Squeezebox Question

coke · « **on:** 13 Sep 2010, 03:55 pm »

I'm wondering if I should switch to wireless.

My current setup has a small netbook in a room at my house connected to an external hard drive. That is connected to our router which is probably around a 75' run. There's another long run over to the room where my stereo is. The ethernet cable goes into a switch, and is split between my computer and squeezebox.

Would wireless be better than this? I can't detect any noise or issues with this setup, but I'm thinking there's room for improvement.

Also, i'm not very familar to wireless systems. Would it be possible to wirelessly connect my netbook to my squeezebox without using the internet?

eclein · « **Reply #1 on:** 13 Sep 2010, 04:03 pm »

Wired is the way to go, too many variables in my opinion when you go wireless...

Phil A · « **Reply #2 on:** 13 Sep 2010, 04:03 pm »

I've never tried wireless and only have the Touch about a month and a half but ethernet cables is run all over and split by more than one switch and I can't really detect any consequence. I did up grade the power supply to the Touch. I have not tried as of yet to try power supplies for the switches as I don't think it would have much impact. You won't be able to get as high resolution with wireless. If that doesn't matter (and you are just doing CD quality) you could try.

Quiet Earth · « **Reply #3 on:** 13 Sep 2010, 05:17 pm »

That's funny coke, I was thinking about going wired. I'm using the Duet (with imac and airport extreme) and I think that there is a lot of room for improvement. (Already upgraded the PS)

What are the pros and cons of wired vs. wireless for someone listening to standard 16/44.1?

"Too many variables going wired" was mentioned. What are those variables?

eclein · « **Reply #4 on:** 13 Sep 2010, 05:28 pm »

Variables...sometimes building construction can limit wireless reception, I would think dropouts would become more common, and there is always the "middle of the party it just stopped working factor"... I don't think you gain anything sonically going wireless, if anything I would think a wired connection offers a more solid connection and any sonic improvement to be had either way would favor wired.

Phil A · « **Reply #5 on:** 13 Sep 2010, 05:52 pm »

This is one short piece on some interference problems which can occur: http://www.compukiss.com/internet/solving-wireless-interference-problems-2.html

As the prior post noted, there are variables. I go wired wherever I can. The builder must have cut somewhere in the walls the Cat5 cable I had running from the office on the first floor to the loft on the other side of the house on the second floor. I took out the video I did as the walls were going up and snaked a Cat5e cable down the gas pipe going to the 2nd zone heating (which I was able to access in a bedroom closet next to the loft) in the upstairs attic and ran it to a switch in the basement where I wired from the office (on the main level) to the basement.

lcrim · « **Reply #6 on:** 13 Sep 2010, 06:02 pm »

Many of you need to learn to use the search function.

The wlan card when running causes (electrical) noise that corrupts playback quality. When running wired, the wlan card is shut off in the Classic and Duet. In the Touch, a script must be added to prevent the wlan card from launching. Also, if you are using a lossless format such as flac, expand that format at the server to PCM before sending it to the Squeezebox.
In my systems, all sound and video devices are wired, no wireless. This includes the pc (a laptop in my case) running SqueezeBox Server, though I have read that one hop wirelessly is not a drawback. Storage hard drives also are noisy (both electrical and mechanical) and one of the advantages of the SqueezeBox is to kep that noise elsewhere than the listening environment.

coke · « **Reply #7 on:** 13 Sep 2010, 06:14 pm »

Thanks for the help. Looks like I'll stick with my current setup.

firedog · « **Reply #8 on:** 13 Sep 2010, 06:38 pm »

Hi-

IMO, wired reduces noise added to the system. It also works better with hi-res files -fewer dropouts, rebuffering.

I'm not sure in all systems you will hear the difference of having the wired shut off.

Quiet Earth · « **Reply #9 on:** 13 Sep 2010, 06:47 pm »

I'm not having any major reception problems. Every once in a great while, I'll get a drop out. No biggie.

Quote from: lcrim on 13 Sep 2010, 06:02 pm

The wlan card when running causes (electrical) noise that corrupts playback quality. When running wired, the wlan card is shut off in the Classic and Duet.

Yes, I have read that but I thought that it would be nice to hear lots of people jump in and confirm it. I'm just looking for an obvious sonic improvement. Also, if noise is such a big issue inside the receiver, then why isn't it more popular to replace the switching regulators inside of it? I think there are three of them inside, but correct me if I'm wrong.

Quote

Also, if you are using a lossless format such as flac, expand that format at the server to PCM before sending it to the Squeezebox.

Yes, I tried that too, but I discovered that it causes a very loud clicking sound at the end of each song. I guess if I go wireless then that problem will go away, correct? No one ever answered that question in a previous thread. Maybe you can help.

