Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion Meridian - Systems I'm itching.. (Superior NAS Music Playback clients)

Bladelius Design Group


Linn Akurate DS


Apple Coverflow


But what am I going to do about it? Anyone compared the Linn to SB+ or transporter? is it easy to use? Can I stream from NAS directly?

Other viable options in the market with superior playback? M?

(Will edit with any mentions)

My NAS music library consists of:
WAV Lossless
WV Lossless
FLAC Lossless
APE Lossless
WMV Lossless
MP3

In 2-6 channels 16-24bit, 44.1Khz-192Khz

How about coverart? I'd like a fast simple GUI like an Apple iPhone with coverflow.

Suggestions?

Won't the new Squeezebox Duet Handset go some way to offering the type of remote that you require.

If you want the Apple style interface, can't you achieve that using an SB set in iTunes mode and use an iTouch for control?

My personal preference would be to base something around PC (or MAC) architecture as it will be easily upgraded, any of these upmarket streaming boxes (with HDDs) will eventually become out of date and very expensive to upgrade no doubt.

If you are feeding the digital stream into a Meridian piece of kit anyway then paying for a decent analogue stage within these units is also a waste of money (IMHO)

I've gone the SB route, and have several of them, each connected to different systems in the house. I'm yet to try a transporter though have heard an SB+ (and was very impressed), but again there is a lot oin the analogue side of the SB+ that I just don't need. Yes I know that there is a digital only version, but I can't get my head around whether it as actually better than what I have at present:-

SB3 with Linear PSU -> 518 -> 568.2

Mr Perceptive

The problem is (always) highdef multi-channel music...

I would not consider anything as "HIgh End" if it's an all in one unit.

You don't want to hear spinning HDD's. No matter how quiet it can't beat a two part system. That throws 3 bits out the window.

From what I understand the Bladelius unit uses FLASH or RAM to stage the entire song before playback, reclocks it and then plays it.

It loads the song from NAS. So no "spinning" HD need to be on during music listening.

You lot finally got to me and I googled around for info on the Squeezebox, etc.

It is not simple for the neophyte to understand this technology. Please don't laugh too much but I now understand that I need an SBwhatever or equivalent, a NAS of some description, a wireless network, possibly a broadband connection and it seems I need a PC too which sometimes has to be on. And all of it has to be set up to work together. Please tell me if I am missing anything.....

So today I went to a major central London hi-fi emporium of note and reputation and asked about music servers. After ten minutes of being treated like the customer in the famous Alas Smith and Jones sketch (UK reference) with all sorts of stuff about CD drives and you need a screen, etc. I eventually said "but I don't want to buy another piece of hi-fi, I want a music server with an SPDI/F output" and was sent packing towards the computer district with "you have an IT problem" ringing in my ears.

Now I was quite pleased with myself when I got my laptop making a noise through a �20 radioshack USB to SPDI/F converter into my system. But I really don't want to have to figure out how to put together a music server system from scratch using components - I do that cr*p for a living, at home I want simplicity.

So I too am in the market for a complete Meridian (or whoever) music server solution designed to work alongside my existing Meridian kit. I know understand why it must not be a one box solution. And I now understand what all the fuss is about.

So that's a "Yes, sold to the dummy with the chequebook in the corner".

In the meantime, can anyone point me at an idiot's guide to assembling an SB solution? Please? With sugar on top......

Your troubles dont stop their.....................

You have to rip your CD's to a lossless Codec such as FLAC. (Saves Space)
All very good, but then you need Music information so as you can find what you want on your SB.
This may be simple with MP3 but with FLAC, its a nightmare.
If you can live long enough to catalog it all, go for it!!

The Hardware side is easy, its the storage and cataloging that is the downfall to all but the Computer competant or time rich persistant.

Cheers, Chris

You can make a simple music server in the following manner.

1. Get a laptop. Even an old one will do.
2. Download and install Apple iTunes on the laptop.
3. Using iTunes, download a couple of songs from the iTunes Music Store and/or import a couple of CDs.
4. Put the laptop on or next to your rack and connect it to one of the digital inputs on your Meridian processor using your USB to SPDIF converter.
5. Select the appropriate input on you Meridian processor and play back your songs in iTunes.

Congratulations, you now have a music server.

My initial music server was a used IBM ThinkPad X24 ($175 on eBay) connected to a 400GB external hard drive connected to my Meridian 568.2MM through a USB to SPDIF converter. The laptop is small enough to sit unobtrusively on my right DSP5500. It worked great - and still does - although I now have the laptop connected to a dedicated PC serving as the music server over my wireless home network and to my Meridian 568.2MM via an Apple Airport Express. The tough part time-wise is ripping your CD collection to your hard drive AND BACKING IT UP.

I like the laptop/iTunes/Airport Express combination over the Squeezebox approach, but many here are Squeezebox fans. There is another system similar to the Squeezebox called Sonos. At least one person here uses it. You might want to look into it too. If money is no object, there is the Kalidescape system which I'm sure a custom installer will be happy to sell and service for you. Make sure you have at least one checkbook with you.

Good luck. Plenty of people here can help you.

Frank - Thanks. Well I basically did that but used Windows media player and Windows media Audio File without compression. Picked up all the cover art, etc. too.

So if I buy just an SB3 and load some software, the SB3 will access the ripped CDs via my wireless router? This seems too easy....

Chris, does lossless FLAC take up less space than lossless WMA? I am averaging 250mb/CD. Does the SB not pick up the catalogue data from the server?

Sorry if I am way off topic and off Meridian here - I'll shut up soon.

Hi, FLAC reduces WAV files by about 50% ish. But you lose the Data beyond a file name.
I have 3 programs I am playing with to try to get a useable library together.

We need a machine that you put a disc in. It Rips it Losslessly, Labels it properly and streams it. One day perhaps, but I aint holding my breath.

Cheers, Chris

My X24 is on my right DSP5500 and is my dedicated access to my iTunes library. It is wired directly to my home network as is the Airport Express which feeds the digital signal via Toslink to my 568.2MM. I have additional Airport Expresses connected to small powered speakers in my kitchen and home office. I can be listening to an album in my listening room while my wife is listening to a different one in the kitchen or the home office. She accesses the music server wirelessly with her laptop. Additional Airport Express and powered speakers are slated for the living room and bedroom.

My girlfriend rips her CDs into WMA lossless, they actually compress a bit better than my FLAC rips and there is no loss of meta data (song/writer info etc.).

Tommy: M's plan for HD Multichannel music will probably be Dolby TrueHD, no?
If they really wanted convenience they could have an audiovideo client sending decoded multichannel HD PCM streams through USB 2.0. Assuming they wanted a HD multichannel solution sooner rather than later...