Quote:
You don't really need the hardware. You can get the server software for free. Run ipeng on an ipad ($10) or iphone ($5) and activate the player software. Run that into a Pure i20 into a DAC and you're there.
Tried that. It almost worked ok, but the trouble was on iPod Touch 4 had frequent periodic clicking, iPod Touch 3 had periodic severe clicking & skipping. Pure informed me it's an Apple problem. There's a known solution that works in iPhones (a hard reboot of the iPhone), but that solution never worked well on either of my iPod Touches. The Squeezebox saved me from that nightmare. Also, the SQ is better...I think that Pure dock, or the iPod USB interface in general has
serious jitter issues. Not a problem for an ~$1k+ DAC with reclocking, but a nightmare otherwise. iPeng works great when using the iPod directly (headphone out, LOD for use with my E11, etc), but the USB interface to the Pure and presumably other digital docks has issues. It should be fine for Phone owners, but I'm unsure about Touch owners.
Quote:
Actually that device has existed for several years. I have had the Squeezebox Radio branded one for awhile, it is great on the bedside. However that UE rebranded version has a crippled firmware that makes it not work with the Squeezebox systems
.
Also WHY would you want stereo on a bedside radio? You do not get stereo seperation if the speakers are less than a foot apart and you are more than 5 feet away. I would rather have one GOOD speaker than 2 half as good speakers. Now the Radio does not replace the Touch of course, not meant to. Just wish Logitech would get there heads out of there rear and not continue screwing up a great music system.
Yeah, I love the Touch....there's no other device out there that does what it and its software backend does. But without that software backend, and the touch as it presently exists, and the nightmare that getting a NEW server software onto a NAS platform will be, it seems much less viable than it was
Nothing else handles large libraries like Squeezecenter.
To "ween" myself away from it I'll be getting a DLNA/uPnP streamer to get y uPnP server in order on the NAS side of things. Good bye syncing, excellent control/interface, and visible album art! I'm not sure how we got to the point that all devices are assumed to be controlled exclusively with an iPhone and nothing else. Most "streaming" devices other than the SBT seem to assume you have an Apple device lying around doing nothing other than acting as a remote control.
Quote:
Me neither, I just haven't found any alternative to my mini PC . all I found are some very hi - end -priced media steamer/servers which won't offer any sonic improvement to what I have. A silent mini-pc, plus some good media software, and you will have to think "its a pc/mac" to really be bothered.
Trouble is a good silent mini PC isn't an "off the shelf solution" and configuring the sound (WSAPI/ASIO) etc is a painstaking process. And then you're back to needing an Apple or Android device to control it unless you set up a monitor and keyboard at your audio rig.