[JoshK]

I found some info on Turtlebeach's website in regards to Audiotron:

AudioTron: Formats - lossless (wma9, ape, flac)
At present losslessly compressed formats (wma9, ape, flac) are not
supported.

2)  Digital output must be 44.1 for .wav files, 48khz is not supported.

3) .wav files must be used with Ethernet, HPNA is not supported for .wav, (they said it doesn't have enough throughput).

[EchiDna]

*snip*
If there were a USB to SPDIF adapter that can send bitstreams directly to my audio DAC, I would love to have. ( It would not be difficult to build one actually. It should cost just a fraction of that of a cheapest soundcard.) In this case, whatever audio formats, MP3, digital radio etc, can be decoded in software then send to my audio DAC to DA them. Without that, I still can live with a soundcard that can pass through any bitstreams directly to digital out. Does anyone know such a soundcard? ...

M-Audio Sonica Theater is your answer then dude, both USB in and SPDIF out, plus it is a bit futureproofed coz it is 7.1 channels... not sure if it can do that over linux though...  

http://www.midiman.com/products/consumer/sonicaTheatre_page1.php

[Larry]

What is the Dreambox going to sell for?

Around $900 Australian.

For comparisons, eMTech with PVR is $820 and Nokia is $1400.

[Larry]

M-Audio Sonica Theater is your answer then dude, both USB in and SPDIF out, plus it is a bit futureproofed coz it is 7.1 channels... not sure if it can do that over linux though...  

http://www.midiman.com/products/consumer/sonicaTheatre_page1.php

It is an interesting device. It seems not available in Australia.

It has a USB-to-SPDIF RCA, which is what I want. I need to check with them if its USB-to-SPDIF is direct pass through. It is easier for engineers to parellel an AD with the analog out and AD it to SPDIF, than to put extra circuitry to handle the digital input before the AD and pass them to SPDIF as well.

The Creative Extigy has USB input and SPDIF out too. But the SPDIF is just taking whatever at the analog out and AD it again.

[Brad]

Found another player, albeit in a higher price range, and with a built in hard drive.  

http://www.escient.com/productline.htm


cd30 has dropped their price on the top-end model - it's now $199 (after $50 rebate - I despise rebates ).   I'm leaning back towards the Slimp3 and an 802.11 bridge.   I just wish the Slimp3 could play uncompressed formats.   The 'voice command' of the cd30 has me turned off (in addition to the rebate thing).    Also, the Slimp3 has a 30 day return policy....

Time to flip a coin or two  

[Brad]

Here's another one:

http://www.joyfaktory.com/joyport.html


Slightly off topic:  I saw a new iPod this weekend - can't believe how tiny that thing is.....  imagine one of those with digital out

[cab]

I don't know if anyone is familiar with this unit, but I think it is exactly what I am looking for.

It will stream video, internet radio, and a variety of audio files (including wav format) from a computer host via the latest wireless lan format (804.11g-5 times as fast as the current 804.11b), and has a spdif digital coax output. Perfect!

Check it out:

www.roxio.com/en/products/prismiq/faq.jhtml

[Brad]

Prismiq just won a shootout of these devices in PC Magazine.
They focused on features instead of sound quality (b*stards!).

The HP finished second.  The slimp3 & cd300 barely got a mention.

http://www.prismiq.com/

They also handle video files.  I believe that they use your TV for a display mechanism of what's playing/selections/etc.   It also does web surfing/Instant Messaging.
The Prismiq handles WAV files, but they are converted to MP3's on the fly for playback.  Only MP3's are handled in hardware by this device.