[Barry.B]

Hi All,

I'm patiently waiting for Amazon UK to get their act together and send me the 'all black' squeezebox 3 I ordered at the end of March.  When were these released for sale in the UK anyone as quite a few UK dealers seem to be awaiting stock?

Reading an article in the latest Hi Fi News (June issue, letters. page 95 - USB performance - response by Andrew Harrison), it was stated that the Mac mini OS converts all audio files by default to 24/44.1  even if they were originally say 24/48 or higher.

Is this in fact true as I was mulling over the pro's and con's of using an Intel Duo Core based Mac mini to load slim server onto and then hook up a couple of USB 500Gig hard drives as storage for my ripped CD's. 

I intend to feed the output of the Mac mini via ethernet to our Draytek Vigor 2910VG router, then wirelessly to the SB3, then via S/PDIF to my Bryston BP25DA pre amp, so I don't want the Mac to down rate the files or is the drop not going to make much difference anyway - I may have got the wrong end of the stick in understanding whats going on here and am happy to be corrected.

Any better suggestions on a storage solution happily accepted, ie what would be the minimum specs needed on a basic PC to replace the Mac mini and get good results with my audio system - the BP25 is feeding a vertically bi amped 3BST/PMC LB1 set up.

Many thanks,

Regards,

Barry.B

[PhilNYC]

You're fine if you're using a SB3.  The conversion to 24/44.1 only happens via the USB output, and I'm pretty sure it's defeatable.  SB3 doesn't use the USB port...

[Barry.B]

Hi Phil,

Thanks for your reply.

If you are using USB connected hard drives for file storage, then I take it the audio would then be converted to 24/44.1. 

How do you defeat this or is it fairly involved.

Regards,

Barry.B

[Grumpy_Git]

No.

You will only be using the USB to transfer data, it will stay the same.

If on the other hand you attach a USB soundcard, then you will find that the data is being manipulated.

Until your files reach a soundcard or Squeezebox, they are only considered data and not converted/edited or ruined.

Nick.

[Barry.B]

Thanks Nick, seems there's a fairly steep learning curve here. I'd better get climbing!!

Regards,

Barry.B