Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion HiFi & HT Chat Moving to a Streaming Setup (A Bit of a Ramble, Sorry)

Please can someone direct the Sooloos database designers to this structure? It would improve Sooloos no end, to have My Library -> Classical or Non-classical as the first classification of library content, with subsequent menus pretty much as VK has suggested.

Or is the fact that Joel appears to be setting this up for himself, the result of shortcomings inherent in the commercial metadata databases which these applications seem to use? If those databases use the same fields for both classical and non-classical (ie. the same field would contain The Beatles for one (Beatles) CD and Mahler for another (Mahler) CD) then I really can't see how it is ever going to work.

Neil

Neil, I think the metadata is ok; it's just that composer is so much more relevant in classical music than in non-classical. The metadata is there to be interpreted...

Sorry - forgot to add, which might be relevant, that in my opinion the SQ of the analogue output of the MC200 into my second system sounds substantially better than the SB3.

With regard to metadata, I've bodged it for myself but the Erland structure sounds great.

@Dollar2 I didn't want to pull ethernet cable around my house so am using 200Mb/s homeplugs with my ID40 plugged into one and so far so good - no dropouts or freezes (both MC200 and TwinStore are hard wired with Cat6 into my switch which is directly connected to my router).

VK - I certainly agree that composer has much more relevance for classical CD's, and that is exactly the frustration I am facing, currently part-way through ripping an extensive classical collection.

You say that the metadata is there to be interpreted, but I fall into the camp of people who would rather not have to do that editing / interpretation myself!

If commercial metadata had The Beatles and Mahler listed in the same field, do you think a product like Sooloos could successfully differentiate these as non-classical and classical as part of the ripping process, and store the data into a database structure such as the one you describe, automatically?

This would mark a big improvement for me...

Neil

Hi Seeker,

I went through a rather circuitous route to end up where I am with my streaming set up. I learned a few points on the way.

1. Only the Sooloos WITH an ID40 or MS600 will give you SQ at least as good as spinning discs. The Sooloos without the extra M box is only marginally better than the alternatives mentioned here (in my case the Sonos) and appreciably less than spinning discs.

2. In spite of my fanaticism to get the best SQ, I preferred the significant reduction in SQ with my Sonos and NAS for the shear convenience, but in the long term I could not live with the compromise.

2. In hindsight I would have gone with the MC200 rather than the C15 for a substaintial cost saving and IMHO only marginal operating benefits.

Aloha,

Dolf, thanks for the reply. I admit I am confused though.

Are you saying that Sooloos into a 568 or direct to the DSP5000s will not sound as good as using the 500 as a source?

Why not? All my "Classical CD" virtual library does is simply filter all tracks on genre=classical. Not exactly hard!!!!

Edit: You don't need to store the tracks in a structure; you just have to apply quick filtering.

Well, that does sound very straightforward, I have to admit!

We just have to hope that the next release of Sooloos software implements these things...

Neil

Another suggestion is to use a USB stick with the Logitech Touch.
128GB can be had for $215. Saves on boxes and no need for any WiFi etc.
If you can fit what you need on 128GB that is. Works great for me.
My PC is the backup solution in case I want to play something not on the USB (never happens).

Simple answer yes, close but discernably not as good.

It was explained to me at the Bristol show that M was slow to get into servers because computers inherently generate more noise than spinners. It is only by adding an ID40 or MS600 that separates the music processing from the noisy computer functions that the SQ can equal that of a spinner.

My history is that I switched, from a G91 used as a spinner, upsampling into my G68, to a Sonos/NAS. I absolutely loved the convenience but in the long term could not accept the loss of SQ. I naively switched to the C15 to get my spinner SQ, but I was very disappointed that while the C15 was noticeably better than the Sonos, it was still less than � way of the gap to the G91.

To put my values on it: I heartily recommend a Sonos or SB or many other servers as they provide fantastic value for the money, as long as you are willing to accept a reduction in SQ. To me buying a Sooloos without an MS600 or ID40 is poor economy, like buying a Ferrari with a 2 tonne trailer attached. Sure it might be better than a Fiat (Sonos) but what a waste.

Aloha,

Assuming bit-perfect source, which isn't too difficult, there are a number of ways to reduce jitter and to keep away from the noisy environment that aren't Meridian (and less than �3.5k). There are a couple of ways to skin the cat. Storage can be a lot simpler outside the M system.

See what you can demo, let the ears decide.

Tintin

Yep, like the SB Transporter which is every bit as good as my G98 was with respect to SQ and considerbaly more reliable.