Music Streamer

[navin advani]

Re: Media player buying confusion

SBT has a IR remote and the display size is big enough to allow you to read songs names etc]

the way I believe it work is that the device can be wired to your AVR or Integrated amplifier via digital coax or RCA also via Ethernet to the Internet. If this is true then you cannot carry the device with you to your seat and all you have is the IR remote.

With a media streamer like the NAD C446, Marantz 7004 or Cambridge Audio Streamer 6 you can use your iPhone, iPod touch or iPad as the remote control. My understanding is that the media streamer mentioned above would transmit the playlists, artists, albums, etc to your iDevice so you can use your iDevice to browse through any hard disk (either internal or connected via USB) that is attached to the media player.

The Oppo devices for some reason are only for sale in the US markets. Any idea why? Is its technical reason? Licence?

 

[haisaikat]

Re: Media player buying confusion

the way I believe it work is that the device can be wired to your AVR or Integrated amplifier via digital coax or RCA also via Ethernet to the Internet. If this is true then you cannot carry the device with you to your seat and all you have is the IR remote.

With a media streamer like the NAD C446, Marantz 7004 or Cambridge Audio Streamer 6 you can use your iPhone, iPod touch or iPad as the remote control. My understanding is that the media streamer mentioned above would transmit the playlists, artists, albums, etc to your iDevice so you can use your iDevice to browse through any hard disk (either internal or connected via USB) that is attached to the media player.

The Oppo devices for some reason are only for sale in the US markets. Any idea why? Is its technical reason? Licence?

Hi Navin, There are some oppo resellers in India, check this thread http://www.hifivision.com/blu-ray-dvd-players-dvd-hard-disk-recorders/25821-oppo-dealer.html

Regarding using your mobile / tablet, yes there are apps for iphone and andriod

https://play.google.com/store/apps/...EsImNvbS5sb2dpdGVjaC5zcXVlZXplYm94cmVtb3RlIl0.

App Store - Logitech Squeezebox Controller

 

[navin advani]

Re: Media player buying confusion

Hi Navin, There are some oppo resellers in India, check this thread http://www.hifivision.com/blu-ray-dvd-players-dvd-hard-disk-recorders/25821-oppo-dealer.html

App Store - Logitech Squeezebox Controller

Thanks. Never knew there was an app for the SBT. Also never knew "Lo-Krazy" was selling Oppo.

BTW with regards to the NAD, Cambridge, and Marantz media streamers mentioned above can their USB ports (especially the rear port) accept a USB hard drive like a WD passport? NAD only mentions USB thumb drive. USB hard drive demand a lot more power than thumb drives. Can one keep the hard drive permanently connected to the media streamer?

 

[haisaikat]

Re: Media player buying confusion

Thanks. Never knew there was an app for the SBT. Also never knew "Lo-Krazy" was selling Oppo.

BTW with regards to the NAD, Cambridge, and Marantz media streamers mentioned above can their USB ports (especially the rear port) accept a USB hard drive like a WD passport? NAD only mentions USB thumb drive. USB hard drive demand a lot more power than thumb drives. Can one keep the hard drive permanently connected to the media streamer?

Hi Navin, I checked some of the specs and it seems the NAD C446 does not support USB HDD (at least what it appears from whathifi reviews), but several others like Cambridge Audio Stream MAgic 6 does not support USB HDDs. SBT does support playback from HDD and that is why it is very VFM player in market today. I suggest you can go through this reading for some thoughts The Audiophile's Guide to Streaming Music | PCWorld

 

[Thad E Ginathom]

Re: Media player buying confusion

the way I believe it work is that the device can be wired to your AVR or Integrated amplifier via digital coax or RCA also via Ethernet to the Internet. If this is true then you cannot carry the device with you to your seat and all you have is the IR remote.

With a media streamer like the NAD C446, Marantz 7004 or Cambridge Audio Streamer 6 you can use your iPhone, iPod touch or iPad as the remote control. My understanding is that the media streamer mentioned above would transmit the playlists, artists, albums, etc to your iDevice so you can use your iDevice to browse through any hard disk (either internal or connected via USB) that is attached to the media player.

