Slim Devices new Transporter spotted on Gizmodo.com

shokunin · « **Reply #1 on:** 24 Jul 2006, 10:50 pm »

Niiice!!

AKM Dacs

Word Clock input Woohooo!!

Price: $2000 ouch... plus mods..

PhilNYC · « **Reply #2 on:** 24 Jul 2006, 11:04 pm »

It's up on the Slim Devices website now...

95bcwh · « **Reply #3 on:** 24 Jul 2006, 11:16 pm »

Quote from: shokunin on 24 Jul 2006, 10:50 pm

Niiice!!

AKM Dacs
Word Clock input Woohooo!!
Price: $2000 ouch... plus mods..

Forgive my ignorance... how good is this AKM DAC? compare to the DAC used in Olive Opus?

jermmd · « **Reply #4 on:** 25 Jul 2006, 12:50 am »

Is the pair of voltmeters on the right front face for show or do they serve some purpose?

nathanm · « **Reply #5 on:** 25 Jul 2006, 01:23 am »

Wow, that is one gorgeous looking piece of gear! Thankfully the concept of "tactile feedback" hasn't been forgotten. I was really hoping this was a standalone unit with internal hard drives that didn't require a computer connection at all times. That would seem to make sense. I'd like to be able to listen to digital music without having to boot up the noisy computer.

Hmph.

PhilNYC · « **Reply #6 on:** 25 Jul 2006, 01:27 am »

Quote from: jermmd on 25 Jul 2006, 12:50 am

Is the pair of voltmeters on the right front face for show or do they serve some purpose?

I believe that the "voltmeters" are actually being shown on a digital display (identical to the one on the left), and there are a variety of functions that can be put on the display...

Vinnie R. · « **Reply #7 on:** 25 Jul 2006, 01:32 am »

Yeah, you can choose to have voltmeters, a graphic EQ, etc.... just like the SB2 and SB3. They really do work but I'm sure they can be turned off if they are distracting. Nice looking unit

I have to agree with Nathanm regarding how cool it would be if there was an internal hard disk and built-in CD drive.

Bemopti123 · « **Reply #8 on:** 25 Jul 2006, 04:45 am »

If anyone has seen some older, late 1970s to early 1980s, German gear from Telefunken, Grundig and the like, you might be able to see where the Aesthetic for the unit comes from. The unit looks awesome for sure, but brother, a jump from $200s to $2000s, that must be one helluva unit for sure.

lonewolfny42 · « **Reply #9 on:** 25 Jul 2006, 08:39 am »

Quote from: Bemopti123 on 25 Jul 2006, 04:45 am

The unit looks awesome for sure, but brother, a jump from $200s to $2000s, that must be one helluva unit for sure.

Must be 10 x's better Paul....right ?

sts9fan · « **Reply #10 on:** 25 Jul 2006, 12:25 pm »

Now all you have to do is add $1500 worth of mods and people here will call it "OK"

I think I will slum it with my SB3 and SB2

Quote

Wow, that is one gorgeous looking piece of gear! Thankfully the concept of "tactile feedback" hasn't been forgotten. I was really hoping this was a standalone unit with internal hard drives that didn't require a computer connection at all times. That would seem to make sense. I'd like to be able to listen to digital music without having to boot up the noisy computer. Hmph

Why pay for something you already have? Why does it matter if the computer is noisy in another room? Also with the built in drives they are never going to be big enough so you will have to have a externals hanging around. no thanks. I will take my terabit in a $300 box anyday over a $4k unit with 400gigs

Kevin Haskins · « **Reply #11 on:** 25 Jul 2006, 04:56 pm »

Looks like they are using a nice Noritake VFD. They have about $150-$200 in their display alone which I think is a wise move. I like the analog knob...good touch.

cryotweaks · « **Reply #12 on:** 25 Jul 2006, 06:10 pm »

I just received notice that mine has shipped!

I will keep everyone posted on sonic impressions, etc.

Cheers!

Mike

PhilNYC · « **Reply #13 on:** 25 Jul 2006, 06:17 pm »

Quote from: cryotweaks on 25 Jul 2006, 06:10 pm

I just received notice that mine has shipped!

I will keep everyone posted on sonic impressions, etc.

Cheers!

