[Saturn94]

Not being computer savvy, each time I try to research computer audio, I get confused, lost, and give up.  I read through the stickies here as well as many posts and links.  I finally just went with the easiest route.  I bought an M2Tech hiFace to connect between my laptop's USB port and my processor's digital coax input, and downloaded Foobar2000 to my laptop.  This setup sounds very good to my ears, but doesn't allow me to control the music remotely.

What I would really like to be able to do is have my music stored on a portable USB drive connected to my stereo (via wired connection, not wireless) and be able to control music selections remotely via my wireless home WiFi network using my laptop, or perhaps I could buy a device like an inexpensive tablet (Kindle Fire? iPod Touch, or something similar?).  I'd like keep everything I need under $500 if possible.

Is there a way to do this that's easy for a newby to set up and use?  What would I need?

For reference, here's the related equipment I have and info that may help;

1.  Processor is an Anthem AVM20 that can accept SPDIF signals up to 24/96 (it does not have HDMI connections or USB/computer connections)

2.  HP laptop running Windows Vista SP2 which I can connect to the internet via WiFi; not sure of the model wireless router I have.  Also, because of location, I cannot run a wire from the router to the stereo.

3.  M2Tech hiFace USB to SPDIF converter

I did a bit of searching, and one idea that looked like it may work (please correct me if I'm wrong!) is to buy a Logitech Squeezebox Touch.  If I'm understanding correctly, I can connect a portable USB drive to the SB Touch and connect the Touch to my processor via digital coax.  I did see Logitech has a free control app for Apple and Android devices for controlling it via my WiFi network (would it work on a Kindle Fire?), but a couple things aren't clear to me; can I control it via my WiFi network from my laptop?  Will I be able to see the contents of the USB drive connected to the SB Touch?

Thanks in advance for any help/advice anyone has for this newby.

 

[Chromisdesigns]

SB Touch certainly will work, but you are better off connecting the portable USB drive to your computer, rather than the Touch, and run the Squeezebox Server app on your computer.  This way, not only can you easily back up your music, the Touch will be way more responsive, and yes -- you can download a free app to your iPod or iPad and wirelessly control the SqueezeBox over your WIFI network.  Not all USB drives work (or work well) with the Touch.

I don't know if there is a Touch remote-control app for the Kindle.

My config is a 1 TB USB drive on an old Windows XP computer, computer is hard-wired ethernet (but it does work wireless as well if you have a good wireless network and no local interference), the Squeezebox sits in my equipment rack, connected via the coax output to my DAC, gets the music stream over WIFI from the computer, and I sit in the easy chair with an iPad and control the whole thing.

[Saturn94]

SB Touch certainly will work, but you are better off connecting the portable USB drive to your computer, rather than the Touch, and run the Squeezebox Server app on your computer.  This way, not only can you easily back up your music, the Touch will be way more responsive, and yes -- you can download a free app to your iPod or iPad and wirelessly control the SqueezeBox over your WIFI network.  Not all USB drives work (or work well) with the Touch.

I don't know if there is a Touch remote-control app for the Kindle.

My config is a 1 TB USB drive on an old Windows XP computer, computer is hard-wired ethernet (but it does work wireless as well if you have a good wireless network and no local interference), the Squeezebox sits in my equipment rack, connected via the coax output to my DAC, gets the music stream over WIFI from the computer, and I sit in the easy chair with an iPad and control the whole thing.

Thank you.  I appreciate the suggestions.

I was hoping I could avoid having to have the USB drive connected to the laptop (makes it awkward to handle with a drive hanging off of it).  Also, I've read posts indicating that streaming over wire is much more reliable than via wireless, so I was hoping to just use wireless for control.

That's disappointing that the Touch doesn't work well with some USB drives.  Is there a list somewhere of USB drives proven to work well with the Touch?

Regarding using a Kindle Fire, I read that it uses a customized version of Android.  The Touch does have a app for Android, but I don't know if it would still work on the customized version that Kindle uses.

Is there another product that might work the way I want?  Perhaps a small quiet computer (sans keyboard and screen?) than I can put in my equipment rack with a USB drive attached to it that I can control via WiFi?

Thanks again and keep the great info/suggestions comming.

[Chromisdesigns]

I don't know if there is a list, per se.  Someone will eventually chime in here who does, though.  Thing is, the SB Touch needs (works better, perhaps?) an outboard drive that operates in NAS mode.  If you do a google on squeezebox touch disk drives you'll get a number of posts with various issues, suggestions, etc.

The biggest issue for me would be the poor performance often reported, along with having to move the drive to the computer for backups and updates.  I also use the same drive for other media including my Lightroom files.

