[ajzepp]

The wireless part is the iPhone. There is an app called "remote", which logs onto the home network and is able to control iTunes wirelessly. You can also add something like an AppleTV or Apple Extreme box to other rooms and use the remote app to control those, as well. What I have been doing is just taking my laptop over and connecting it to the DAC when I want to listen to music, and then use the iPhone remote from the listening position. But Friday I'm taking delivery on a new laptop, so my current one will then become a dedicated music server.

I'm almost positive the same can be done with a NAS, but I have no experience with this.

The remote app on iTunes is far more stable than my Duet controller was, so to me I've upgraded at no cost. 

[WC]

I'm almost positive the same can be done with a NAS, but I have no experience with this.

You can store all your music files on a NAS, but you will still need to have a computer hooked up to the DAC for it all to work.

[wilbert-vanbakel]

I keep on debating which one to get

I got a bargain atom based nettop with 2 GB ram and 1 TB disk. It feeds a HRT Music Streamer II dac.
Remote control is on the iPhone.

In general you are more flexible with a computer (upgrade the dac to your desire), you can try with different software (Logitech Media Server / Musicpd, Windows, Linux) When you get a SB Touch, you basically lock yourself in to this hardware and brand.

[WC]

I got a bargain atom based nettop with 2 GB ram and 1 TB disk. It feeds a HRT Music Streamer II dac.
Remote control is on the iPhone.

In general you are more flexible with a computer (upgrade the dac to your desire), you can try with different software (Logitech Media Server / Musicpd, Windows, Linux) When you get a SB Touch, you basically lock yourself in to this hardware and brand.

I may end up with both. I asked for a SB touch for Christmas which will go in the upstairs system which only has an AVR and in wall speakers currently. After I get better speakers and a DAC I will hook up my netbook to the upstairs system and move the SB Touch downstairs where I can connect it to the AVR via digital and analog for the main and zone 2 speakers.

[wisnon]

The wireless part is the iPhone. There is an app called "remote", which logs onto the home network and is able to control iTunes wirelessly. You can also add something like an AppleTV or Apple Extreme box to other rooms and use the remote app to control those, as well. What I have been doing is just taking my laptop over and connecting it to the DAC when I want to listen to music, and then use the iPhone remote from the listening position. But Friday I'm taking delivery on a new laptop, so my current one will then become a dedicated music server.

I'm almost positive the same can be done with a NAS, but I have no experience with this.

The remote app on iTunes is far more stable than my Duet controller was, so to me I've upgraded at no cost. 

So really this is a wired solution, as the PC is hooked up to your DAC. The SB solution only has the receiver hooked up to the DAC and the NAS and Computer is far away and the music is wirelessly streamed from them to the music room. I also used a McBook air with a SSD directly connected, but ONLY for Hirez listening (thanks for the initiation Ted). Otherwise the Duet is SUPERB.

I dont know the MapleShade DDC, I use a Lindemann 24/192. It works well, but to switch to 192 from 96, you have to open it up and move jumpers.

[ajzepp]

So really this is a wired solution, as the PC is hooked up to your DAC. The SB solution only has the receiver hooked up to the DAC and the NAS and Computer is far away and the music s wirelessly streamed from them to the music room. I also used a McBook air with a SSD directly connected, but ONLY for Hirez listening (thanks for the initiation Ted). Otherwise the Duet is SUPERB.

I dont know the MapleShade DDC, I use a Lindemann 24/192. It works well, but to switch to 192 from 96, you have toopen it up and move jumpers.

It's wireless as far as I'm concerned lol. Only thing in my hand is my iPhone. If I want to add other rooms, I just pick up an AppleTV or AirportExpress module.

[Saturn94]

This is the product I've fallen in love with : http://shop.mapleshadestore.com/prodinfo.asp?number=USBADAPTER-CL

The internals are identical to an Italian made adapter, which is (from my research) considered the best on the planet...and then Mapleshade fabricates the outer covering for it (they love their maple!). It's a fantastic piece of gear.

I have that "Italian made adapter" and think it sounds terrific.

My setup is pretty simple.  I connect the adapter to my laptop (all my music is on my laptop's HD) and to my processor (Anthem AVM20) via digital coax.  I'm using Foobar2000 for the player and can surf the net while listening to music.

