need wireless music server to replace my SB 2

Nick B · « **on:** 12 Aug 2012, 08:51 pm »

I have been using a SB 2 with analog mods and power supply from Anthony Padilla. It is at least 4 years old. The sound has been very good, but I am looking to upgrade. I don't want to use the Squeezebox any more. I've had lots of problems with updates and something is blocking the connection with my laptop. I have used tech support from Kaspersky and Logitech and the problem persists. So I am done with Logitech.
What other options do I have? I would prefer an analog mod, but if I need to use an external dac, that is fine. My budget is about $1000

HAL · « **Reply #1 on:** 12 Aug 2012, 09:42 pm »

Are you thinking about something similar to the Squeezebox with WiFi, or something else like a PC or MAC and an external DAC?

Nick B · « **Reply #2 on:** 12 Aug 2012, 11:46 pm »

Quote from: HAL on 12 Aug 2012, 09:42 pm

Are you thinking about something similar to the Squeezebox with WiFi, or something else like a PC or MAC and an external DAC?

Similar to the SB with WiFi. It will be connected directly to my CIA D100s. My computer is in another room and I'd like to use my laptop as a remote/controller.

JLM · « **Reply #3 on:** 13 Aug 2012, 06:22 pm »

In similar boat with similar budget. Had "issues" with SB. Want internet streaming, have dumpy old PC that could be a server.

mdconnelly · « **Reply #4 on:** 14 Aug 2012, 01:46 pm »

While I'm still a happy camper with my Squeezebox gear (v7.7 seems quite stable), I totally understand the concerns and frustrations. I also wonder to what extent Logitech will continue to support and evolve the Squeezebox.

There seems to be quite a lot of new product entering the market to serve this need and only time will tell how much of it will still be around in a year or two. One product that I'm curious about is the AudioEngine D2. I'm not clear if you can bypass the D2 Receiver's DAC to use your own, but the concept of a D2 Sender working with up to 3 D2 Receivers is intriguing. Might be worth checking out... http://audioengineusa.com/Store/Audioengine-D2.

What I like is that you can use your favorite music manager on your music server and are not locked into the like's of the Squeezebox LMS. How you remotely manage that may be a challenge, but I suspect there is an abundance of solutions available.

Caveat - I've only read about this... absolutely no experience with it at all.

chip · « **Reply #5 on:** 14 Aug 2012, 02:27 pm »

Here is a review on the D2 as well - http://www.computeraudiophile.com/content/461-audioengine-d2-24-bit-wireless-computer-interface-review/

Have you thought about a Small PC running foobar or JRiver Media on it?

Vincent Kars · « **Reply #6 on:** 14 Aug 2012, 08:56 pm »

Besides Squeeze there are lots of other streaming audio players.
Most of them support the DLNA protocol, a well-supported industry standard.
Cambridge, Music Fidelity, Marantz, Denon, Philips all do have some models.
A (incomplete) list can be found on my website: http://thewelltemperedcomputer.com/HW/DAP.htm

Bob in St. Louis · « **Reply #7 on:** 14 Aug 2012, 09:47 pm »

If there's room in this boat, I'd like to add myself to the growing list of fellas looking to migrate away from anything that "Squeezes".

Bob

JEaton · « **Reply #8 on:** 15 Aug 2012, 08:20 pm »

Let us all know if you find something better. Despite all the tentative forays into the field by the likes of Cambridge, Marantz and the rest, I haven't heard much good said about many of them.

The biggest problem is that a dedicated computer/network music player requires a fair amount of custom software, which isn't always easy (or cheap) to develop. It's not like churning out your 1000th amplifier design, where the biggest challenge these days is probably designing the chassis. Few of these audio companies have any in-house expertise in software development, so they farm it out. They also have little experience managing software projects, so you can imagine how it all turns out.

Nick B · « **Reply #9 on:** 16 Aug 2012, 12:37 am »

Thanks for the responses so far. I am considering a few options 1) buying a Sonos and Empirical Audio SynchroMesh 2) buying the AudioEngine D2 combo 3) using a PC and running JRiver. i am not well versed in some of this,especially pc audio, but have read up a bit. With PC audio, does the PC connect straight to the amp? Is there enough output for that? I checked out the streaming players that Vincent lists on his website, but virttually everything is out of my price range. Left messages for AudioEngine and Empirical and hope to get a response soon. If you have info on other products, pls keep it coming

Bob in St. Louis · « **Reply #10 on:** 16 Aug 2012, 01:28 am »

I went from SB to using PC/JRiver.
The PC would go directly to your DAC.

Having used JRiver for a few months with the Android control (called "Gizmo"), I'm not totally convinced I've improved my life.
At this point in time, I'm thinking I've made a sideways move from Logitech.

And that's after spending about $500 on a PC server for JRiver and another $500 for the Android "remote".

Bob - Still searching.....

srb · « **Reply #11 on:** 16 Aug 2012, 01:37 am »

Quote from: Bob in St. Louis on 16 Aug 2012, 01:28 am

I went from SB to using PC/JRiver. Having used JRiver for a few months with the Android control (called "Gizmo"), I'm not totally convinced I've improved my life. At this point in time, I'm thinking I've made a sideways move from Logitech.

Bob, why so? Are you having any specific problems?

As far as sound quality, are you using Windows 7 and the WASAPI sound driver?

