[aramesh]

Is there a device that can play/stream music (any format) residing in a hard disk without using laptop/computer?
Wouldn't it be nice if say, one downloads and stores songs in an external hard disk via a computer but wants to play them without the computer (probably feed a DAC)? Is a processor based motherboard necessary for this purpose? Can SB3 do that?

-ramesh

[Dan Driscoll]

Is there a device that can play/stream music (any format) residing in a hard disk without using laptop/computer?
Wouldn't it be nice if say, one downloads and stores songs in an external hard disk via a computer but wants to play them without the computer (probably feed a DAC)? Is a processor based motherboard necessary for this purpose? Can SB3 do that?

-ramesh

I believe the Olive units will do that. They have an internal hard drive and can be networked, but they are pretty expensive.

If you read the Squeeze Box FAQ then you already know that the Squeeze Box can be run off an NAS, which is basically just a hard drive attached to your home network, with minimal processing power, just enough to run the SlimServer software.

The digital output of an SB3 and I would assume Roku, Olive and similar type devices can be run through a DAC. I output my SB3 to a modified LiTe Audio DAC-62.

[aramesh]

Thanks Dan. Checked the Olive site and see that they have the CD burning and storage features also.
Someone should probably think of combining file(music) reading capability from a disk and a dac in one device??

[bbaker6212]

The Zyxel DMA1100P Media Streamer and NAS Server is reported (by the manufacturer) to be able to do this.  And it has a DAC, though I doubt it is of high quality.  Still, *may* work ok hooked to an outboard DAC.  Let us know if you try it out.

[toocool4]

I believe one of this Sonos equipment will do what you need check it out here www.sonos.com

Chris

[richidoo]

I just disovered this amazing new invention that does exactly what you are looking for aramesh


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IPod

http://www.redwineaudio.com/iMod.html
http://www.wadia.com/products/170i/170iTransport_home.htm

Sonos too, but it needs network storage, which is a small computer file server, so not strictly what you're after. There has to be a processor involved somewhere to access the music on the disk, decode the compression, let you select files to play, etc. The question is can it be done with only one processor? Portable players and olive are the only such solutions I know of.
Rich

[Bob in St. Louis]

Scan this thread for any post by the name "ole". (He's a Digital Jedi Master  )
Specifically, the last post on page three:
http://www.hawthorneaudio.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=1609&p=21776#p21776



Hope that helps.
Bob

[bbaker6212]

Rich, just my opinion, and I know I'm far away in the minority, but I think Ipod's suck for anything but purely portable use (ie, modern day Walkman albeit with far superior sound).  It does not support FLAC and it's a closed system sold by one vendor (no open platform) much like their ITunes system tries to be.  Not the kind of system I care to support with my dollars.  Btw, none of Apple's products are DLNA certified, so they will not *easily* interoperate with other vendors consumer products.  Of course I'm sure Apple will be glad to sell you a myriad of add-ons to enable you to inter-connect their proprietary devices.

[bbaker6212]

Bob, interesting product. thanks for that.  A Palm running Sonix (that link is broken now) seems to be a pain in the head, and wallet, for remote control.   Add to that setting up the MPD software...phew, that's a bit of work.  I've seen other disc-less micro-PC's out there now.  This could be a more flexible solution for some depending upon cost, and setup difficulty, remote control, etc.  Worth looking into I suppose.

btw, I own the Hawthorne SI speakers. Fantastic sounding speaker kit for the money and easy to build.

[Bob in St. Louis]

Are you the Brad in Houston? 
Sorry about the broken link.

Yea, I considered going the route he did. Sounds very interesting to say the least. I suppose I like the path of least resistance, with the PC/SB3 as opposed to his way.

Bob

[Night_Train]

Rich, just my opinion, and I know I'm far away in the minority, but I think Ipod's suck for anything but purely portable use (ie, modern day Walkman albeit with far superior sound).  It does not support FLAC and it's a closed system sold by one vendor (no open platform) much like their ITunes system tries to be.  Not the kind of system I care to support with my dollars.  Btw, none of Apple's products are DLNA certified, so they will not *easily* interoperate with other vendors consumer products.  Of course I'm sure Apple will be glad to sell you a myriad of add-ons to enable you to inter-connect their proprietary devices.

Count me in the minority then too. I agree with your opinion and have mentioned some of the same ideas above when someone asked about the "best router" since their Linksys was going belly up. Needless to say, it was worthless to respond to that thread because every poster was convinced there was nothing better than the Apple product(s). Personally, I would stay away from Apple's proprietary nature and restrictiveness and agree with DLNA interoperability between a growing list of networking components that are becoming available and the list grows longer daily. Apple just puts a connection noose around your neck and limits networking creativity.

[toocool4]

(ie, modern day Walkman albeit with far superior sound). 

Bbaker6212 I have to disagree with you on the fact that iPods are “modern day Walkman albeit with far superior sound” what rubbish most people think that.

I have a collection of Walkmans which the best are the Walkman Pro D6C and Walkman DC2. I use TDK MA-XG recorded from my Nakamichi CR7.

I have had friends laugh at me saying tapes are inferior compared to iPod / MP3 players.

I challenged them to prove it, we then played music from the iPod and iRiver against the Walkman pro and guess what their jaws hit the ground to see a 24 year old design walkman beat iPod / iRiver. Incidentally the iRiver sounded better then the iPod.

Don’t be so quick to dismiss the Walkman, a good recording on a good deck will kill any MP3 player.

Chris

[Dan Driscoll]

Rich, just my opinion, and I know I'm far away in the minority, but I think Ipod's suck...

That's pretty much my opinion, also. 

[Dan Driscoll]

Thanks Dan. Checked the Olive site and see that they have the CD burning and storage features also.
Someone should probably think of combining file(music) reading capability from a disk and a dac in one device??

  Just about every streaming or HDD based music device has a built-in DAC, including the Olives and the Squeeze Box. The Slim Devices (Logitech) Transporter has a very good built-in DAC and can even playback 24/96 music files.

But in most cases a stand-alone DAC will be better than a built-in. That the source is a HDD instead of a spinning optical disk doesn't change that.

[bbaker6212]

Dan, what in your opinion are the better stand-alone DAC's for the money?  Which ones have you used?
Have you seen the lower priced ones over at Audio-magus.com?
I currently use the Kingrex T20U amplifier which has a built-in BurrBrown PCM2702E USB DAC.
Which reasonable cost outboard DAC do you think would be a step up from this?

thanks, -Brad-

[Dan Driscoll]

Dan, what in your opinion are the better stand-alone DAC's for the money?  Which ones have you used?

I use a tube based LiTe Audio DAC-60 that has been modified by Pacific Valve and relabeled as DAC-62. I love the sound of this DAC, especially with EI Elite 6DJ8E tubes installed. It is a major upgrade over the standard SB3 DAC and my old Carver CD player. The DAC chip in this unit is the PCM 1704U, arguably one of the finest DAC chips ever produced. The current version of this DAC is the Brigatta, which has a USB input.

I haven't used any of the DACs or other components in the link you gave.

[firedog]

See
http://www.audioasylum.com/forums/pcaudio/messages/2/27041.html
and

http://imageevent.com/cics/cmp

for build of "bit perfect" HD based device. Seems like it is well thought out, and relatively inexpensive compared to other solutions.