I have no problems with streaming over Wifi -- the only reason I wired my computer is that it's on the far diagonal of the house opposite the router, and was subject to a lot of local interference.  The SB is closer to the router, and never has a problem

[saeyedoc]

I placed an order for a touch last week, couldn't resist the sale at Vanns.
My understanding is that you can hook up a HD directly to the touch, it will install a lite version of the server software on the disc. I hear it works ok with small numbers of files, but the indexing takes a long time with large numbers due to the limited processing power of the touch. I don't think it matters what brand of HD you use.
Running the server on a real computer is supposed to much better.
I've been running a 2TB hard drive filled with Flac either attached directly through an Oppo-93, or via DLNA. Either way works ok, the problem is navigating throught the large number of files. The GUI in the Oppo is very limiting.
I attached the HD to an imac in another room and installed the Logitech media server on it yesterday. I backed up the most important albums on the internal hard drive. Now everything is indexed, I can see it from a macbook in another room and can actually run it using DLNA streaming to the Oppo.
When I get the Touch later this week, it should be easy to hook it up. I will use an ipad and iphones for control. The ipeng app is supposed to be great, much better than the free apps.
I set up the HDs on the imac for sharing, so I was able to use XLD to create MP3 copies on my macbook to use on my phone.

[HAL]

There are remote control capabilities in Foobar2000.  Look at the other components listed on the Foobar2000 website and you will find ones for both running a web based application and Android remote via an app.  You can control Foobar2000 from anywhere in your WiFi setup with either capability.  I find the web page interface from IE9 works well and has more capability than the Android app.

[Saturn94]

I don't know if there is a list, per se.  Someone will eventually chime in here who does, though.  Thing is, the SB Touch needs (works better, perhaps?) an outboard drive that operates in NAS mode.  If you do a google on squeezebox touch disk drives you'll get a number of posts with various issues, suggestions, etc.

I did find a list of USB devices and drives users reported as compatible (sorry, I lost the link and don't remember where I found it).  Like you mentioned, I did find posts indicating lackluster performance connecting a USB drive directly to the SB Touch if the drive had a large number of files (what qualifies as a large number?? )

The biggest issue for me would be the poor performance often reported, along with having to move the drive to the computer for backups and updates.  I also use the same drive for other media including my Lightroom files.

I certainly don't want poor performance.  Backups and updates wouldn't occur very often, so moving the drive from the SB Touch to my computer wouldn't be a big deal for me.

I have no problems with streaming over Wifi -- the only reason I wired my computer is that it's on the far diagonal of the house opposite the router, and was subject to a lot of local interference.  The SB is closer to the router, and never has a problem

I can use my laptop anywhere in the house and get a strong signal from my router (located upstairs in a bedroom).  In my case, there is no computer hooked up to the router.  I would have to stream music from my laptop to the router then to the SB Touch.  Do you think this extra wireless step would make it more likely to have issues?

I really would like a solution that's simple to setup, use, and is very reliable.

There are remote control capabilities in Foobar2000.  Look at the other components listed on the Foobar2000 website and you will find ones for both running a web based application and Android remote via an app.  You can control Foobar2000 from anywhere in your WiFi setup with either capability.  I find the web page interface from IE9 works well and has more capability than the Android app.

Thanks for the info, HAL.  However, your post went over my head (I'm definately NOT computer savvy ).

I did see you make a device for computer music, but I didn't quite understand how it works and what other equipment I would have to purchase to make it work like I want (see my first post).  It's a little over budget, but I could go a little higher if I knew I was getting something easy (for a newby) and reliable that would fit my needs.



PS - Hey, I got an idea, how about one of you guys come over to my place and get me set up.

[HAL]

Sent you a PM with the info that you requested.

[Saturn94]

There are remote control capabilities in Foobar2000.  Look at the other components listed on the Foobar2000 website and you will find ones for both running a web based application and Android remote via an app.  You can control Foobar2000 from anywhere in your WiFi setup with either capability.  I find the web page interface from IE9 works well and has more capability than the Android app.

I went to the Foobar2000 site and clicked on the components tab.  I could not find the component you mention, but of course I may be overlooking it since I'm not sure exactly what I'm looking for.  Do you know the name of the component?

[HAL]

Here is the link to the website. It has been taken off the Foobar2000 page.

https://code.google.com/p/foo-httpcontrol/

[Saturn94]

Here is the link to the website. It has been taken off the Foobar2000 page.

https://code.google.com/p/foo-httpcontrol/

Thanks.

