Current Firmware for SB2/3 is a JOKE, fix it if you have not

Folsom · « **on:** 18 Mar 2008, 07:53 pm »

I thought a lot of my music was mastered poorly because the dynamic range was weak, but it was actually my firmware normalizing everything. I had no volume.

I thought the opamp modification might be worth it for impact. My vinyl side makes things shake, you feel people's voices... My Squeezebox (modified) I was hoping would pick up with a new power supply but that was not it (got one for free anyhow waiting on a plug). Well I switched firmware for phase, because it is the easiest solution. My dynamic range is back! The impact of everything is back!

Details.... Drums and everything have so much more space around them, this switch back to 15 unmuddled everything. I can compare the sound of drums on my stereo to the drums upstairs that are real and win because the drums upstairs suck.

I can not stress enough how poor the current firmware available is in comparison. I think it is meant to make you believe the Squeezebox is not an audiophile worthy device, just a music sharing device, and that you must spend $2k on a transporter, NO JOKE.

I thought the firmware made minor differences, but it is more than night and day. Plus I can get ear hurting levels. Here is the beauty though, I can listen to it quieter now and get more out of it!

Bob in St. Louis · « **Reply #1 on:** 18 Mar 2008, 08:04 pm »

You went to an older version of firmware?
If so, what DID you have and what do you have NOW?

Thanks,

Bob

Tweaker · « **Reply #2 on:** 18 Mar 2008, 08:05 pm »

I abandoned fw 15 and the old Slimsever for the new Squeezecenter and fw 83 because it sounded way better, to me.
If you're still using Slimserver, however, I agree that 15 is way better sounding.

Folsom · « **Reply #3 on:** 18 Mar 2008, 08:14 pm »

I am using Squeezecenter....

This is probably only for people that have a removed opamp though. I do not think it would matter much to those with an unmodded SB2/3.

I had the 83 or was it 86? I forget, went back to 15, amazed.

Tweaker · « **Reply #4 on:** 18 Mar 2008, 08:19 pm »

Quote from: Destroyer of Smiles. on 18 Mar 2008, 08:14 pm

I am using Squeezecenter....

This is probably only for people that have a removed opamp though. I do not think it would matter much to those with an unmodded SB2/3.

Why is that?

jman66 · « **Reply #5 on:** 18 Mar 2008, 08:32 pm »

Quote from: Destroyer of Smiles. on 18 Mar 2008, 07:53 pm

I thought a lot of my music was mastered poorly because the dynamic range was weak, but it was actually my firmware normalizing everything. I had no volume.

Strange. Perhaps its really the Volume Adjustment/Replay Gain setting that's turned on? It's accessible from either the player setup or SqueezeCenter. I'm running SqueezeCenter, v.83 firmware on a Bolder mod'd SB3 and the dynamics are what they're supposed to be.

Tweaker · « **Reply #6 on:** 18 Mar 2008, 08:57 pm »

Quote from: jman66 on 18 Mar 2008, 08:32 pm

Strange. Perhaps its really the Volume Adjustment/Replay Gain setting that's turned on? It's accessible from either the player setup or SqueezeCenter. I'm running SqueezeCenter, v.83 firmware on a Bolder mod'd SB3 and the dynamics are what they're supposed to be.

I agree. The normalization function is user selectable no matter what firmware is in use.

Mister Pig · « **Reply #7 on:** 18 Mar 2008, 09:08 pm »

I hvae ato say that I am not the quickest person in setting up the Squeezebox. I just updated to Squeezecenter 7.0, and the firmware update. Volume equilizer is turned off. I find that the bass response is missing, and the tonal balance is light in comparison to what I was listening to.

I can easily remove the Squeezecenter program and reset the factory settings on the SB firmware. But where do you find the revious version of Slimserer to reinstall? cant find it on the Slimdevices website. I must be looking in the wrong area.

Regards
Mister Pig

Bob in St. Louis · « **Reply #8 on:** 18 Mar 2008, 09:14 pm »

Quote from: Mister Pig on 18 Mar 2008, 09:08 pm

But where do you find the revious version of Slimserer to reinstall? cant find it on the Slimdevices website. I must be looking in the wrong area.

http://wiki.slimdevices.com/index.cgi?PlayerFirmware

jkelly · « **Reply #9 on:** 18 Mar 2008, 09:52 pm »

I have a SB2 - can I run Squeezecenter 7 with firmware 15?

Jeff

Charles Calkins · « **Reply #10 on:** 18 Mar 2008, 10:11 pm »

I upgraded my SB3 to the new SqueezeCenter this afternoon. It seems to make things sound better. I'm sure all of you have heard the topic about"Digital edge". Seems quite a bit of that has gone away now. I have version 86 firmware running now. Don't know what I had when I had Slimserver. But I swear the "Digital edge" doesn't seem to be as bad as it was yesterday with Slimserver firmware. And!! And!! And!! I wouldn't have a clue as to how to change the firmware setting. "If it's not broken don't try to fix it"

Cheers
Charlie

Mister Pig · « **Reply #11 on:** 18 Mar 2008, 11:39 pm »

Removed Squeezecenter 7.0. Reinstalled Slimserver 6.5.4 Reset the factory settings on the SB, and once everything was reprogrammed I updated the firmware. Not sure which version it is, but its the one associated with that version of Slimserver.

