JRiver media center or Jukebox, are they the same?

rtate · « **on:** 24 Apr 2011, 07:53 pm »

I would like to try a new player for my PC audio to play both flac and mp3.
JRiver looks interesting and seems to get good reviews.
Is the jukebox the same quality as the Media center,
I would only be using it for audio at this point and have read that the only difference is that
the media center has video capabilities.
What do you fellas think..

eclein · « **Reply #1 on:** 24 Apr 2011, 08:12 pm »

I don't know about Jukebox as I just got around to trying JRiver media center last week or so...I'm buying JRiver when my 30 day trial runs out, its got a ton of nice options if you want them and it sounds better to me then what I had been using which was:
Media Monkey
Foobar 2000
itunes
Win Media Center
I like the stuff, the visuals, the tagging the big program stuff so Foobar which to me sounds comparable to JRiver was just to minimalist for me, itunes just bums me out totally and Media Monkey was what I was using but it didn't do wasapi and Steve (srb) mentioned that wasapi was a good way to go and he was right, the first time I had it all configured correctly and played some music with wasapi in the mix I was amazed at the clarity and full body my music suddenly had, it was an easy decision for me after that.
So, I didn't answer your question sorry about that but for a 30 day free trial what do you have to loose??

srb · « **Reply #2 on:** 24 Apr 2011, 08:20 pm »

I know one audio difference is that Jukebox does not have the ability to use a system exclusive driver such as WASAPI or ASIO.

Steve

Charles Calkins · « **Reply #3 on:** 24 Apr 2011, 10:10 pm »

Hi Guys:
First dumb question of the day.
I have a lot of tunes downloaded to itunes. From there to my Logitech SB3 music file. Then on to my audio system.
If I were to purchase the jriver media program and transfer my itunes file into it do you think !'d hear things better? Or!! Would I have to start all over fresh downloading tunes to jriver in order to get the best audio playback?

Cheers
Charlie

eclein · « **Reply #4 on:** 24 Apr 2011, 10:23 pm »

Charles- When you install Jriver, and after as new things come up you can have J river look at certain folders for your music. My laptop is full plus I have 2 attached USB drives full and I just let jriver know what folders to look into for music and bam!! instant tunes, you won't have to start over as your existing music files should play with no problem.

Does it sound better? I think so, and I think others do as well but you know this hobby is so subjective...so thats hard to answer.

srb · « **Reply #5 on:** 24 Apr 2011, 10:32 pm »

Quote from: Charles Calkins on 24 Apr 2011, 10:10 pm

I have a lot of tunes downloaded to itunes ..... If I were to purchase the jriver media program and transfer my itunes file into it do you think !'d hear things better? Or!! Would I have to start all over fresh downloading tunes to jriver in order to get the best audio playback?

If when you say "tunes downloaded to iTunes" you mean purchased iTunes store files, i.e. 128kbps/256kbps M4P files, I don't think J.River Media Center supports playback of Apple Protected AAC files (M4P), and if you mean downloaded unprotected MP3 files, I'm guessing you would not hear much of a difference.

If you mean CDs you have ripped to iTunes at uncompressed 16/44.1 or 16/44.1 or higher-res downloaded files, then you may hear an improvement (if you are using Windows 7 or Vista which is required to use the WASAPI driver interface).

You would not have to re-rip or re-download files.

Steve

Charles Calkins · « **Reply #6 on:** 24 Apr 2011, 11:09 pm »

Steve:
No they are my CD's and music I purchased from Amazon. ebay CD's also. I don't buy tunes from itunes.

Cheers
Charlie

Wayne1 · « **Reply #7 on:** 24 Apr 2011, 11:19 pm »

Charlie,

As you are using the SB3 for your playback, changing to J. River will not do a thing for your playback system. You have to use the SqueezeBox Server program to use the SB3.

For ripping new media, I do prefer to use dBPoweramp. It is very simple to use and the rips I get to .flac sound fantastic.

It does have a free trial period, so you can rip the same CD on iTunes, J.River and dBPoweramp, play them back through your SB3 and see if you can hear any difference.

Charles Calkins · « **Reply #8 on:** 25 Apr 2011, 12:37 am »

Thanks Wayne:
I kind of thought that also.
Might get a Logitech touch and send it to you for mods. But Darn!!! I can't see it being better than the SB3 you did your magic to for me.

