Squeezebox alternative

westend · « **on:** 16 Feb 2006, 10:04 am »

I saw this Netgear server: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00011Y1MQ/sr=8-6/qid=1140084047/ref=pd_bbs_6/104-8277043-5583922?%5Fencoding=UTF8 Would it be a good alternative to the Squeezebox? Anyone know of any other wireless devices that are a good product?

Loftprojection · « **Reply #1 on:** 16 Feb 2006, 02:26 pm »

The Netgear doesn't have a digital out, not too good if someone values great sound quality by adding an external DAC...

I don't know if there are currently other options to the SB but the concept is so good I'm sure we'll see many many other options in the near future. We'll probably start seeing some "high end" solutions for "audiophile" with a matching price tag. Maybe even Slimdevices will eventually come up with 2-3 different models with different features and sound quality.

Good stuff coming I'm sure.

woodsyi · « **Reply #2 on:** 16 Feb 2006, 02:36 pm »

Airport Express with a USB DAC.

Feisal K · « **Reply #3 on:** 16 Feb 2006, 04:28 pm »

http://www.rokulabs.com/products/soundbridge/index.php

very very similar

Rashiki · « **Reply #4 on:** 16 Feb 2006, 04:44 pm »

Quote from: Feisal K

http://www.rokulabs.com/products/soundbridge/index.php

very very similar

The Roku Soundbridge is very similar in principle, but I've read that the sound quality is nowhere near as good as the Squeezebox. Supposedly, one of the Roku models always upsamples everything to 48kHz regardless of the source material. I have no personal experience with the Roku, I'm just relaying what I've read.

-Rob

KT · « **Reply #5 on:** 17 Feb 2006, 02:30 pm »

Rob,

Can you give us a link to the discussion on the Roku Soundbridge vs. Squeezebox?

I have a Roku. Though I'm not really attatched to it, I'd like to see what I can do to get the most out of it.

When you read about the one that upsampled to 48kHz, do you remember what model that was? Was the comparison between the Squeezebox done vs. this one, or one of the other models?

If the comparison was done with the 48kHz one, perhaps the other models perform better? I'm very curious to find out if the Roku's are worth taking seriously.

Best,
KT

rbrb · « **Reply #6 on:** 17 Feb 2006, 03:50 pm »

Has anyone tried the Media Lounge from D-Link?

http://www.dlink.com/products/?sec=1&pid=438

Rashiki · « **Reply #7 on:** 17 Feb 2006, 05:21 pm »

Quote from: KT

Can you give us a link to the discussion on the Roku Soundbridge vs. Squeezebox?

Here's the link to the thread on the slimdevices forum. The initial post was by the CEO of slimdevices.
http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=16914

Quote from: KT

When you read about the one that upsampled to 48kHz, do you remember what model that was?

I believe the thread indicated that it was a silent upgrade of the M1000.

Quote from: KT

Was the comparison between the Squeezebox done vs. this one, or one of the other models?

If the comparison was done with the 48kHz one, perhaps the other models perform better? I'm very curious to find out if the Roku's are worth taking seriously.

I can't remember where I read about the differences in sound quality. It's possible that I'm just inferring it based on the positive comments on the squeezebox and the lack of comments on the Roku. I've also noticed that Sean Adams, CEO of slimdevices, has responded to comments and criticisms from audiophiles, even posting measurements and schematics. I can't find the original post, but I remember reading that one of their design goals for the squeezebox2 was to reduce jitter on the digital output. It's stuff like this that makes me hold slimdevices in high regard. For example, check out Sean's personal website http://www.seanadams.com/ for some measurements comparing different power supplies.

-Rob

kenk · « **Reply #8 on:** 17 Feb 2006, 08:33 pm »

Quote from: rbrb

Has anyone tried the Media Lounge from D-Link?

http://www.dlink.com/products/?sec=1&pid=438

This looks interesting.

Loftprojection · « **Reply #9 on:** 18 Feb 2006, 03:03 am »

Quote from: kenk

Quote from: rbrb
Has anyone tried the Media Lounge from D-Link?

http://www.dlink.com/products/?sec=1&pid=438

This looks interesting.

Ya, I agree. It doesn't have an integrated DAC like the Squeezebox but if the digital out portion is good then it can be a very interesting option. You can basically get rid of both the CD player AND the DVD player!

Anyone heard this new toy?

mcgsxr · « **Reply #10 on:** 18 Feb 2006, 01:41 pm »

The D-link creature does not appear to support FLAC, though perhaps as with the Roku, you could use Slimserver to broadcast to it too.

Happy with my SB3, not interested in video broadcasting, so it is not for me - I did some research before buying the SB3, and encountered both these options.

Both have their applications, but for me, the SB3 is the way to go... pretty much cost neutral, is it not? Maybe moreso up here in Canada.

Loftprojection · « **Reply #11 on:** 18 Feb 2006, 03:38 pm »

The D-link definitely opens up a lot of possibilities. You can view your digital pictures, I like that. For video, I'm with you, for now it's not very useful but in the future when we start having "downloadable" movies instead of renting DVDs...

I guess for now the Squeezebox probably has the edge in sound quality plus community support and modders to improve it. But if D-link, Linksys and others start developing stuff we might be in for lots of consumer options, fun and hopefully quality.

mcgsxr · « **Reply #12 on:** 18 Feb 2006, 03:59 pm »

Absolutely, the multimedia versions of the SB3 will open up some interesting possibilities - one of my friends already rips movies to his HD, and streams them via wire to his TV in another room.

I think, for my focus for 2 channel, the SB3 was top shelf at the time of purchase - the mods, and the SQ are what drive me.

Later, when wireless gets to the point where new displays (Plasma or LCD) have built in connectivity, then I will seek something in the multimedia solution side.

I guess it all comes down to one's focus right now.

Occam · « **Reply #13 on:** 18 Feb 2006, 05:59 pm »

Outlaw Audio has released a USB DtoA. It apparrently has additional functions and capabilities -
http://outlawaudio.com/products/rr2150.html

kaxixi · « **Reply #14 on:** 19 Feb 2006, 07:22 pm »

The Airport Express cannot be used with a USB DAC (I asked Apple). It does have an optical out, which doubles as a headphone jack line out.

tschanrm · « **Reply #15 on:** 22 Feb 2006, 06:39 am »

Quick anwser: To my knowledge the airport express/roku/squeezebox all DO NOT resample.

Long anwser: There's an easy way to test if you're squeeze box/roku/airport express is running at the files native frequency (and also if it is playing bit perfect.). You need to have a dts/DD capable receiver, a dts or dd file, and the device (squeezebox, etc.) must output s/pdif to the receiver. Once you have this setup, download one of the test dts files here:

http://www.kellyindustries.com/sounds.html

play it through your device (squeezebox, etc), and see what happens. if you hear normal playback, you have a perfect pass through, meaning no resampling or jumbling with the bits. If you hear garbage, that means somewhere along the audio stream, the file is getting messed with- meaning it might be resampled or be non bit-perfect. This method is also a great way for testing any s/pdif stream for bit-perfect capability.