Anybody using network streaming music?
 

Thinking about setting something like this up using;

1) Sqeezebox duet

2) A dedicated hard drive that will be hard wired to a wireless router

3) Played through my Quad Hi Fi (and then also smaller systems in other rooms at a later date)

Any comments?

Before anybody says go to avforums, I'm a member there but just wanted some feed back from Sners ( also they sometimes talk a different language over there;) )

Go to AVForums Home ;)

I had a dedicated computer that was only used for ripping music & downloading music that was hardwired to a hub & then hardwired to various rooms within the house. Connected a source to this & pulled off the music from there. I got some contraption from ebuyer although i cant remember what i was called & this converted everything & let me listen to it.

Seems a bit complicated for what it was but it worked without any problems.

Next property when finished will be something along the squeezebox route so that its portable to a certain extent.

:thumb:

For the last year I've been running a Squeezebox over wireless, with both the software and music on an Infrant ReadyNAS NV+. The Squeezebox feeds a separate DAC via its coax output, which in turn connects to my amp. I have a second, wired Squeezebox which also sees occasional use in another room.

I've been very happy with the setup on the whole. The weak link is the NV+, which has a very slow CPU and that means the web interface is painfully slow. If you have a dedicated PC, or a better NAS, then you'll be fine. Even the NV+ can manage to serve FLAC music at over 1 Mbit/s to both Squeezeboxes simultaneously.

The DAC in the Squeezebox is quite highly regarded on the Slim Devices forum (http://forums.slimdevices.com/), though I don't rate it personally - I find the soundstage very flat and two-dimensional. That's why I use a separate DAC, and if you have a decent system then I'd recommend looking into one. If you can afford it, there's always the Transporter, but I went for the two-box route instead.

Thanks.

Andy, my Quad CD Player has a built in preamp and has digital optical input and so therefore the higher grade DAC in that will be used won't it?

Any idea of which high quality NAS I can use and how much?

Have I got the connections correct? ie NAS connects to router and can sit in any room and squeeze box connects to my CD player (preamp)?

Thanks

Sounds like you should be able to use the CD player as a DAC if it has an optical input - just run a TOSLINK cable between Squeezebox and CD, rather than using the Squeezebox's analogue outputs, and you'll be sorted.

The NAS connects to your wireless router, usually via an Ethernet cable. so they normally need to be in the same room as each other. I've not looked for over a year, but QNAP seemed highly regarded as a manufacturer. Just check that it can run the SlimServer software (or whatever they're calling it these days - I forget).

The Squeezebox has a wireless adapter built in, so it can go anywhere. Mine is perched on the subwoofer, next to the hi-fi rack, while the (noisy) NAS and wireless access point are well out of the way upstairs.

Thanks Andy. When you say the squeezebox can go anywhere because its wireless you're talking about its connectivity to the NAS aren't you? It still needs to be hardwired to the CD/preamp by the TOSLink right?

Also if I want to have music in other rooms (on different HiFis ie micro system in kitchen etc) I just buy another squeezebox and connect it there?

Thanks

That's right.

Yep :)

Deep you're such a consumer whore ;)

I'm trying to support this crumbling economy!:)

Deep, I'm in the middle of buying the gear to do this myself at the minute. I'll be going for a SB Duet with the main receiver tied to a Denon system in the dining room/living room.

I will then have another SB receiver and some powered speakers in the kitchen/conservatory with all music coming from a NAS.

Problem is finding a NAS that can run the new SB server software. There was a post on AVF earlier from the Duet distributors in the UK but its been deleted now :(

He was reckoning that Windows Home Server is the way forward over a NAS.

If you have a NAS already, it's probably cheaper to pick up a s/h laptop off Ebay and run the Slim software on that.

Oh no! I was the first responder to that thread. Do you remember the name of the NAS he recommended because he seemed to imply that the QNap (which I was thinking of buying) would not be powerful enough going forward

Can't remember what he said now, but he seemed to be saying that Windows Home Server was the way forward, and I think you asked what he meant but the thread was then vaped.

Not sure if he mentioned a NAS, or just to run WHS on a PC?

