Squeezebox

[tony]

Got squeezebox during the week.Set it up this morning. Fantastic piece of kit. Internet radio thru the hifi. Acceptable enough performance for music library on the pc. Really functional kit for the price. Had some issues with tracks skittering which I think is resolved by downloading updated version of squeezebox server. It seems to get itself into a knot now and then and hangs but probably just novice user issues.
Have it connected wirelessly as struggled to connect by ethernet(using a cat5 cable maybe thats the problem)
Anyway highly recommended, thanks to all for the patient advice specially fran

[Ciaran]

Just a follow-up to my comments on the Squeezebox Touch: I did my comparison between the FLAC streamed through the Touch and the CD burned from the FLAC using a stand-in Transport while my dCS Verdi la Scala was off for repair. I could hear no readily discernible difference. When the Verdi returned the comparison was different: with the Verdi there was a thick juicy layer of fabulousness which just wasn't there with the Touch or the stand-in transport. I'm afraid I'm going to have to burn any FLACs I buy instead of storing them neatly on the PC!

[cybot]

Just a follow-up to my comments on the Squeezebox Touch: I did my comparison between the FLAC streamed through the Touch and the CD burned from the FLAC using a stand-in Transport while my dCS Verdi la Scala was off for repair. I could hear no readily discernible difference. When the Verdi returned the comparison was different: with the Verdi there was a thick juicy layer of fabulousness which just wasn't there with the Touch or the stand-in transport. I'm afraid I'm going to have to burn any FLACs I buy instead of storing them neatly on the PC!

Exactly :-)

[tony]

"When the Verdi returned the comparison was different: with the Verdi there was a thick juicy layer of fabulousness"

I think that sums up what the squeezebox brings. Versatility convience like an rdac or an ipod doc but it cant beat high end stuff. I think Ciaran you would be very upset if that was the case(So would all the high end manufacturers)

after having it for a number of weeks now I think as a radio option thru the hifi and quick access to acceptable quality music without having to go searching out the cd it is a fantastic piece of kit. But for a serious listen one has to turn to the scarletti(if only)

[jkeny]

Ciaran,
I'd love to do a comparison of my MK2 Hiface against the Verdi - would you be interested? I don't expect it to match the Verdi (€290 Vs €14,000) but wonder how close they might come to one another. I'm also interested in benchmarking my sound so if anybody is interested in doing a comparison against high-end gear, I'm game! Let me know.

[tony]

I'd like to here that as I would be very partial to a €290 upgrade if it got me to highend territory

[jkeny]

Ah well, Tony, I guess there's no interest in this type of trial even if I send out a review unit?

[Ivor]

I'm also interested in benchmarking my sound so if anybody is interested in doing a comparison against high-end gear, I'm game! Let me know.

You'll remember you had your prototype over at my house quite some time ago but at the time my system wasn't sounding it's best. Since then, with a bit of tube rolling/bedding in and isolation, it's improved somewhat. It would be interesting, and possibily depressing, to compare them now.
Sometime in January maybe?

[tony]

John I would be very interested in a review unit and I reckon a lot of the guys would be interested in it but as Ivors rightly states the weather and timing i preventing anything happening at the moment. Definitely interested in arranging something in the new year. Big problem for me at this moment is that we have sold our house and are all compressed into a small house but that will change I hope

[Ken Moreland]

Fair play to Ivor for rising to the challenge, it takes nerve to compare the Hiface to your exotic baby but if the Hiface proves to be better you can sell up and buy a great Dac , capable of hi-res material.
KM