Music Server

skunark · « **Reply #140 on:** 28 Apr 2010, 08:28 pm »

Wouldn't the BDP-1 Web/Ipod interface offer to create a playlist for you? Even if you used the Bryston remote to change songs, I would hope that the BDP-1 would scan tags off of the files and provide reasonable means to create playlists. Sadly WAV files don't support tagging, so AIFF and FLAC are the only two viable options IMO, assuming ALAC and DSD aren't supported.

werd · « **Reply #141 on:** 28 Apr 2010, 09:07 pm »

I think this thread started leading people in the wrong direction. The title alone is wrong. This is not a music server. The questions here i think are the same for the dac. In other words this piece is more of an extension to the dac than the computer. I am guessing but if the dac can't do it then neither will this piece....

Just a thought

Phil A · « **Reply #142 on:** 28 Apr 2010, 11:10 pm »

I agree the title is misleading. I've been thinking about the Logitech Squeezebox Touch which seems to be well received. No one refers to that as a music server. I'd call the Bryston a music media player.

werd · « **Reply #143 on:** 28 Apr 2010, 11:42 pm »

Quote from: Phil A on 28 Apr 2010, 11:10 pm

I agree the title is misleading. I've been thinking about the Logitech Squeezebox Touch which seems to be well received. No one refers to that as a music server. I'd call the Bryston a music media player.

I know i would like to get the logitech looks pretty cool. But it only takes in 96khz, the BDA1 takes in 192khz and the BDP makes that happen. Not many dacs i can find do 192khz so this is piece makes sense.
Also i am not sure how well my laptop could drive a 192khz signal into the bda? I am going to accept Bryston's judgement that the xlr will drive the dac better. It doesn't make sense to me that they would only try one input and not give the others a whirl so the xlr is probably the best.

perose · « **Reply #144 on:** 28 Apr 2010, 11:53 pm »

Quote from: Phil A on 28 Apr 2010, 11:10 pm

I've been thinking about the Logitech Squeezebox Touch which seems to be well received. No one refers to that as a music server.

Well actually the Touch is a server and will serve up songs from a USB thumb or hard drive to itself and other Logitech players. I use both a Touch and Transporter as players that connect to a WHS hosting Squeezebox server software.

Phil A · « **Reply #145 on:** 29 Apr 2010, 01:32 am »

Quote from: werd on 28 Apr 2010, 11:42 pm

I know i would like to get the logitech looks pretty cool. But it only takes in 96khz, the BDA1 takes in 192khz and the BDP makes that happen. Not many dacs i can find do 192khz so this is piece makes sense.
Also i am not sure how well my laptop could drive a 192khz signal into the bda? I am going to accept Bryston's judgement that the xlr will drive the dac better. It doesn't make sense to me that they would only try one input and not give the others a whirl so the xlr is probably the best.

True - but one will cost $300 and one will cost $2,000. I've read about some people selling their DACs after listening to the Touch. I intend to connect through my network and I already have 4,300+ songs on WMA lossless. I won't need to drag out my laptop to interface with the BDA-1 and I can get internet radio too. I expect the Bryston product will sound a bit better but besides the above noted advantages of the Touch, I can also interface with other Logitech devices. I can live with 24/96 through the BDA-1 and suffer. I'll probably think about it until sometime in June and then decide what to do. I don't use the laptop I have much. I bought it to use a colorimeter for my displays so besides updating virus protection once a week I only use it a couple of times a year. There also have been other after market mods for prior Squeezebox devices and it wouldn't surprise me if there are eventually some for the Touch.

Phil A · « **Reply #146 on:** 29 Apr 2010, 01:43 am »

Quote from: perose on 28 Apr 2010, 11:53 pm

Well actually the Touch is a server and will serve up songs from a USB thumb or hard drive to itself and other Logitech players. I use both a Touch and Transporter as players that connect to a WHS hosting Squeezebox server software.

I've read (at least so far) that using he USB drive it loses a bit of sound quality (although not much). I'm continually watching posts about it. I bought the Western Digital Media Player about a year and half ago and didn't use it up until 6 mos. ago. I was fairly disappointed with it. It says WMA compatible but it gives you conversion software that puts out 128bps MP3s. Those don't even sound good over the BDA-1. If I hooked my Zune player I use for the car (and that is compressed) to the BDA-1 over the USB input I'm sure it would blow the Western Digital device away. The Zune sounds quite decent and I'm always amazed when I listen to it as I usually can't stand less than CD quality. My car also has a card reader that will do 320bps MP3s and the Zune seems on par with that.

perose · « **Reply #147 on:** 29 Apr 2010, 01:58 am »

Quote from: Phil A on 29 Apr 2010, 01:32 am

True - but one will cost $300 and one will cost $2,000.... I'll probably think about it until sometime in June and then decide what to do.

I've seen some reports of people getting a Touch for $225 with special offers but even at $300 if you give it a try and don't like it you can certianly sell it. It's in demand therfore it would be easy to move so, no real reason to wait until June!

Phil A · « **Reply #148 on:** 29 Apr 2010, 02:13 am »

Quote from: perose on 29 Apr 2010, 01:58 am

I've seen some reports of people getting a Touch for $225 with special offers but even at $300 if you give it a try and don't like it you can certianly sell it. It's in demand therfore it would be easy to move so, no real reason to wait until June!