Have a look at Sonos Digital Music System to stream digital music wirelessly from PC to any speakers in your home not sure on your budget but it really is a great piece of kit. I have installed this for customers in a few locations and they all love it. you can have zones in different rooms and they all communicate wirelessly between themeselves. There is an amplified unit for use with external speakers or just a reciever that can use your existing equipment. You can also get a repeater to increase the coverage.The iPod style remote control is a great feature and t can play music off a NAS as well

Let me know if you want any more info about it as I know the system well.

No links to the company and I don't get any commission btw!!

I have the Sonos and its the dogs dangly bits, can stream straight from Napster (or similar) to any room in the house or pull music off any pc's in the house, you can also play music from a CD or any other source over it to any other room. I havent tried using it wireless as I have cabled my house up anyway.

But Sonos doesn't give you access to the 100s of internet radio stations that Squeeze box does and I'm sure is quite a bit more expensive without any other added benefit. Please correct me if I'm wrong!

Sonos is very nice, but the £699 price tag vs £280 for the duet is just way too much, plus the Sonos control is massive, and they have no plans to update the range for the next 10 years AFAIK :eek:

I think the Sonos was actually nearer to £900 before the Duet arrived.

The lack of net radio is poor as well, never realised the Sonos couldn't do that :(

The Sonos Can do net radio, and also take a Line input (for sky, dab etc) which can then be accessed through the system.

Sorry didn't realise Sonos had internet radio.

The only advantages I can see of the Sonos over the Duet are

1) It has a better DAC, but my main place of using it has my Quad system which will have an even better DAC.

2) Napster. I've never used this facility and so am not sure if its any good. Also I presume Napster files are MP3 rather than FLAC? If so then its a waste to have an expensive (by my standards) Hi Fi and then play compressed files through it.

Comments welcome as I'm only just beginning to understand this whole 'scene'

Actually I'm now edging towards the Sonos! Had a chat to one of the UKs biggest sellers of these and it seems this is a far more user friendly system, ie idiot proof for the likes of me.

Cost for 1 zone player, 1 bridge (for wireless capability) 1controller and a 500 gbyte NAS is £657.

Deep, you can have a play with the Sonos demo on their website - Sonos Digital Music System to stream digital music wirelessly from PC to any speakers in your home

It is an excellent system, but just too expensive IMO for the amount of time I would use it, especially after buying powered speakers and a NAS as well, I'd be looking at well over £1k just to play the odd tune or two in the kitchen, or at parties.

Mind you, life is short and you cant take it with you ;)

DW, its mainly for listening on my HiFi rather than around the house. For me it would mean instant access to all my music at the touch of a button rather than fiddling around with 100s of CDs, most of which are in the wrong covers and sometimes I don't know what I fancy listening to. So with the Sonus I can flick through a list and remind myself what music I own.

It also means I don't have to keep getting up off the sofa to change the CD, as sometimes there is only one track I want to listen to on an album

The Sonos system is great, if you can work an Ipod you can work Sonos. as for the Dac, if your listening to compressed music/internet radio Tbh a good dac will show more flaws in it, if you have full bandwidth Wav's as the source then it would be worth trying. If you wanted to go for the HIFI from pc then you would have to be looking at a RME Digital sound card then use its digi output to the Quad. but no multi room ;)

My hairdressers have a Sonos with Napster. They couldn't figure it out so I had a go on it. I was impressed. They claim to understand it now, but they'd probably be too embarassed to ask a second time!

Roku / pinnacle Soundbridge- does the job perfectly and only about £40!

Yes but it has no integration with Napster, no sync ability ( I know I said that wasn't important), and its not bit accurate from lossless files.
Not sure what the controller is like either.

The price is tempting, but I think thats for a reason

Damn, you've all got me onto the Sonos now and the Mrs OK'd it last night. ;)

Group buy?:)

I'm just looking into pricing Deep so I'll see what I can come up with. :)

I have an Xbox running XBMC and streaming (using a wireless bridge) from my main computer with all the music. Works well. Will also stream films, radio and tells me the weather :)