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[Telephono]

Hi guys,

My wife and I are considering transferring all our CDs to a digital storage/playback device. We've been using our family laptop as a server for the past few weeks and it works great - if you use the battery. Once it's connected to an outlet it's just too noisy and we'd also like something dedicated only to music.

What are my choices, besides a PC (which I'd readily consider if someone could give me the lowdown on what stuff it should and shouldn't have.)?

My priorities are, in order of importance:

1. Cost - I don't want to spend 'n plaas se geld
2. Sound quality - it has to sound good (I'm using an EAD transport and DAC as digital source as present)
3. Storage capability - we'd like to store around 750 CDs immediately and more as they arrive
4. Appearance - it should look OK

I'd appreciate any input.

Thanks & have a good weekend!

Telephono
   

[Mervin]

Squeezebox into your DAC with a Intel Atom Processor PC (low power and noise)... depending on storage (1 terrabyte can save 2000 CDs easily)
Squeezebox should set you back R2,500.00, you have the DAC to improve the sound...

Check Rodney as well.. making the full step ahead on the PC thingy

[Telephono]

Thanks, Mervin.

What should I look at paying for a PC with all the bits and pieces I'll need?

Now the dumb questions:

Why do I need the Squeezebox when I can play the files directly from the PC?
What does the Squeezebox do exactly?

Thanks,

TP

[Mervin]

The Squeezebox can play any format you throw at it but the convenience factor is there streaming from a server (read PC) which is sitting elsewhere not making any noise in the room you listen in. 

Where are you located... I am in gauteng on the east rand and you are welcome to come and see the advantages streaming from a single machine to multiple rooms... need more than one but you can pick it up and connect to any other system

The way of selecting songs is also really really nice... Norval (sorry bud dragging you into this) also had a look at the Squeezebox classic in my bedroom and was impressed on the way you select songs using the remote and the speed and clarity of the files from the server.

[ghostinthemachine]

Have a look at Dell computers. Those usually are nice and quiet. You can also buy refurbished Dell machines. Their cases can be laid down flat.

[Rodney_gold]

I use a HP pavilion with 2tb external drive - but just about anything will do - I use the Squeezebox or Transporter as it effectively isolates the server or puter from the decoder - no jitter or other puter issues and it's wireless.
The cheap option is to use your existing laptop + a big hard drive and stick it back in the cupboard. With a wireless router and a squeezebox the server can be anywhere in the house where the noise wont be obtrusive.
The new and yet to be released Squeezebox touch might be an even better option as it has usb input for a HD and doesnt require a puter at all , feed it's reportedly very low jitter SPDIF into your dac.

[chipwelder]

I just want to know what can't the medi8er do that squeezebox and pc can? as a 1TB version goes for R4k at dion wired... 2TB R6K

Looks like a cool standalone option? Of course if you have a PC to spare already...

[Mervin]

Squeezebox is fully only for audio,however the RSS feed is a nice touch which shows news updates as a screensaver.
If it is for music only... Mede8er does not come close to the functionality of the SB

[Telephono]

Thanks for all the replies, guys. Mervin, I'm in Polokwane, so it'll be tough for me to check out your system - thanks very much for the invite though  .

One or two more questions, if you'll allow me.

1. If I decide to go the PC to Squeezebox route, what hardware (aside from lots of storage space) does the PC need to have? Do I need a fancy soundcard?

2. What kind of interface does the Squeezebox have, or will I use the PC's interface?

3. If I go for the Mede8er, will I need a PC? What makes the Squeezebox better than the Mede8er?

Thanks,

TP

 

[handsome]

The squeezebox is basically a wireless music player. It is a box that connects to your hifi like any other component and plays the music that is stored on your computer. Therefore the computer can be anywhere else in the house it does not have to be in the same room as the hifi - it just has to be switched on (or left on). you dont need a sound card as the squeezebox "takes" the music file from your pc via wireless and performs all the soundcard functions itself. pairing a squeezebox with a  DAC simply gives you better sound quality. the squeezebox can operated with just it's remote control (digital display allowing you to choose songs, albums etc) you do not have to go near the computer. All the hardware you will need is a computer, an appropriately sized hard drive (one CD is about 700Mb at highest quality) and a wireless network. You can get a USB router that looks like a memory stick and will perform all the wireless functions necessary.

[Mervin]

Ditto on the previous post. 

If it is for audio alone, I would skip the Mede8er as the Squeezeboxlends itself to playlists, gendre, artists, albums, etc, etc... where the mediator is good with movies but a pain to select (say 80s music) what you want to listen to.

With the mede8er you need a PC if you want to rip your CDs and DVDs but else PC is not required.

I have both the Mede8er and Squeezebox and the Mede8er does not feature at all listening to music.  Also what Rodney stated... Classic is a dream at the price.  THe Duet, you pay for the remote which has an accellerometer and fancy LCD display.  Mine went in for a replacement as the LCD started 'bleeding'.  waiting for stock.

[Telephono]

Thanks again for the informative replies - and apologies for my lack of tech-savvy 

So let's say I'm taking the plunge. I will buy:

1. A computer with at least 1 terrabyte of storage space and a CD-Rom drive
2. A wireless router
3. A Squeezebox Classic

What kind of cable do I need to connect the squeezebox to my DAC? RCA?

I was under the impression that the Squeezebox is connected to the PC via a cable of some sort. Seeing that it is wireless worries me a little.

1. Does it sound good? The only experience I have with wireless (audio) stuff is wireless headphones and they sounded absolutely dreadful.

2. Won't a standalone PC with a decent soundcard sound better?

It's plain as day that I'm tech-phobic, so please bear with me. Thanks again for everyone's patient and kind replies.

TP

[Hi-Phibian]

if one does want to go laptop and external dac I can recoomend the acer aspire one netbook, just from a whisper quiet fans and hdd.. its portability is awesome for surfing anywhere in the house. R4k 160 gb

[handsome]

the sound quality can be rather good on a squeezebox and even better with an external dac. it is wireless but it transports the entire file wirelessly to the squeezebox and on ly then does it perform the digital to analogue conversion. thus sound quality is down to the quality of your dac. Personally i would wait for the new squeezbox touch. it handles high rez files and has a lovely graphical interface but the price is yet to be seen. as to a wireless router i use one of these: http://www.sybaritic.co.za/store/product_info.php?products_id=12869 works perfectly for only R250

[Rodney_gold]

The wireless issue is a non issue as the SB has buffrs etc - all it does is wirelessly send data - not analog sound , the worst that can happen is stuttering if the wirelss network is lousy or there is some weak signal or interference which is highly unlikely.
You connect using SPDIF cable (75 ohm - like those video cables with yellow rca plugs)
My suggestion , if you have a LOT of cds to rip , is to buy 2 x usb external high speed drives and use em as well as your laptop internal simultaneously ... so you rip 3x cds at a go.
1 tb external will hold roughly 3000 cds ripped using FLAC.
A standalone with a soundcard is a waste - you would want it to output spdif to the dac and it would have to be close to the system , don't even go there,
Just about ANY old pc will handle the server side of things , so if you want to just use it as a ripper and a music server , you can go cheap 2nd hand running something like XP pro - low powered laptops running vista are problematic.
ripping is a pain in the butt , it can take as long as 20 mins a cd if you are paranoid and use secure modes etc - you can go a LOT faster if you use other modes , the thing is , it links to accurip and if you go fast , you will see iff the rips are accurate - depends on you whether you want analy ripped or speed.Good idea is if you have a kid is pay THEM R2 or so a cd to rip em anally so you dont have the pain in the butt of doing so