[BillyM]

HERE is the forum post by the writer of this output plugin.  He claims it is only for winamp v2, but I have it working perfectly under the newer versions.

HERE is a direct link to the file, download it directly into your winamp\plugins directory if you'd like.

My setup:
Windows XP
Asus n-force2 motherboard with onboard coax SPDIF output.
Nvidia n-mixer v1.0
Winamp v5.03 (cranked priority to max, selected kernel streaming in output, disabled volume slider in output/direct sound/other options)
Lossless Monkey's Audio encoded tunes
Coax-spdif to Adcom GDA-600 d/ac

I will be the first to admit that foobar in KS mode was noticeably better than winamp when run through the windows mixer (yes volumes were matched).  ...for the last hour and a half I have blind compared Winamp and Foobar by alt-tabbing until I had forgotten which I was on, set the keyboard play/next commands to the same, and lined up a playlist of dynamic music on both players.  ...at no point could I even begin to hear a difference and ended up making correct assumptions of which player only 55%, which tells me they sound damn similar.

Foobar sound from Winamp!  Woohoo!

--BillyM

[mcgsxr]

Just to clarify, are you using the digital output from the MOBO, or from the soundcard?

What DAC are you using?

I am hunting for a solution to the Kmixer conundrum - I want to use a Slim Devices Squeezebox, but am unsure if the end result will simply be to wirelessly distribute a Kmixer polluted signal.

Anyone?

[BillyM]

I am using the digital output built-on the motherboard.  This runs through a 7ft SignalCable digital cable to an Adcom GDA-600 dac, then directly though a set of 2' SignalCable Analog2 Ic's to a Parasound HCA-1000A.

I looked into that "Squeezebox" and it looks like it runs its own proprietary serving software that you must install on your computer.  ...I'm not completely sure if it allows volume control via the computer with their software, and it seems the squeezebox isn't accepting an audio stream, but rather the data file in its entirety and converting it to spdif internally, though I may be wrong.  I would really have to understand that squeezebox better to offer you any more insight.

--BillyM

[mcgsxr]

Thanks for explaining what you are doing - I guess that you are able to get what you want, from your setup, and that is perfect!

I will use an external DAC (Bolder Mensa) with the Squeezebox, so I am not looking for volume control at all - I simply want to achieve what you have, but wirelessly...

Thanks,

[EchiDna]

mark, any reason why you couldn't have a small form factor pc (or even an older laptop with a wireless card) located in your rack to do this?

that way you have future upgradeability right there without the need for proprietry software etc...

[mcgsxr]

Mr E, good question - I am torn between investing in a Squeezebox, and a router, and a bridge (2 floors from PC to stereo, so the bridge is required) or a small PC of some kind down there.

I don't own a laptop, but that might be useful - it would be one great way to have a screen when I wanted one, and none when I did not... then again a microATX or shuttle, or mac mini would likely perform a similar feat...

I guess I am not certain of the pros and cons of each, and am fishing for people who have something in place, that they like, so that I can poach their hard work, and research!

Any tips?

[Jon L]

http://www6.head-fi.org/forums/showthread.php?t=106249

Just for FYI.  Somebody is reporting that Squeezebox's output is phase-reversed.  No big deal, but you will need to reverse speaker leads.

[EchiDna]

I'm running a household as follows:
1, office pc for well "office type stuff" but with a raid 5 array of disks for audio files and some movies.

2, HTPC system in the lounge room with wired network to the office pc (about 30 meters of concealed cat 5e) origianally this was built out of old excess pc parts I had lying about, but through upgrades it is now a respectable 1.4gHz processor based system. It was also hidden in a cupboard at that time with a rather long IC going to my preamp.

3, Wireless access point in the middle of the house for when i bring home my laptop or my wife brings hers home.

4, Still trying to sort out the xlobby client software to control the HTPC with my Dell x50v PDA for audio playlists without turning on my projector just to listen to music.

If I was to do it all again, the whole system would be wireless from day one and I'd probably have a dedicated server with at least a few terrabytes of space...

If you buy all one brand of wireless gear, you can get wireless G @ 108mb/s with extended range, so you might not need that bridge afterall - especially if you locate the access point centrally in the house.

It aint perfect in my place, but then I don't own it - I rent which admittedly is another good reason to go wireless!

lastly (getting long winded here) there is no need for the system to be very high spec at all, it can be as simple as an older windows 98 vintage pentium 2 with 128mb of ram and a small HDD - for kicks you can probably find one in mothballs at work or for $50 secondhand.

[mcgsxr]

Good points all Mr E, but would the cast off PII, not be a loud beastie?  I know that the processing power is not relevant, since all it would be doing is receiving info, and then porting it out a Chaintech or something, but I fear that an older tower would be both ugly, and loud.

Or, are you suggesting that the cheap used gear be mounted into a sexy newer case, to limit the noise concerns?  

That might be a good one, get a Silverstone (http://www.silverstonetek.com/products-lc03v.htm) case with VLD, and old guts - could solve the display issue, and be upgradeable down the road...

[EchiDna]

Apologies to the thread starter - we've gone way OT!

I've got a kanam case (I think sold under the 'Accent' brand these days) it is great and very quiet since I upgraded the fans to 'Nexus' brand models in various sizes. www.endpcnoise.com
and I also made a visit to my local car audio installer and bought some dynamat extreme to deaden the case and absorb noise (US$10 or so for enough to cover the interior of the case panels) - there are other equivalent products about so check with your local place and ask for their recommendation...

[Brian T.]

HERE is the forum post by the writer of this output plugin.  He claims it is only for winamp v2, but I have it working perfectly under the newer versions.

HERE is a direct link to the file, download it directly into your winamp\plugins directory if you'd like.

Thanks for the link.  Unfortunately, I find that whilst the 'Simple Kernel Streaming Output' plays hard disk wav files ok, if you insert a CD Winamp 5.08 crashes.  If I re-select DirectSound Output 2.2.10 it plays CDs ok again. Wierd or what?  

Brian

[BillyM]

You have a source computer, and you are still sticking CD's in it for casual listening?  

 

Most of today's CD-roms rip at 52x, can pull a whole CD in under 1min.  
Rip those buggers off as wave or lossless, pronto!

(seriously though, sorry it does not work, I hadn't tested it)
--billyM

[Brian T.]

You have a source computer, and you are still sticking CD's in it for casual listening?  

 

Most of today's CD-roms rip at 52x, can pull a whole CD in under 1min.  
Rip those buggers off as wave or lossless, pronto!

(seriously though, sorry it does not work, I hadn't tested it)
--billyM

You are quite right of course! At the moment I am trying out hardware and software prior to building a separate dedicated media server.  I like the album presentation of Musicmatch but it does some strange things under W2k.  I am thinking of using XP (not Media Server 2005!) for the server with an Xcard output for mpeg hardware acceleration with possibly a Sweetspot capture card.  (I don’t need a TV tuner card, as I don’t have terrestrial reception.)  The best app for this combo is TVedia.  Otherwise Showshifter is a possibility.  However, the priority is a good output for my classical music collection so it is back to Kernel Streaming and Winamp et al!

All the best,

Brian