Yes, a Squeezebox has to be wired to your amplifier, either direct or via an external DAC. Ultimately, that is going to be true for anything. It's prime purpose is wireless connection to internet or a computer containing your library and running the Squeezeserver software. What's wrong with having the remote to take to your seat. That's what remotes are for?

If you prefer phones or tablets, an Android device can be used to remote-control Squeezebox devices. There is even an app to use it as a squeezebox player. I don't know anything about iStuff, but I'd be surprised if it is not covered. This works via wireless networking (as does the SB Duet's remote) so you do not even have to be in the same room.

 

[navin advani]

Re: Media player buying confusion

?..but several others like Cambridge Audio Stream MAgic 6 does not support USB HDDs. SBT does support playback from HDD and that is why it is very VFM player in market today. I suggest you can go through this reading for some thoughts

According to the Cambridge Audio site their product does support Hard drives.

Yes SBT seems to be a nice value player. Now that I know it is iPad compatible it adds a whole new dimension.

Thanks for the link. I am familiar with EAC, LAME, WavPack, FLAC, etc. in fact there was a product called Wack that allowed you to make multiple copies of your CDs using multiple ripping tools.

It's prime purpose is wireless connection to internet

What's wrong with having the remote to take to your seat. That's what remotes are for?

. This works via wireless networking (as does the SB Duet's remote) so you do not even have to be in the same room.

The more I hear about the SBT the more I like it. How decent is it's DAC? About as good as a basic Marantz, NAD, or other such 200 CD player? I assume an external DAC can be used. What does the Transporter offer beyond the SBT?

My arguments about remotes was that given the large libraries stored on Hard disks one needs a remote that has a screen so one can search playlists, artists, albums etc from one's seat. IDevices make very good remotes.

 

[Thad E Ginathom]

Now that I know it is iPad compatible

Please check this! So far, I am only making an assumption because I know squeezeboxes work with Android!

There's also an If-I-remember-correctly on this:

--- The Logitech squeezebox control software for Android is free from Logitech.

--- The Squeezebox player software is independently developed, and I think it is a charged app. Pretty cheap anyway.

The Logitech squeezebox server software is freely available from them. You can always get a taste of the SB look and feel by installing it on a wireless-networked PC and using the phone player software. At least, for android: again, don't know about iStuff.

I have a duet: it sounds fine to me. General assessment is that the Touch sounds better. The Transporter is aimed at the high end with a price to match. I don't think I've ever seen it reviewed, or maybe I didn't bother to look: I'd certainly never be in the market for one. It has been around quite a while: perfectly possible that more recent lower priced models may have caught up, or that they would be as good used with a superior DAC

Squeezebox software is open source. The boxes run Linux. There is a big community: Squeezebox Forums.

 

[venkatcr]

Re: Media player buying confusion

The more I hear about the SBT the more I like it. How decent is it's DAC? About as good as a basic Marantz, NAD, or other such 200 CD player? I assume an external DAC can be used. What does the Transporter offer beyond the SBT?

My arguments about remotes was that given the large libraries stored on Hard disks one needs a remote that has a screen so one can search playlists, artists, albums etc from one's seat. IDevices make very good remotes.

Read these two Stereophile articles. Should give you a fair idea of the differences.

Slim Devices Squeezebox WiFi D/A processor | Stereophile.com
Slim Devices Transporter network music player | Stereophile.com

Regarding RC, I had mentioned in my first post that Logitech has a RC application for SBT for both Androids and Apple. Using any of these devices, you can view all the music files you have and choose the one you want to play. If you have the moolah, get an iPad, and you are all set.

Cheers

 

[navin advani]

Read these two Stereophile articles. Should give you a fair idea of the differences.

Slim Devices Squeezebox WiFi D/A processor | Stereophile.com
Slim Devices Transporter network music player | Stereophile.com

Regarding RC, I had mentioned in my first post that Logitech has a RC application for SBT for both Androids and Apple. Using any of these devices, you can view all the music files you have and choose the one you want to play. If you have the moolah, get an iPad, and you are all set.

I must have missed this in your first post. THe more I read the more I am hardening to the view that SBT is just about as good as anything under $500 (Pioneer NP50, Cambridge Stream Magic 6, Marantz 7004 etc). I'd be a fool not to try it.

I even considered the NeoHD from Yamaha but even this new product is not hard drive compatible. The SBT is. I believe the Marantz 7004 and Cambridge audio products might be the only other products under $1000 that offer this.