I'm not in a rush. This time a year I have a few outside things to do here and there. $225 vs. $300 for me is not a really huge deal (the connectors on the some of the cables I've made cost almost as much as the Touch). I have 3 systems (main, basement and bedroom) and I'm usually doing something to one of them every now and then. I really wish I could see one locally in action more than anything. If I had that opportunity, I might buy one sooner.

mdconnelly · « **Reply #149 on:** 29 Apr 2010, 02:52 am »

FWIW, I love my new Touch. But I will admit I'm a Squeezebox fan and also have an SB3 in kitchen and Duet in bedroom. And I have iPeng on my iPhone. The combination, flexibility and sound quality is amazing for the price. And, yes, to my ears, the Touch is definitely a step up in the SB family and likely as good as the Transporter if you're running it digital out to a high quality DAC.

For the Bryston music server to be competitive, it's really going to have to blow the socks off the Touch sonically because the flexibility and functionality of any Squeezebox is just exceptional IMHO. I have the Touch in my main system and it's no slouch. I find myself listening more via the Touch than any other source simply for convenience. But yes, when I get into serious listening mode, I fall back to vinyl or CD for the right recordings.

alexone · « **Reply #150 on:** 29 Apr 2010, 07:40 pm »

Quote from: James Tanner on 28 Apr 2010, 05:41 pm

Hi werd,

Yes tried it - does not work. We are going to build IR into the BDP-1 digital Player to allow the BR2 to control the play list like it does with Media Monkey, Foobar and Itunes.

james

...very good!

al.

Napalm · « **Reply #151 on:** 1 May 2010, 07:11 am »

Something for James to ponder over:

http://www.olive.us/products/olive4hd/overview.html#

The concept seems just perfect.

Nap.

whanafi · « **Reply #152 on:** 1 May 2010, 07:34 am »

There are a number of different approaches for ripping, storing, organizing, streaming, and playing digital files.

While the Olive approach is perhaps interesting for a single site/newcomer to the field, it is too restrictive when it comes to getting best of breed solutions for each of the component parts.

If you don't believe in having the hard disk co-located with the player, the Olive is out. If you want to manage your storage and backups in a robust way, the Olive is out. If you want the transparency and control of ripping with software like dbPoweramp and EAC, no Olive.

So, perfect? IMHO, no.

James Tanner · « **Reply #153 on:** 1 May 2010, 11:36 am »

Hi Folks,

I know this is confusing but whanafi has understood exactly where we are coming from on the BDP-1. It is a DIGITAL PLAYER. It is NOT a SERVER. It is an AUDIO COMPONENT it is NOT a COMPUTER.

The server ‘all in one’ concept is excellent and does a great job for what it is. The problem with the ‘all in one’ approach is there are a number of compromises. The internal environment of these types of products are very noisy and have much higher levels of noise and distortion. The all in one computers are designed to do many other task rather than just play a music file. Also as the resolution of those files get higher the performance requirements and computing power resources get much more stringent as well.

So like the approach we took with our DAC – concentrate on one area of performance and try to optimize the performance as best the current state of the art will allow.

Example: I am experimenting now with different power supplies on the BDP-1 and it is obvious that a switching power supply – even the best designs available – have more noise than the linear power supplies we use in our CD Player and BDA-1 DAC. So the BDP-1 will definitely have a quality linear power supply based on these tests.

James

Napalm · « **Reply #154 on:** 1 May 2010, 09:32 pm »

Quote from: James Tanner on 1 May 2010, 11:36 am

I know this is confusing but whanafi has understood exactly where we are coming from on the BDP-1. It is a DIGITAL PLAYER. It is NOT a SERVER. It is an AUDIO COMPONENT it is NOT a COMPUTER.[...]

S**t. Every time you say that I'm thinking of this:

Nap.

Napalm · « **Reply #155 on:** 1 May 2010, 09:47 pm »

James,

When you'll launch it, may we get an invite so we could all meet in Bryston's entrance hall, have a group photo to be posted here, then go downtown celebrate and chat all things about music?

Nap.

werd · « **Reply #156 on:** 1 May 2010, 09:51 pm »

Quote from: whanafi on 1 May 2010, 07:34 am

There are a number of different approaches for ripping, storing, organizing, streaming, and playing digital files.

While the Olive approach is perhaps interesting for a single site/newcomer to the field, it is too restrictive when it comes to getting best of breed solutions for each of the component parts.

If you don't believe in having the hard disk co-located with the player, the Olive is out. If you want to manage your storage and backups in a robust way, the Olive is out. If you want the transparency and control of ripping with software like dbPoweramp and EAC, no Olive.

So, perfect? IMHO, no.

And who knows what the power supply is like?

Napalm · « **Reply #157 on:** 1 May 2010, 10:03 pm »

Quote from: James Tanner on 1 May 2010, 11:36 am

It is an AUDIO COMPONENT it is NOT a COMPUTER.

Ha! Funny. The blurb for this is saying the same thing: "Please note that the MP 1260 R is NOT a computer". I guess everyone has trouble explaining to the public what their thing actually is. Note though that T+A has included the DAC in the same chassis.

Nap.

sfraser · « **Reply #158 on:** 3 May 2010, 10:49 am »

The nice thing about the music player is that you are completely open in regards to your music (file) location. Using IP protocol allows you to access music files locally in your house, or remotely located somewhere on the internet.

Which brings up a question, James what is the buffer size on this product going to be?

Cheers

brucek · « **Reply #159 on:** 3 May 2010, 02:14 pm »

Quote

The nice thing about the music player is that you are completely open in regards to your music (file) location. Using IP protocol allows you to access music files locally in your house, or remotely located somewhere on the internet.

Are you sure about this?

My understanding is that you can play files that are stored on a memory stick or on the local drive that is plugged into the player. You would require a computer to access files anywhere else in your house or internet and load them onto the local drive before playing.

brucek