gosh you are using a discontinued preamp from the eighties.

Never heard of classic equipment, I guess.

So much for all your posturing about vintage equipment.

Scott, thanks for admitting that you can't distinguish between the 60s
Klipsch La-Scalas and the 80s SS pro audio mic preamps.

****-forBrains rocks 'n' rolls. Ugh.

So much for all your posturing about vintage equipment.

Scott, thanks for admitting that you can't distinguish between the 60s
Klipsch La[sic]-Scalas and the 80s SS pro audio mic preamps.

Arnii, thanks for admitting you can't tell food from waste.

Special Agent Double-O-Kroo is trying his debating tactics again, but
he's bumbling as so often he does, because he knows full well
everyone's on to him and he's digging himself in deeper.

Arny Krueger wrote:
wrote in message
oups.com
Arny Krueger wrote:
wrote in message
ups.com

Wall warts are single-ended crude supplies

Accepted wisdom is that wall warts typically use full-wave
rectifiers for pretty pragmatic reasons - the second diode (or
third and fourth) cost less money and take up less space than the
larger filter cap required to handle the far lower half-wave
ripple
frequencies.


and solid state analog
sections of quality usually need bipolar supplies.

Typically, such equipment (example, my highly-regarded Symetrix
SX-202 mic preamp, and Rane equipment) uses AC wall warts and
handles the bipolar supply issue inside the equipment box.

Highly regarded by whom?

Pros that know their stuff.

The good ones do. Funny, you still haven't answered the question. This
preamp is highly regarded by whom? Can you cite any pros with a track
record of excellent recordings that rwgard this preamp highly?


Sorry, I guess that lets you off the hook,
Scott.


You to.




Gosh you are using a discontinued preamp from the eighties.

Never heard of classic equipment, I guess.


Sure I have. That is pretty much all I own. You're the hypocrite who
starts whining about other people favoring outdated equipment yet you
tout outdated equipment when you own it.



So much for all your posturing about vintage equipment.

Scott, thanks for admitting that you can't distinguish between the
60s
Klipsch La-Scalas and the 80s SS pro audio mic preamps.


Arny, thanks for demonstrating your inability to distignuish between
reality and your fantasy world. Where did I ever mention anything about
60s Kliph La-Scalas?


Scott Wheeler

You didn't, I did, but that was awhile ago and another discussion. He's
delusional and can no longer distinguish between posters, or for that
matter gear.