Maybe someday I'll try wireless, but everytime I look into it, it seems overly complicated with many potential issues and I just get confused.  Keep in mind I'm a complete amateur when it comes to computers.

[mhconley]

I thought I'd chime in here as I am in the process of putting together a direct from PC "wireless" audio system next to my Touch and I'm doing it on a tight budget.

I purchased a Citypulse DA7.2x II 24/192 DAC/pre with the TCXO clock upgrade and I think it sounds very nice playing via coax off the Touch.  I like the sound better than the Touch's analog outputs.  Seems to have a bigger soundstage, more "air", punchier bass and an overall more pleasing sound.

I also purchased and am awaiting a Musiland 01 USD 24/192 USB -> S/PDIF converter.  (Like the "Italian made adaptor" at 1/3 the price.)  I'll use it to feed the DAC directly from my PC.  I plan to start with a longish S/PDIF cable until I build or pick-up a silent PC for use in my stereo.

I use foobar and now mgalusha's FLAC -> Wav loader tool.  The wireless component is foobar controller for Android.  I run it on my HTC Evo 3D.  It's pretty neat.

I'll be post updates once everything is in place.

Martin

[michaelhigh]

You're very welcome Ed. Glad I could help. 
Although I've been getting increasingly frustrated with "all things Squeeze".
I'm running a BOLDER modded SB3 (Love the sound quality!) and a stock Duet, but the UI just .......BLOWS. Too glitchy and buggy.

Have been contemplating selling the SB3 and Duet and going PC.

Bob

I see posts like this and I hesitate doing any more adjusting to my computer audio. Even without outboard DAC's my rig sounds great, I have no SB Touch although I have seriously considered it. My PC generates no unpleasant sound levels from the fan or otherwise, and my rig sounds as good as I could imagine, with redbooks and hirez.

[ajzepp]

I have that "Italian made adapter" and think it sounds terrific.

Nice     I don't profess to understand it all, not even close, but based on what I've read and after talking with some people who have very impressive backgrounds, I'm convinced that that little Italian gadget is pure brilliance. I've had it for close to a year now I think, and I love it...it's one of the links in the chain that have really allowed me to love listening to music again, and it works like a charm. I put a high premium on things "working like a charm", especially after my experience with the Squeezebox Duet! 

[ajzepp]

I see posts like this and I hesitate doing any more adjusting to my computer audio. Even without outboard DAC's my rig sounds great, I have no SB Touch although I have seriously considered it. My PC generates no unpleasant sound levels from the fan or otherwise, and my rig sounds as good as I could imagine, with redbooks and hirez.

I know that Bob and I both sort of vented about our frustrations with the Squeezebox products, but from what I hear they are much better these days. I'm pretty sure they have a return policy so don't let us deter you if you're still wanting to tinker and discover things. For the record, I LOVED my Squeezebox for the first year. It's just that things went downhill from there and all the enjoyment it had given me initially was subsequently sucked right back out lol. But I would never want to deter anyone from trying one for themselves 

[JLM]

My RWA modded SB3 fustrated me so badly I went back to a CDP.

What do you guys do for non-audio formats (would someday like to be able to have a simple/cheaper "high end" audio/HT system.  In my mind, a current Oppo solves this very well and frankly makes all the computer technology look quite clunky.

I'm so old, I still think CD is a wonderful, almost magical convenience (compared to vinyl) and don't mind getting off my old butt to change disks.

[Martyn]

I have an SB3 and a Touch - both using Ethernet -  and an SB Radio that I run wirelessly. The SB3 and Touch have both worked flawlessly for several years. The SB Radio was a continual source of frustration until I complained to Logitech; to their credit, they shipped me a new one which has behaved very well.

A point on the Touch which has not yet been mentioned: the display is very nice, but it's hard to read from across the room. Thus the Touch makes good sense when it's located close to you, but this could mean long cable runs to your DAC or amplifier unless you have eyes like a hawk. Put another way, it's called the Touch for a reason! If you want to have an SB on your equipment rack, you might do better with an SB3; the display is not as sexy, but you can read it from across the street!

[charmerci]

My setup is simply a laptop with an audio player/FLAC or WAV files (with an external HD for backup) > USB DAC > RCA output-pre-amp >.... . Simple. Good sound. Easy.