Mike

Are you sure that's not the "free" SB3 that shipped? I was told there would not be any Transporter units available until Sept. 18th (tried to see if we could get one for the August NY Audio Rave)...

cryotweaks · « **Reply #14 on:** 25 Jul 2006, 06:22 pm »

Oops!

It is. Bummer.

nathanm · « **Reply #15 on:** 25 Jul 2006, 07:31 pm »

Quote from: sts9fan

Why pay for something you already have?

I wouldn't, besides I can't afford it anyway!

But if I wanted to it would be because I want a single-purpose device free from the computer model of interface.

Quote

Why does it matter if the computer is noisy in another room?

Probably doesn't, but I just don't feel like turning it on if I just want to listen to music. I want a living room suited device with single mode controls that doesn't make noise, fits on a shelf and visually integrates with the style of exisiting gear. For the same reason people don't throw out their CD\DVD\SACD player when they have a computer that could play those just as well (okay, not the SACD). Because a computer doesn't fit in with the sit-and-point-at-with-remote concept we are used to. This thing fulfills all those goals, but it can't actually play anything by itself which just seems a little weird to me. The nice audiophile gubbins is cool and all, but for its lack of independent function I feel it comes up short. The Squeezebox seems to make more sense because it suggests a 'dumb terminal' approach of sorts.

Quote

Also with the built in drives they are never going to be big enough so you will have to have a externals hanging around. no thanks. I will take my terabit in a $300 box anyday over a $4k unit with 400gigs

Well perhaps...it would be big enough for my collection though. I doubt there exists a terrabyte worth of music out there that I could actually want to listen to! (or have time to for that matter, it's already pretty ridiculous as is with 4000+ songs! Heh!)

PhilNYC · « **Reply #16 on:** 25 Jul 2006, 07:37 pm »

Quote from: nathanm on 25 Jul 2006, 07:31 pm

The nice audiophile gubbins is cool and all, but for its lack of independent function I feel it comes up short. The Squeezebox seems to make more sense because it suggests a 'dumb terminal' approach of sorts.

But the Transporter works the same way as the Squeezebox, so why does it make sense for the SB but not the Transporter?

Btw - you could put your music on a NAS and not have to boot up your computer to access your music...

Double Ugly · « **Reply #17 on:** 25 Jul 2006, 08:02 pm »

Quote from: PhilNYC on 25 Jul 2006, 07:37 pm

Quote from: nathanm on 25 Jul 2006, 07:31 pm
The nice audiophile gubbins is cool and all, but for its lack of independent function I feel it comes up short. The Squeezebox seems to make more sense because it suggests a 'dumb terminal' approach of sorts.ye

But the Transporter works the same way as the Squeezebox, so why does it make sense for the SB but not the Transporter?

I don't know about Nathan, but I'm not in complete disagreement with the those who say that, for almost 10X the price of a Squeezebox, the Transporter should probably allow for stand-alone playback capability.

IMO, the discrepancy in price doesn't make for a fair comparison. The $300 SB is a bargain for what it does ("dumb terminal"), but folks have higher - and different - expectations when the price jumps to $2k.

JMHO.

PhilNYC · « **Reply #18 on:** 25 Jul 2006, 08:11 pm »

Quote from: Double Ugly on 25 Jul 2006, 08:02 pm

IMO, the discrepancy in price doesn't make for a fair comparison. The $300 SB is a bargain for what it does ("dumb terminal"), but folks have higher - and different - expectations when the price jumps to $2k.

JMHO.

That's true...although IMHO the general trend in digital music is that people already have a large digital music collection because of things like the iPod, and the idea of having two different libraries of music (one on my computer hard drive for my iPod, and another in my Transporter) is a much greater inconvenience.

In terms of the overall price difference, the list of new features in the Transporter (both internal and external) is pretty extensive...upgraded power supply, AES/EBU output, Word clock input, digital inputs, duel display, balanced analog outputs, RS-232 interface for home automation projects, etc...

JMHO too...

Double Ugly · « **Reply #19 on:** 25 Jul 2006, 08:21 pm »

I don't disagree with anything you said. It's just that I can see the other side, too, and I think they may have a point.

I don't know how they compare sonically, but I think Olive got it right in a lot of ways with their new products. The MSRP is higher for their better units, but a 500G Opus can be had for a lot nearer the cost of a Transporter than one might think, and it meets the needs of a much larger customer base.

It'll be interesting to see what happens over the next few months....