Quote

In my systems, all sound and video devices are wired, no wireless. Storage hard drives also are noisy (both electrical and mechanical) and one of the advantages of the SqueezeBox is to kep that noise elsewhere than the listening environment.

Which means that you use a very long wire to keep all the noisy stuff out of the listening room, right? Just checking.

Wayne1 · « **Reply #10 on:** 13 Sep 2010, 08:05 pm »

Quote from: Quiet Earth on 13 Sep 2010, 06:47 pm

Also, if noise is such a big issue inside the receiver, then why isn't it more popular to replace the switching regulators inside of it? I think there are three of them inside, but correct me if I'm wrong.

There are a couple of switching regs internal in the Touch. They are fairly quiet for switchers. They are also located in an area that makes it very difficult to fit a linear regulator and it's associated parts. Logitech did a very good job in fitting parts into very small spaces with multilayer circuit boards.

The biggest noise offender is the external switcher. Then comes the noise from the power supply to the clock and digital section. Right along with that is the wi-fi section.

It does help to keep a radio station away from your audio components.

Vincent Kars · « **Reply #11 on:** 13 Sep 2010, 08:28 pm »

Those interested in optimizing the sound of the SB Touch can try this one: http://soundcheck-audio.blogspot.com/p/squeezebox-touch-great-base-for-network.html

lcrim · « **Reply #12 on:** 14 Sep 2010, 01:50 am »

Quote from: Vincent Kars on 13 Sep 2010, 08:28 pm

Those interested in optimizing the sound of the SB Touch can try this one: http://soundcheck-audio.blogspot.com/p/squeezebox-touch-great-base-for-network.html

I previously posted in this thread that many of you need to learn how to use the search function. This topic was covered earlier http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=82624.0

Quiet Earth: You have a Duet and I can't know how you configured the file types on your server. You also ripped your music in AIFF not flac which is native in Logitech Squeezeboxes. This is a different case and if you need help PM me w/ further details and I'll see what I can figure out.

whanafi · « **Reply #13 on:** 14 Sep 2010, 12:59 pm »

I realize it is fashionable to dump on wireless, but I have used a Transporter for years with a wireless link running hi-res FLAC files (24/96) without dropouts, re-buffering or stuttering.
My server is an Atom-based PC running Vortexbox.

I am running a Touch in wired mode, and a Boom wirelessly. No difference in performance.

firedog · « **Reply #14 on:** 16 Sep 2010, 09:39 am »

Quote from: whanafi on 14 Sep 2010, 12:59 pm

I realize it is fashionable to dump on wireless, but I have used a Transporter for years with a wireless link running hi-res FLAC files (24/96) without dropouts, re-buffering or stuttering.
My server is an Atom-based PC running Vortexbox.

I am running a Touch in wired mode, and a Boom wirelessly. No difference in performance.

No argument. I don't think posters here were "dumping" on wireless. But some of us do have noticeably better results with wired. If wireless works for you, that's great

scp2 · « **Reply #15 on:** 16 Sep 2010, 11:37 am »

I had the same experience as whanafi for over a year...than last week I had a ton of out of town guests over for a party and TP started stuttering. I was so embarassed. Trying to show off my hifi.

Now it is back to working flawlessly. I am going wired.

whanafi · « **Reply #16 on:** 16 Sep 2010, 02:43 pm »

Quote from: scp2 on 16 Sep 2010, 11:37 am

I had the same experience as whanafi for over a year...than last week I had a ton of out of town guests over for a party and TP started stuttering. I was so embarassed. Trying to show off my hifi.

Now it is back to working flawlessly. I am going wired.

Since you are dependent on a radio signal, a room full of people can definitely change the radio propagation characteristics to the point of losing signal.

There was a famous example where a utility company installed a radio system for their trucks during the Fall, and everything worked fine. When Spring arrived and all the trees grew leaves back, the system fell over.

scp2 · « **Reply #17 on:** 16 Sep 2010, 02:55 pm »

I don't think that was the case. My TP is in the living room...the party was mainly outside on the deck. What may have had an effect....was the fact my son was using his Wii downstairs...and another kid was on his laptop. So it may have ate up some bandwith from router. I have never had it happen before.

Wired is just more stable..I had a lot of problrms with my Duet early on before changing to a better router. Duet is notorious for this and TP not so much.

whanafi · « **Reply #18 on:** 16 Sep 2010, 03:25 pm »

You are right, load on the channel is the usual first thing to check. Don't get me wrong, I would always wire if I could, but my TP is in the living room, and there is no way to surmount the SAF involved in running wire to the spot.

I find that many problems with the Duet related to use of DHCP. If you assign a static IP address it behaves well.

mikel51 · « **Reply #19 on:** 19 Sep 2010, 02:59 am »

I just ordered an OCX vertex 2 120gb for the new HTPC I am about to build