Steve

HAL · « **Reply #12 on:** 16 Aug 2012, 01:41 am »

JRiver supports WASAPI Event Style output which has sounded very good with my USB asynchronous DAC. Tried it here with the MS-1's PC Music Servers that I build with very good results.

Bob in St. Louis · « **Reply #13 on:** 16 Aug 2012, 01:59 am »

"Specific", yea... a few of them Steve. But I don't want to derail Nick's thread with my woes. I didn't want to turn this into my troubleshooting thread. Just looking for other playback options. After several years I grew tired of Logitech so I spent the money for PC based and JRiver. The problems I had with Logitech are now gone, but essentially traded for a new group of frustrating issues. It just gets old, ya know? Music shouldn't be this hard or aggravating.
WASAPI isn't recognized by the (brand new) PC I'm using. If I choose that method of playback, I don't get an error message, I just get silence.

I shouldn't have to spend a day researching, Googling, Wiki-ing, and posting on manufactures forums about each and every issue I'm having with each and every piece of hard/software in the chain.
Most days I'm just content to listen to Pandora on the damn thing and call it a good day.

My wish is that some (affordable) piece of equipment comes along that just simply fucking works that doesn't need to be reconfigured, adjusted, tweeked, modified, updated or troubleshot ("troubleshooted") and sounds good.

Hell...at this point, I'm not even asking for "audiophile" grade equipment. Just somethign that works. Every time.

Nick B · « **Reply #14 on:** 16 Aug 2012, 02:48 am »

Regarding Bob's comments and his concern about derailing my thread, that is not at all a concern for me. The way I look at it, other forum member's issues are also a learning tool for me, especially for setups that I should avoid. That's my 2 cents, but of course, it's up to the moderator(s) to decide

toddbagwell · « **Reply #15 on:** 16 Aug 2012, 03:14 am »

Quote from: Nick B on 16 Aug 2012, 02:48 am

it's up to the moderator(s) to decide

I don't mind if you don't

Todd

JLM · « **Reply #16 on:** 16 Aug 2012, 09:00 am »

Quote from: Bob in St. Louis on 16 Aug 2012, 01:59 am

"Specific", yea... a few of them Steve. But I don't want to derail Nick's thread with my woes. I didn't want to turn this into my troubleshooting thread. Just looking for other playback options. After several years I grew tired of Logitech so I spent the money for PC based and JRiver. The problems I had with Logitech are now gone, but essentially traded for a new group of frustrating issues. It just gets old, ya know? Music shouldn't be this hard or aggravating.
WASAPI isn't recognized by the (brand new) PC I'm using. If I choose that method of playback, I don't get an error message, I just get silence.

I shouldn't have to spend a day researching, Googling, Wiki-ing, and posting on manufactures forums about each and every issue I'm having with each and every piece of hard/software in the chain.
Most days I'm just content to listen to Pandora on the damn thing and call it a good day.

My wish is that some (affordable) piece of equipment comes along that just simply fucking works that doesn't need to be reconfigured, adjusted, tweeked, modified, updated or troubleshot ("troubleshooted") and sounds good.

Hell...at this point, I'm not even asking for "audiophile" grade equipment. Just somethign that works. Every time.

Exactly !!!

mcgsxr · « **Reply #17 on:** 16 Aug 2012, 11:47 am »

Once I went wired with the SB3, I never had any issues. I sold off all of my higher end gear though. I am running an old Mac Mini now, USB spdif connector straight to the receiver.

My issues are software related as a remote has not been simple.

I will watch with interest!

HAL · « **Reply #18 on:** 16 Aug 2012, 12:18 pm »

Bob,
Are you using the internal DAC to the PC, or an external DAC? If internal, what is the interface to the external DAC, USB, S/PDIF other? This might help with finding out why WASAPI dose not work with Windows 7 on a PC.

Also for remote control related issues, I use Foobar2000 with the remote web page based interface. It has been very reliable on a home network based setup. Have not tried it with JRiver.

The only issue I have run into is with a FIOS WiFi setup and Windows 7 Starter version. Win7 Starter could not log into the network, so he could not use a netbook for the remote. After upgrading the netbook to Windows 7 Home Premium it worked correctly.

I put in a Squeezebox Touch with WiFi and the latest version of LMS and it has been very reliable. Even the older SB Duet worked well with the setup before the Touch. Have not had the earlier SB hardware to try.

mdconnelly · « **Reply #19 on:** 16 Aug 2012, 12:19 pm »

In the earlier years of Squeezeboxen, problems would continuously arise from software issues with LMS/SqueezeCenter or firmware issues with the players. It was frustrating, but it was kinda the only game in town. But, IMHO, Logitech/Squeezebox are mostly past that. At least for me with v7.7+, I haven't seen a problem I could blame on Logitech in a long time. It just works and works well. Couple it with the likes of iPeng on your iPhone/iPad and it is a sweet solution!

But that's not to say there aren't recurring headaches with my PC, Windows, firewall, router, wireless and internet connections. They happen. All the fucking time! That's not Logitech's fault and will likely occur regardless of the digital music solution you adopt if it depends on any of that.

But think about it... how often do we have to reboot our computer, upgrade software, reboot the router, cuss at slow or dropped Internet connections,... and yet we build our music system to depend on all of that. It's a house of cards, but it's our house and our cards and it is getting better... slowly.