What about Pro-ject? http://box-designs.com/main.php?prod=streamboxds&cat=source&lang=en

At my age (read as poor ageing eyes) an iPad is almost essential. In fact I make most of my posts on this forum using one.

--- The Squeezebox player software is independently developed, and I think it is a charged app. Pretty cheap anyway.

The Logitech squeezebox server software is freely available from them. You can always get a taste of the SB look and feel by installing it on a wireless-networked PC and using the phone player software. At least, for android: again, don't know about iStuff.

Squeezebox software is open source. The boxes run Linux. There is a big community: Squeezebox Forums.

The things that attracted me towards the Transporter were visual (a) the format - I like rack style components (b) those nice VU meters (old school with a new school twist). I really wish I could get one just to compare head on head against the SBT.

But at the price of the Transporter this Oppo 95 makes more sense.
http://www.oppo-bluray.co.uk/UserFiles/Docs/PDF/HiFi_News_May_2012.pdf

 

[Thad E Ginathom]

Re: Media player buying confusion

Read these two Stereophile articles. Should give you a fair idea of the differences.

Slim Devices Squeezebox WiFi D/A processor | Stereophile.com
Slim Devices Transporter network music player | Stereophile.com

Wow, there is a lot more to the Transporter than I thought!

Except that there isn't, as it seems to have been discontinued :sad:

There are one or two people there that think that, if one can be picked up at a good price, it might even appreciate in value!

 

[GeorgeO]

The Transporter a very pricey alternative.

 

[navin advani]

The Transporter a very pricey alternative.

I agree, it does not have USB input either. I think the SBT, Marantz 7004, Pro-ject box, Cambridge Stream Magic 6, and Oppo 95 would be some of the obvious choices based on the budget. Any others worth considering?

They must accept FLAC via a USB hard disk
They must be iPod touch, iPhone, iPad controllable
They must have a DAC that can compete with that used by a CD player in their price point
Wifi and Ethernet would be great

 

[GeorgeO]

Popcorn Hour products.

 

[navin advani]

Popcorn Hour products.

The C-300 (to be released later this month) looks like a category killer.

It has HDMI out, Coax out, Component Video out (oh yes it also has some legacy outputs like S-video, Composite, Toslink etc..) as well 4 USB (2 rear, 2 front) and both ethernet and wifi (via an optional PCI Wifi N (MN-200) card).

However I dont see movie-streaming apps like Netflix or iPlayer and the Blu-ray player is not region free (the A-300 might be a nicer bet) not that someone like me needs either.

 

[GeorgeO]

My PCH is a good product-recommended. Mine is an A 200 (IIRC). The entry level models dont have a display, which is a problem if you dont want to fire up your projector to listen to music.

 

[haisaikat]

The only plus of Popcorn Hour products (higher models) is their LCD display that give you the capability to keep your tv turned off for listening / selecting music.

But if LCd screen is not what you desire then building HTPC in the same price as popcorn hour players would be cheaper and that too with 3D which popcorn hour does not (C300?? sorry couldnot verify for this).

 

[navin advani]

The only plus of Popcorn Hour products (higher models) is their LCD display.

My PCH is a good product-recommended. Mine is an A 200 (IIRC). The entry level models dont have a display,

If the Popcorn Hour can communicate to an iPhone, iPod Touch or iPad you can use the screen on the iDevice na? I mean who want so squint a 4" screen from across the room (which was the point I was making with the SBT) when your iDevice can do this in your hand.

 

[haisaikat]

If I do not have a iXXX device then? I did check though on ebay cheap wifi android tabs sell for 3.5K INR

 

[anm]

have decided for the time being (actually status quo)

1. buy NAD mdc dac for C375 for ~15k. It has optical and USB (I don't need no damn usb! I needed a coax)
2. CD spinning - NAD CDP with analog out. Backup - BR player
3. buy a video media player - a dedicated media player that can play ISO etc.
4. audio media player - appletv - optical out to NAD mdc dac. Fabulous interface on ipad, need not switch on TV/ projector, have local hard disk attached. It also has bit-perfect digital out on optical out. Does NOT support high rez, but most music I listen to is on CD.

 

[anm]

duplicate post