Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion Meridian - Systems Moving into downloading music which one to get??

I've found the Squeezeboxes only occasionally and minimally geeky to setup. Largely plug 'n play over my wireless network, but an occasional unplug/plug 'n play when there's a problem. One thing -- my SB2 has noticeably better wireless reception than my SB3. A recently installed repeater has helped. Also, the software is easy and cool in the way you can go multiroom w/the same or different songs, among many other functions.

A/Bing between my Apple Lossless files and the CD, I can hear no difference.

Can somebody pass on the link to the new remote? Does it take it into Sonos territory?

I have been happy with the AppleTV. I suggest waiting for MacWorld in a few weeks. Rumor is that they will be updating it with the ability to download movie rentals.

Hi Mikael,

Agreed....if you don't have a router to begin with then you have to get that sorted, but, generally that's not really to do with the SB3 as such. If you are OK doing that for a computer at home then that's about as geeky as you need to be.

Beyond that though, I think that the added features of Slimserver are really quite smart

e.g. streaming your songs from home to anywhere in the world via the net

e.g. streaming internet radio without the PC needing to be on

e.g. using Slimserver via my PDA

e.g. changing my wife's chosen songs whilst I'm at work...just for kicks

Last but not least I think they sound great, especiually when tweaked a bit.

http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=37856

Still under development but the potential new remotes look interesting and is apparently a high priority at Logitech.

Regarding wireless problems, I found my interference problems vanished when I switched channels (to 13). I also moved the cordless phone well out of the way. The only other problem I had with my SB3 was IP address conflicts which were solved by using static IP addresses.

Cliff

Thats was my point, the SB itself is simple yet powerfull, I listen a lot on radio, RadioIO Jazz was it today.

The only amount off "tweaking" i done is actually a carefull setupp off EAC my favored ripping application.
Nowdays I ripp my CD's while their spanking new, first spinn is in pc to ripp them.
I also did georges little test last year with the dts files to ensure that i have bit perfect transfer

I would have a hard time telling it apart from my G98 regarding soundquality I use the digital coax to my G68J. This is very stable I have never heard a pop or screach or any kind off disturbance. Our belowed M processor's do pop and squeek with some spdiff sources the Squeezebox is not one off them it locks perfect all the time, even when I powercyle it or uppdate firmware or reset something, network trouble only mutes it.

I'm very pleased with it for what it does and the price is very competitive.
For me it saved money as i did not have to invest in a decent tuner, DAB anyone ;-) forget that

/Mikael

Intresting idea a static IP adress does it improve things ?
I'm on ch6, you should aim at getting 5ch separation from the worst offenders as wifi ch tends to overlapp most off my neighbours is buzzing on ch11

Looking forward to using my SB3 that I just got for Christmas. I have a wireless router on the way to replace the router I have now. So what lossless format should I change my CD files too? Should I use Itunes? What is everyone using? I have EAC already.

Thanks,

Ron

Hi Ron,
If they are all .WAV already you can leave as that. For less bandwidth, you could run the .FLAC converter over them all to save some HDD and bandwidth.
Personally, if you already do EAC I'd stick with that and if you don't need i-Tunes, then stick with just Slimserver. YMMV
Check out Mark's post from a while back on getting the most from it all. It's been linked loads of times since.

Have fun

i use FLAC files http://flac.sourceforge.net/

FLAC is native to the SB3, which means that server load is lighter. You don't have to transcode on the fly in the server software.

Free Lossles Audio Codec, says it (i'm a fanboy)

I use FLAC front end or sometimes EAC which then is setupp to run FLAC in the background. You can point EAC to use your favorite encoder.

I think hydrogen audio has a lot of info on how to set upp EAC.

I use tag&rename to do proper tag's including cover art.Proper Tag's is very important otherwise everythings going to be a mess.
Even if slimserver is able to "gues" that info from filestructure and file name

There is a good wiki at slimserver forum methinks ? I think the slim forum will be your best resource for info on this.


As you already have EAC I will share this (this will look like mumbo jumbo to those who not use EAC sorry):

I found this naming scheme usefull when ripping to WAV (for further batch processing by FLAC front end):
%D - %C - %N - %T and for compillation albums (varius artist) %D - %C - %N - %T (%A).

I found this comandline options to be good when EAC is using FLAC:
-8 -V -T "artist=%a" -T "album=%g" -T "tracknumber=%n" -T "title=%t" -T "date=%y" -T "genre=%m" %s

use some form off ASPI or ASAPI interface, instead of Native Win32, rip in secure mode, configure your "read sample offset corecction". Consider using AccurateRip. End off EAC rant ;-)


You can use dBpoweramp or cdex to, so my ramblings don't represent anything but my pov, dBpoweramp has FLAC pluggs to. their is also a plethora of tagging applications mp3tag etc

I don't like itunes at all i think's it invasive in it's way off working it "takes over" my files creepy.
But if you like itunes and use it,slimserver or squeezecenter has itunes integration for you.

Offcourse all lossles formats will sound the same, use what makes sense for you.

As usual mr ncpl say's it with one sentence

Good info! Thanks!

Ron

Bebop,

i have used a SB3 and i am now using a sonos system.

from my experience, sonos was much much easier to set up.

the advantage for me is the sonos remote as my eyesight is rubbish and i cant see the sb3 screen from where i sit to listen to music.

sonos plays FLAC but not apple lossless.

i cant remember if sb3 does play apple lossless but i it does and you plan on getting an iPod the sb3 is the way to go.

personally i prefer sonos but thats just me.

cheers

john

The Sonos definitely plays Apple Lossless files and dynamically imports Songs, Playlists, Albums, Artwork etc., from iTunes

This means that iTunes can be used for Playlist Management etc. and the Sonos will automatically update its own Sonos index every 24 hours to include any changes

The Squeezbox will also replay Apple Lossless files.

Both the Sonos and Squeezbox will replay Apple, FLAC and WMA Lossless tracks