Yikes, this warning isn't very reassuring;

Warning: this software hasn't been updated for a long time and most likely won't be updated in the future - proceed with care

[toddbagwell]

[snip]
Is there another product that might work the way I want?  Perhaps a small quiet computer (sans keyboard and screen?) than I can put in my equipment rack with a USB drive attached to it that I can control via WiFi?

Thanks again and keep the great info/suggestions comming.

take a look here:

http://www.soundstagehifi.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=430:wyred-4-sound-ms-1-music-server-&catid=55:full-length-reviews&Itemid=4

and here:

http://www.soundstagehifi.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=215:auraliti-pk100-music-server&catid=55:full-length-reviews&Itemid=4


both are small, quiet, and can be remote controlled.

later,
todd

[HAL]

Thanks.

Yikes, this warning isn't very reassuring;

It has been very stable on Foobar2000, even with the latest update. 

[charmerci]

take a look here:

http://www.soundstagehifi.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=430:wyred-4-sound-ms-1-music-server-&catid=55:full-length-reviews&Itemid=4

and here:

http://www.soundstagehifi.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=215:auraliti-pk100-music-server&catid=55:full-length-reviews&Itemid=4


both are small, quiet, and can be remote controlled.

later,
todd

Though both are over his $500 price point. ($2000 and $800)

[Doublej]

If you want cheap buy a Raspberry Pi. I am not sure how one remotely controls a Linux machine but I think it is easily done.

http://www.raspberrypi.org/faqs

While not as cheap you should be able to use a laptop and Windows Remote Desktop or a screen sharing program like Teamviewer.

[Saturn94]

take a look here:

http://www.soundstagehifi.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=430:wyred-4-sound-ms-1-music-server-&catid=55:full-length-reviews&Itemid=4

and here:

http://www.soundstagehifi.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=215:auraliti-pk100-music-server&catid=55:full-length-reviews&Itemid=4


both are small, quiet, and can be remote controlled.

later,
todd

Thanks for the links.  They look like nice products, but like charmerci mentioned,  they're out of my budget.

It has been very stable on Foobar2000, even with the latest update. 

Thanks.

This thread has got me thinking more about what exactly I need and want.  Another household member will be using it as well, so I need to consider how they would use it.

Generally speaking, I like to have options.  Right now I'm thinking I would like the option of streaming both music files and online music services (internet radio, Rhapsody, etc.), and for those more serious listening sessions demanding the best AQ the ability to play music from an attached (or internal?) hard drive.  I would like to be able to control all this wirelessly via laptop and smart device (tablet, iPod Touch, etc.).  Of course all this should be easy to setup, use, and be very reliable.

Perhaps I'm asking too much within my budget?

Keep the suggestions and comments coming.  They are very helpful.

[Saturn94]

If you want cheap buy a Raspberry Pi. I am not sure how one remotely controls a Linux machine but I think it is easily done.

http://www.raspberrypi.org/faqs

While not as cheap you should be able to use a laptop and Windows Remote Desktop or a screen sharing program like Teamviewer.

Thanks.  I'll take a look at that.

[Saturn94]

I beginning to think there is no "one box" solution that offers what I need given my budget.

I took a look at the Sonos system.  It seems to have more consistent positive reviews, better support, and fewer complaints about buggy software than the SB Touch.  However, it doesn't support as many file formats and it's limited to 16/44.  While that's sufficient for the vast majority of my music files, I do have a small, but growing, collection of 24/96 files.

Right now I'm leaning towards giving the SB Touch a try to get my feet wet.  It's well within my budget and many people seem very happy with it.  I figure if it doesn't work well for me I can return it.

Perhaps at a later date as my budget allows I may add some kind of music server that I can directly connect to my stereo for the best AQ and reliability.  For now I can continue to use my M2Tech hiFace with my laptop for that.

Again, if anyone has any suggestions of products I should consider or advice on how to proceed, I'm all ears.

[saeyedoc]

I purchased and setup a Squeezebox Touch this week. While I was awaiting delivery, I setup the server on an imac and indexed all the music on a 2TB HD.
The Touch came Wednesday, was a piece of cake to get it up and running, connected with coax digital to my Anthem AVR.
Using the ipeng app for ipad.
It had been working flawlessly so far, 90+% of the files are Flac. The ipad app is great for browing and control. I have about 50k songs.
Used XLD to transcode about 1k songs to MP3 and downloaded them on my iphone. Great being able to stream via bluetooth to the system in one of our cars, I don't have to take my phone out of my pocket.

[Hank]

If you want cheap buy a Raspberry Pi. I am not sure how one remotely controls a Linux machine but I think it is easily done.

http://www.raspberrypi.org/faqs

Has anyone actually bought and implemented one of these?