[sunshinedawg]

I just got my first squeezebox up and running.  I remember there was a discussion about how to get files to stream in flac and then uncompress and play as wavs at the the SB.  Which combo of file formats do  I need to check on the file formats tab for this to happen? I just want to make sure I'm outputting wavs(all my files are flac).

I also recently read a thread about using your laptop to control your slimserver on your desktop server.  I think you were just suppose to open a slimserver browser page on your laptop.  Is that how it's done?  What server address do you use?

I wish I had bookmarked these posts I had read. I have searched about a thousand times and can't find them again!

[Paul_Bui]

Hi sunshinedawg,

I am using this setup and getting pretty good sounding a result.  This is to my stinking ears anyway, so please correct me if anyone else has a better idea.

Home / Server Settings / File Types:

File Format                            Stream Format Decoder

(x) FLAC                                WAV    flac

(x) WAV                                 WAV    (built-in)

It's easier to answer your 2nd question.  Notice how it shows on your PC where you run the Slim Server:

http://localhost:9000/

On your laptop, do the same, but replace the 'localhost' with Full compter name that appears in a window after you right click on My Computer, Properties, then Compter Name buttons.  I find this method is more consistent than using a static IP address which is likely to change in a DHCP server environment.  For instant, if my Full computer name is 'office-PaulB', then http://office-PaulB:9000/ should work, because that's how the laptop sees the PC within the network.

Good luck and enjoy!

[gitarretyp]

For computer based flac -> wav decompression, click on the server settings tab, then file types. Be sure the only box checked regarding flac is the one that says file format flac and stream format wav and click change. You'll need to stop and restart or change songs for this to take effect.

To use a remote computer to access your slimserver, go to <your server's ip address>:9000 For instance, mine is 192.168.0.100:9000

Something no one mentions is that your server is also accessable from remote computers unless you disable it (ie, if i know your ip address, i can control your slimserver. This also depends on router settings). To disable this, go to server settings, then security. Go to the Allowed IP Addresses box and put in 127.0.0.1,<your range of ip addresses> and click change. For instance, mine is 127.0.0.1,192.168.0.100-105

[sunshinedawg]

Thank you!!!      

[zybar]

is there supposed to be a sound improvement by chanigng these settings?

George

[lcrim]

Zybar:
There is an opinion (that I share) that expanding the FLAC files to WAV at the Slimserver PC before streaming them to the SB results in better playback quality.

[DSK]

Zybar:
There is an opinion (that I share) that expanding the FLAC files to WAV at the Slimserver PC before streaming them to the SB results in better playback quality.

Larry, I could believe that the more powerful CPU of the PC *may*  lead to better sound by removing the processing load (and any attendant issues) from the SB. What differences did you actually hear?

[lcrim]

DSK:
I did several software "improvements" at the same time.  Mike Galusha, wrote a version switcher program and I followed his instructions and run version 15 as well as enabling expanding the FLACs to WAVs before streaming to the SB.  My SB3 has only small improvements, an Elpac PS and I go coax to a SN Chibi Dac but I noticed, by comparison, less smearing, better leading edge attack, cleaner, less muddy bass and extention in the treble.  Noticeable improvements.
A few nites ago, no formal test but I have a Toshiba 3950 DVDP modded by RAM in that system that I use for DVD video now but at one time it was my player for Redbook in that system.  My girlfriend  and 13 yr old daughter were asked to compare the same CDs played on the Tosh and then streamed to the SB3.  The Tosh was hot shit not so long ago but the difference was dramatically in favor of the SB.  I figured that the outcome would be closer but the jump in digital quality for me anyway, has been enormous because of PC playback.

[jakepunk]

I did several software "improvements" at the same time. [...] run version 15 as well as enabling expanding the FLACs to WAVs before streaming to the SB.

Firmware 15 gave you better sound quality, not FLAC vs. WAV.