My SB is a Full Enthusiast mod although I am running it with a DAC at the moment. Not a subtle difference. Mid bass dynamics returned. Deeper bass extension. The tonal balance evened back out. IMHO I concur that something is wrong with 7.0

Regards
Mister Pig

tonyptony · « **Reply #12 on:** 19 Mar 2008, 12:51 am »

Just an FYI, but FW version 15 will work, at least with the beta versions of SC7 that I had been using. Some of the newer capabilities, however, may not work as well or at all.

Having said that, the guys at Slimdevices have been most emphatic in saying that there have been NO changes to the FW (at least through v.83) that would make it sound any different.

Mister Pig · « **Reply #13 on:** 19 Mar 2008, 02:11 am »

Talked to a SB guru about this situation. He suspected that this sounded like phase inversion. Since I no longer have 7.0 installed, I could not excperiment with this. Whenever I get around to trying 7.0 again, I will swap my speaker leads then.

Regards
Mister Pig

lcrim · « **Reply #14 on:** 19 Mar 2008, 02:31 am »

You can browse to Slimserver by putting its IP address into a browser of another pc on the LAN with a colon : and the port 9000. From there you check your firmware version by checking the players settings.
BTW-I use release 6.5.4 with FW83 and have no absolute phase problems. I thought that this FW version sounded best but was told this wasn't true by the same jackass that says there is no difference in sound w/ a quality linear power supply vs. the OEM switch mode POS.

Folsom · « **Reply #15 on:** 19 Mar 2008, 02:54 am »

I am running firmware 15 with SqueezeCenter.

I had no difference in volume settings AT ALL. The only change was firmware. I think SqueezeCenter may sound better than Slimserver, BUT firmware 83 was a joke if that is the only thing changed.

I swapped my speaker cables the entire time I was running SqueezeCenter and firmware 83, no difference, but with firmware 15 it automatically had phase switched, I put the speaker wire back, and boom I have great sound again!

Everyone in my house agrees it sounds so much better, and the amount of volume, it is amazing.

The reason I mention the opamp being in or out is because of volume difference, phase inversion, and the opamp makes it sound bad anyways by putting its sonic signature over the DAC's.

My vinyl playback was so much better before I switched back to firmware 15; the Squeezebox really was a joke even with the awesome modifications until I did the firmware switch. My vinyl side was much louder, much more dynamic, and had way more impact, everything was present. Now my Squeezebox, well I can understand why some people would get rid of their vinyl sides, but I still like it.

Here is how to deal with firmware, it is SUPER EASY. All you have to do is drop one thing in your folder, turn off automatic updates, run the program by selecting the right path, typing 15, hitting one button, and then hold the brightness button on remote, and done!

http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=26453.0

Normanality · « **Reply #16 on:** 19 Mar 2008, 03:17 am »

I absolutely hate generalizations.
Because something sounds bad on your system means it will sound bad for everyone? Please.

I am running SC7 and firmware 86 on my Bolder Statement modded SB3 and using analog out directly into my Sanders active crossover amp.

It sounds amazing. That doesn't mean because it sounds amazing on my system that everyone should do it exactly as I.

I have my own ears and can make up my own mind.

NewBuyer · « **Reply #17 on:** 19 Mar 2008, 05:02 am »

Upgraded to latest SqueezeCenter and firmware with my stock SB3. In my system, everything sounds exactly the same as before the upgrade - that is, it sounds great.

Folsom · « **Reply #18 on:** 19 Mar 2008, 07:08 am »

Quote from: Normanality on 19 Mar 2008, 03:17 am

I absolutely hate generalizations.
Because something sounds bad on your system means it will sound bad for everyone? Please.

I am running SC7 and firmware 86 on my Bolder Statement modded SB3 and using analog out directly into my Sanders active crossover amp.

It sounds amazing. That doesn't mean because it sounds amazing on my system that everyone should do it exactly as I.

I have my own ears and can make up my own mind.

See this is just like having an opamp in the Squeezebox; you have an active crossover after your Squeezebox so it is the same as having the opamp. I said I did not think the firmware differences would matter between non-opamp removed Squeezebox's. The changes in volume and impact etc, the differences, do not seem to be ones accounted for by active pre-amplification.

This is not a generalization, I specifically mentioned the opamp (un-modded etc) and an active crossover is the same thing. Still though I am way not impressed with the new firmware. I feel the space around everything is weak with it regardless.

ted_b · « **Reply #19 on:** 19 Mar 2008, 11:09 am »

Quote from: Destroyer of Smiles. on 19 Mar 2008, 07:08 am

This is not a generalization, I specifically mentioned the opamp (un-modded etc) and an active crossover is the same thing.

???

Huh?