325xi;190301 Wrote:
It worth noticing that here lays the major difference between tcp/ip
audio data transfer SB implements, and isochronous USB used by USB
DACs. TCP/IP is asynchronous, so the very word jitter isn't applicable
to a path between a computer and SB, appears only in between SB
Since you guys brought it up, here is a little primer on USB audio.
All modes in the official USB audio spec use isochronous transfer, this
means the host is sending out packets to match a particular transfer
rate (44.1 48 etc), this bandwidth is reserved on the bus. There is no
handshake per
FLAC for quality better
_
http://kudapoyti.com.ua
--
Artem85
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jhm731;189831 Wrote:
325xi-
The Mac Mini isn't a laptop.
I haven't seen any published jitter specs for any Mac products other
Stereophile's test of the $129. Airport Express, which measured 258ps
using a Musical Fidelity X-DACV3 DAC verses their 321ps measurement for
the SB3.
I'll
325xi;190301 Wrote:
Isochronous USB act in a manner very similar to SPDIF, so you could have
jitter started on one stage earlier - already between PC and the DAC.
Hang on a minute USB also has an asynchronous mode, where the
receiver pulls the data from the sender. I had always assumed
cliveb;190304 Wrote:
Hang on a minute USB also has an asynchronous mode, where the
receiver pulls the data from the sender. I had always assumed that USB
DACs would use asynchronous mode, because it's the mode that makes
sense. You seem to be suggesting that they don't - can you confirm
325xi;190307 Wrote:
Yes, I can, but I'd suggest you to look even in this very forum to
confirm that. There's no audio chipset supporing asynchronous USB.
There are few custom solutions, such as Empirical Audio, but all the
USB DACs use what they have off the shelf - isochronous USB.
If the
cliveb;190323 Wrote:
If the right parts aren't available to build a device properly, then why
build it at all? (OK, I realise that if you can sell the damn things,
then that's a reason to make them, but from an engineering perspective
it's crazy). What am I missing here?
Exactly...
--
Thanks all. I just ordered my Squeezebox and I'll be starting this
adventure later this week. I realize that while I'm late to this party
it still isn't mainstream just yet.
The number of choices and options is tough to sort through. So I think
it's just best to start spending money and give
jhm731 wrote:
Robin Bowes;189863 Wrote:
My expectations are that you cannot say that one digital source
should be as good as another. I'm not in a position to say
whether one is better than the other or vice versa, but I certainly
wouldn't expect them to be the same. I believe that is a
jhm731 wrote:
I've never said all digital sources are the same, and they all work
just the same with all external dacs and every possible cable, both
coax and optical.
I said the Mac Mini's digital output should be atleast as good as the
SB3's digital out using a DAC like the Lavry, which
Robin Bowes;189863 Wrote:
My expectations are that you cannot say that one digital source
should
be as good as another. I'm not in a position to say whether one is
better than the other or vice versa, but I certainly wouldn't expect
them to be the same. I believe that is a more valid
jhm731;189931 Wrote:
You're right, I shouldn't expect the Mac Mini's and SB3's digital
outputs to sound exactly the same, so I'd like to revise the
expectation of my original suggestion to creativepart
Option one: Mac Mini's built in optical digital output to an external
DAC. Option two:
FLAC for quality, tagging and trouble-free streaming. Best thing since
sliced bread.
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bernt
http://www.last.fm/user/ottovonkopp/
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I would say given the level of your system you should be considering a
Transporter or SB/External DAC equivalent.
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The Smokester
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Thank you for your detailed help. I had not really considered all that a
Squeezebox could do. However, the only things that are important to me
at this time -- however that may change -- is the ability to use the
files on my Mac Mini with my stereo system AND to be able to access my
playlists,
The other player to consider is the Sonos system.. it does somethings
better than SB somethings not as well.
--
ErikM
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Apple DRM can be circumvented by burnig a CD and reimporting to Itunes.
If Itunes offers lossless in the future there would be no degradation
in SQ.
There are some software programs that will do this automatically.
You might want to listen to a Transporter before going with the SB, it
is one of
azinck3;189647 Wrote:
6. Do you care about anytime access to a central database of music that
you can access over the internet via slimserver?
Azinck3, could you please expand that line a bit more? I am still
exploring SB...
--
smarjan
smarjan;189754 Wrote:
Azinck3, could you please expand that line a bit more? I am still
exploring SB...
Slimserver is a server application that runs on your computer and does
2 things, primarily:
1) serve music/data to hardware players like the SB or transporter and
software players like
The thing I don't get is why anyone would want to buy DRM files
(lossless or not) from anywhere...It's certainly not something I will
ever do. I don't want music to be licensed to me - I want to own
it...and do anything with it that is legal / fair use.
--
Phil Leigh
creativepart;189638 Wrote:
I like the SQ concept, but with the Mac Mini I get a remote control and
iTunes and built in WiFi so I'm pretty set. With the AEX I could be up
and running off of iTunes in an hour or less using the AEX's internal
DAC.
With the Mac Mini you also get an optical
jhm731;189768 Wrote:
With the Mac Mini you also get an optical digital output which you can
plug directly into a external DAC. Buy a DAC, optical cable and a small
display for your Mac Mini and you're done.
Why do you think mere having optical out guarantees quality of that
mini sound card
When you get your Mac Mini, be sure to disable (under pref. in iTunes)
the sound candy such as eq, soundcheck and enhancer.
Under applications-utilities-find midi and see that 44.1kHz is
checked. Also, be sure that iTunes and the main Mini volume are set at
max, and use you pre-amp/receiver
A mate bought an airport express, only had it working for 1/2 hour or
so, and then put it back in the box. Apparently he could not live with
the sound it was producing. I did not listen and don't know exactly how
he set it up, so I'm afraid I can't comment on set up etc. After
further research
jhm731 wrote:
325xi;189770 Wrote:
Why do you think merely having optical out guarantees quality of that
mini sound card feeding that out?
Why do you think the SB's digital output would sound any better
than the Mac Mini's digital output? Have you compared them?
There are several reasons
jhm731;189791 Wrote:
Why do you think the SB's digital output would sound any better than the
Mac Mini's digital output? Have you compared them?
I don't state one is better then the other, but when someone tells me
he's going to use generic laptop soundcard I would be concerned, unless
I know
325xi-
The Mac Mini isn't a laptop.
I haven't seen any published jitter specs for any Mac products other
Stereophile's test of the $129. Airport Express, which measured 258ps
using a Musical Fidelity X-DACV3 DAC verses their 321ps measurement for
the SB3.
I'll bet the digital outputs on the
325xi;189770 Wrote:
Why do you think merely having optical out guarantees quality of that
mini sound card feeding that out?
Or the Airport Express, for that matter. This serious review of the
AEX digital out --
http://www.stereophile.com/budgetcomponents/505apple/ -- sounds upbeat,
but
I'm a newby and haven't purchased a Squeezebox yet, I need some
pre-purchase advice from folks that have been there before me.
I'm just getting into computer-based audio. I have good audio equipment
(Cary CDP, Unison Research Amp, VPI TT, Magneplanar Speakers, etc). I
bought a Mac Mini that
creativepart;189638 Wrote:
So, with all the knowledge that you guys have about these choices, which
way would you go? Would you say the SQ is really a good way to go at
this time -- or is it more of an even draw with the AEX knowing that
I'm using a Mac Mini
I appreciate your
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