The first time I heard a squeezebox music server was about a month ago side by side with an Eastern Electric tube cdp. Well, I own a Jolida tube cdp and when considering the options of what to buy, the Eastern Electric was well liked by it's owners and critics.

I was very impressed with the sound quality of the squeezebox.........in fact, we all agreed that it sounded better than the Eastern Electric!!

.........My two cents.

Interesting you should bring this up.  I am in the process of designing a new server targeted at the vinyl loving, computer hating audiophile.  The goal is a silent box running Linux from flash memory with an LCD screen on the front to allow selecting playlists and providing similar information as a CD player.  Remote controllable, hopefully.  The first version should be good to 4 channels of 24/96.  If I can make this work I'll try to go for surround up to 24/192.  Of course, I am only going to record to 24/176.4 for compatibility purposes, but what the heck.

A monitor, keyboard, and mouse would be needed for ripping and similar tasks, but not for general use.  As I am targeting a pico ITX motherboard the whole thing should fit in one hand nicely.

Big job, but this may be the time.  I don't expect to make any money off this, but it will be another fun venture.  I really got to find an adequate appliance to deliver the recordings I WANT to make.  It does not exist, so...

Dave

Mallette:

Interesting you should bring this up.  I am in the process of designing a new server targeted at the vinyl loving, computer hating audiophile.  The goal is a silent box running Linux from flash memory with an LCD screen on the front to allow selecting playlists and providing similar information as a CD player.  Remote controllable, hopefully.  The first version should be good to 4 channels of 24/96.  If I can make this work I'll try to go for surround up to 24/192.  Of course, I am only going to record to 24/176.4 for compatibility purposes, but what the heck.

A monitor, keyboard, and mouse would be needed for ripping and similar tasks, but not for general use.  As I am targeting a pico ITX motherboard the whole thing should fit in one hand nicely.

Big job, but this may be the time.  I don't expect to make any money off this, but it will be another fun venture.  I really got to find an adequate appliance to deliver the recordings I WANT to make.  It does not exist, so...

Dave

Interesting Mallette.

Looking at your original post, you mentioned "What is your impression of digital music?"  In my opinion, few audiophiles have really heard digital music to any significant degree.  Most are exposed only to commercial CDs or the occasional SACD or DVD-A.  High resolution digital is a different ballgame. 

I would just like more audiophiles to experience and I am tired of waiting on the univeral player.

Dave

Mallette:

A monitor, keyboard, and mouse would be needed for ripping and similar tasks, but not for general use.  As I am targeting a pico ITX motherboard the whole thing should fit in one hand nicely.

Larry

Larry, take a look in your listening room.  I am sure you will find those items.

As for the link that's what I am working on.

Dave

Mallette:

Larry, take a look in your listening room.  I am sure you will find those items.

I've tried posting this question before, and for me the communications add up to ships passing in the night.  I do have a DAC, FWIW, though I think it's limited to redbook CD playback.

Larry

The machine I am working on will have the ability to record.  I am designing it to handle ripping CD's, downloading high res files like I make and are available from a few sources like Linn, as well as to record from analog sources.  A CD happy individual will be able to use it just to rip and serve up CD's, as well as for high res digital.  The vinyl lover who is willing to follow a screen picture by screen picture tutorial will be able to record vinyl to high res digital.  As I mentioned, some of these operations will require a keyboard, mouse, and monitor.  But for playback none of the above will be necessary.  It is my assumption that those wishing to preserve and have easy access to precious analog sources will be will to bring these items to the listening room to transfer.  Maybe we can eliminate them from the MBS-7...but not right now.  I am simply pleased that it appears possible to do this with an all solid state unit, no moving parts other than a 2.5" HDD for media storage (the OS will reside on compact flash), and no Windoze!!!!!! 

This is not something I expect to have working next month.  It is just barely possible and I am not a super nerd.  Just an audio freak with a streak of geek.  I also don't have a lot of spare coin to throw at it.  However, I may have a basic prototype in two or three months. 

If I can make the basic unit perform, I'll look into the possibility of super audiphile levels using Card Deluxe or similar extreme quality DACs. 

I'll keep you informed.  Right now it's just vaporware on a spreadsheet and in my brain...but I am working on it. 

Dave

Thanks, I'll be happy to hold tight until it gels for me.

P.S. my 70-lb. turntable is not bringable to another location.

By the way, while responding this evening I was listening to Pink Floyd from vinyl at 24/88.2 made with the MBS-5, vintage 2003 technology.  Still works pretty well, I must say.  Sure beats having to clean the record, risk damage, and then put more wear on it.  Plus, I am getting it all over the house from the central server.  Life is good in century 21.

Dave

Pyro,

Those were the two exact players I had in mind when I was shoppong around last year. I went, I listened & I liked but then I started looking into other possibilities. I really liked the idea of something a little more interactive and "fun" so I went with a Mac-Mini, a usb dac & storage. I have to say that it has been a very tedious job in ripping my 5-6,000 cd's but the closer I get the more I like the choice I made. I'll probably get a more high-end dac in the future but I swear this little Fubar II sounds to my ears just as good as the players I auditioned. It's great to be able to use tags to search for music/songs that meet a certain criteria. It's great to look at artwork using Front Row that's as big as LP artwork.I like it when friends come over, grab the remote control and ask about the music and the system. I just like it all.

synthfreek:

It's great to look at artwork using Front Row that's as big as LP artwork.I like it when friends come over, grab the remote control and ask about the music and the system. I just like it all.

http://www.olive.us/products/opus4.html?PHPSESSID=8390d8ef55136ec9ca7d12e1b07e5479

Interesting - very interesting.

Just as an aside the wife and I are building up to buying a couple of new laptops as ours are getting a bit long in the tooth.

I have narrowed it down to either a Toshiba or a Sony - both of which appear capable and offer what we are looking for.

Both also mention supporting "Hi Res" audio - but as yet I cannot find out what that means. I am hoping they will support 96/24 or better on the mother board - although if not I always have my USB Soundblaster Audigy 2 to fall back on - if I can find it.

If anyone happens to know such things the models in question are:

Sony VGN F231 and the Toshiba Sat P200D-120 we may well get one of each.

Anyway - I would really like to avoid having to connect the PC's directly to the system for PLAYBACK  as I think it would be a PITA - refcording is another story of course - but there I wonder how important the silent aspect would be?

I have been told there is a device called a Slingbox that will do what I want - although again I do not know if it supports hires audio.

Oh - one other thing - the inputs on these 2 PCs appear to be limited to a Mike in. Is that the equivalent of a Line in - I notice the soundblaster has both.