Cheers
Charlie

rtate · « **Reply #9 on:** 25 Apr 2011, 12:51 am »

For me I have 2 SB3's in service, 1 through a Marantz 2230 servicing the back deck and 1 for my 2 channel system in the rec room.
While working on my PC I have been using softsqueeze through a usb dac to a nad integrated and Axiom speakeres. I have tried Foobar with the Asio plug in but I just can't get the hang of the GUI.
I was just thinking that the JRiver product might sound a little better and be easy to use....
I thought I read somewhere that the WASAPI plugin was for Vista and up? I am using XP at the moment and would like to try it with the best configuration...

srb · « **Reply #10 on:** 25 Apr 2011, 01:14 am »

I too, did not really care for the Foobar interface, nor did I care to go through extensive customization, add-ins and configuration to try and arrive at at a bit perfect playback solution with a good interface, when other solutions like J.River were already available, albeit not for free.

If I had a Mac, I would probably use Pure Music for the playback engine, as I do like the iTunes interface.

On a PC, WASAPI only works with Vista and up. ASIO is a similar Windows mixer-bypassing interface that works with XP and up, but the majority who have tried both seem to feel that Windows 7 and WASAPI is the best that the PC platform can offer at this point in time.

When Charlie asked about J. River Media Center, I assumed that he was thinking about using it with a digital output from the PC, not in consort with a Squeezebox.

Steve

Charles Calkins · « **Reply #11 on:** 25 Apr 2011, 01:30 am »

Steve:
No way can I hook up my PC to a DAC by USB and then to my audio system. I'd need 100 feet of audio cable going from the DAC to my audio system. So as you can see that's not an option for me.

Cheers
Charlie

rtate · « **Reply #12 on:** 25 Apr 2011, 11:01 am »

So will ASIO work with the JRiver products anad XP ??

eclein · « **Reply #13 on:** 25 Apr 2011, 12:32 pm »

I have used ASIO in JRiver so I know that works rtate, and I have used ASIO in WinXP in the past with no problem. Steve did mention in his last post:

Quote from: srb on 25 Apr 2011, 01:14 am

On a PC, WASAPI only works with Vista and up. ASIO is a similar Windows mixer-bypassing interface that works with XP and up, but the majority who have tried both seem to feel that Windows 7 and WASAPI is the best that the PC platform can offer at this point in time.

When Charlie asked about J. River Media Center, I assumed that he was thinking about using it with a digital output from the PC, not in consort with a Squeezebox.

Steve

so I think you'll be OK with ASIO and XP

rtate · « **Reply #14 on:** 25 Apr 2011, 01:57 pm »

eclein, as stated in my earlier post I have used Asio with Foobar and XP.....
My question was, will it work with JRiver, sorry for the confusion...
Does the Asio come with the JRiver software or do you have to download and add it?
If I use Asio already with Foobar will the JRiver mediacenter find it?

srb · « **Reply #15 on:** 25 Apr 2011, 01:59 pm »

Quote from: rtate on 25 Apr 2011, 01:57 pm

eclein, as stated in my earlier post I have used Asio with Foobar and XP.....
My question will it work with JRiver, sorry for the confusion...

I assume ASIO would be automatically installed on an XP install, as JRiver Media Center installed both ASIO and WASAPI on my Windows 7 installation (although I would think WASAPI wouldn't get installed when running the installation on XP). It should then be available to choose under Audio Options.

The trial download is a 31-day full-function install, so you should quickly be able to determine everything you want to know.

Steve

rtate · « **Reply #16 on:** 25 Apr 2011, 03:19 pm »

Thanks Steve, I know that when I installed Foobar I had to download and install the Asio4all plug in and install it in the Foobar directory which I thought was more difficult that it needed to be....

srb · « **Reply #17 on:** 25 Apr 2011, 03:28 pm »

Quote from: rtate on 25 Apr 2011, 03:19 pm

Thanks Steve, I know that when I installed Foobar I had to download and install the Asio4all plug in and install it in the Foobar directory which I thought was more difficult that it needed to be....

Right, everything in Foobar seemed a little more difficult than it needed to be.

Steve

MerlinWerks · « **Reply #18 on:** 25 Apr 2011, 03:56 pm »

Quote from: rtate on 25 Apr 2011, 03:19 pm

Thanks Steve, I know that when I installed Foobar I had to download and install the Asio4all plug in and install it in the Foobar directory which I thought was more difficult that it needed to be....

JRMC supports ASIO but it does not include any ASIO drivers or emulation. So if your hardware does not have it's own ASIO drivers you will still need to download and install ASIO4ALL.

srb · « **Reply #19 on:** 25 Apr 2011, 04:05 pm »

Quote from: MerlinWerks on 25 Apr 2011, 03:56 pm

JRMC supports ASIO but it does not include any ASIO drivers or emulation. So if your hardware does not have it's own ASIO drivers you will still need to download and install ASIO4ALL.

I thought JRMC installed both, but it could have been it was just seeing a previously installed ASIO driver.

Steve