(In my case, dirt cheap until I can afford better pre-amp/amp/speakers.)

[neekomax]

Here's my solution to digital audio:

Airtunes/iTunes streaming from a Mac, iPad, or iPhone + Apple TV -> Toslink -> Hifi =
Flawless performance, mucho convenience and wireless freedom.

Airtunes on the iPad and iPhone also streams Spotify and lots of other services, which makes it fantastic, because you have access to pretty much any music in the world. Unbelievable synergy between these various devices and technologies, one of the best things about the Apple ecosystem.

iPad is $499, Apple TV is $99. Add a Toslink cable ($5) and a Spotify premium account ($10/ month), and you're good to go listen to 20 million tracks at will, through your best gear. Plus you have the best tablet around, and access to all kinds of video content with the Apple TV. 

 

[jk@home]

I do the PC/Squeezebox/DAC thing. I find the easiest way to access the music is directly from the Media Server web control, using a display and mouse at the listening position.

Also this way I can mount the SB ("Classic" in my system) in an equipment closet on the front wall, not worry about it being in view. In my case I have a bookcase/desk and wheeled chair on the back wall, makes it easy. The display is on a swivel, so I can move it away if I feel it necessary.

For a little more cash, one can locate the PC in another room, and use a USB KVM extender to have a (quiet) display, keyboard, and mouse at the listening room. That way you can surf while the tunes play. 

http://www.belkin.com/IWCatProductPage.process?Product_Id=393986

PS, a little web shopping will get you a better price than the one shown in the link.

[srb]

Airtunes/iTunes streaming from a Mac, iPad, or iPhone + Apple TV -> Toslink -> Hifi = Flawless performance, mucho convenience and wireless freedom.

Good performance, but not flawless performance in that the Apple TV2 resamples 44.1KHz to 48KHz whereas the Airport Express or original Apple TV do not.  Perhaps a small distinction, but I would prefer my 16/44.1 files to remain unprocessed and bit perfect.
 
Steve

[AmpDesigner333]

I do the PC to 802.11g to SB Touch to D/A (balanced out plus volume control) to Cherry MONO ULTRA pair thing......

I use Squeemote on the iPod Touch and iPad but have had countless problems getting the server connection to work reliably.  When it does work, I can play tracks from anywhere, including lossless, my preferred rip format.

There's constantly an issue with which server and selecting the library on the SB Touch.  I have several computers serving music, and that seems to be the problem.  I even have some compressed tracks (yuck, but for some stuff it's ok) on iTunes and moving my music between devices is painful.  Lately, ripping CDs on iTunes and putting them in a playlist with lossless seems to work but I haven't negotiated how to back this stuff up just yet.  Sometimes I just break down and play the damn CD.  Now I'm getting more into high res tracks and the issues are just getting worse....

-Tommy O
 

[lcrim]

I have 2 systems in a small condo, one in my living room and one in my bedroom upstairs.  The music server is in the upstairs laundry/bathroom.  There is an internet connection (comcast cable modem) and a wireless broadband router in the kitchen.  There is also an older broadband wireless router in the laundry room that connects wirelessly only to the kitchen wireless router.  Wired connections run a short distance from both routers to the Bolder analog modded SqueezeBox Touches in each system.(also Netflix wired connections to each router.) So all audio and video connections are wired for performance reasons.  The two Touch have linear, regulated power supplies which were purchased for an earlier SB3 in those locations and have ben updated several times.  The music server was recently updated to an almost new netbook and the music files are flac stored on USB drives (active and backup.)  All flac is converted to PCM @ the server before being sent to the Touch.  All the Soundcheck 3.0 TT are installed- a huge addition.  The screen and IR on each Touch (which are Alsa based computers) have been disabled by 3.0 TT
I always have a laptop w/ a wifi connection nearby and keep a browser page open to the Logitech Media Server,which gives complete control over playback.
Larry
BTW: I find the SqueezeBox software at least as reliable and trouble free as any software I've ever used. 

[Levi]

It looks like most people use PC/Mac to play music through SB Touch.

I use a simpler solution.  I use 1TB HDD connected to my SB Touch. No need for PC. 

I also have Soundchecks mods and a linear powersupply with the Touch connected to the EE DAC.

Anybody using an external HDD?