Squeezebox Touch!

cubdog
cubdog Posts: 835
edited October 2011 in 2 Channel Audio
I added a Squezebox Touch to my 2 channel system. I love it. Like getting an unlimited music library for practically nothing. The sound quality is great, much better than I expected. The remote is a little weak but can be upgraded. Great system.

cubdog
Shuguang Classic S8MK
Emotiva XDA-2
Bel Canto M300 mono blocks
Bel Canto DAC 1.5
Squeezebox Touch
Sony SS-M7
A/D/S L710
Post edited by cubdog on
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Comments

  • polkfarmboy
    polkfarmboy Posts: 5,703
    edited October 2011
    Nice mono's

    I love my sqb
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  • Toolfan66
    Toolfan66 Posts: 17,243
    edited October 2011
    Whats up with the rocks? or is this another audiophile tweek??
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  • cubdog
    cubdog Posts: 835
    edited October 2011
    TOOLFORLIFEFAN wrote: »
    Whats up with the rocks? or is this another audiophile tweek??
    Just audio humor.

    cubdog
    Shuguang Classic S8MK
    Emotiva XDA-2
    Bel Canto M300 mono blocks
    Bel Canto DAC 1.5
    Squeezebox Touch
    Sony SS-M7
    A/D/S L710
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  • SCompRacer
    SCompRacer Posts: 8,500
    edited October 2011
    Kewl! Congrats. Out of the box, the Touch seemed to be much better than an unmodded SB3. I have my Touch feeding an external DAC.

    I bought a used a Squeezebox Controller to control the Touch, but my old eyes didn't appreciate the small screen. So I bought a large screen smart phone and downloaded the free Logitech Squeezbox app for my Droid.

    http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=60914&d=1316994889

    The Controller.

    http://www.polkaudio.com/images/showcase/218_102_big.jpg?rand=459202538
    Salk SoundScape 8's * Audio Research Reference 3 * Bottlehead Eros Phono * Park's Audio Budgie SUT * Krell KSA-250 * Harmonic Technology Pro 9+ * Signature Series Sonore Music Server w/Deux PS * Roon * Gustard R26 DAC / Singxer SU-6 DDC * Heavy Plinth Lenco L75 Idler Drive * AA MG-1 Linear Air Bearing Arm * AT33PTG/II & Denon 103R * Richard Gray 600S * NHT B-12d subs * GIK Acoustic Treatments * Sennheiser HD650 *
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  • cdn5003
    cdn5003 Posts: 144
    edited October 2011
    Can this Squeezebox Touch Deliver bit perfect audio to a DAC from Optical or Coaxial?

    I am thinking about getting a Squeezebox and using my current DAC (pop pulse 1796) with optical or coaxial inputs which are better that the usb input on it. I would just plug my external hard drive into the usb of the touch to supply the library instead of a computer.

    Would it be better to just get an asynchronous usb DAC and use the computer as the source? The Musical Fidelity V-DAC ii looks like a good unit. I could also just get the V-link usb to SPDIF/Coax that is asynchronous and use my current DAC.

    Lots of options here, I just want to make sure I do it right when I do make a decision.
    HT Setup: Onkyo 706; Rotel RB-1075; Rti A3; Csi A6; Fxi3's

    2 CH: Squeezebox Touch; Dared SL-2000a; GoldenEar Triton 5 or Lsi9's; Parasound 2125; SVS SB12-NSD; Music Hall DAC 25.2
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  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,165
    edited October 2011
    cdn5003 wrote: »
    Can this Squeezebox Touch Deliver bit perfect audio to a DAC from Optical or Coaxial?.

    As long as the music you are asking it to stream is bit perfect. Garbage in, garbage out.

    H9
    "Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Pangea AC14SE MKII | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node 3 - Tubes add soul!
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  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,165
    edited October 2011
    cdn5003 wrote: »
    I am thinking about getting a Squeezebox and using my current DAC (pop pulse 1796) with optical or coaxial inputs which are better that the usb input on it. I would just plug my external hard drive into the usb of the touch to supply the library instead of a computer.

    It doesn't work that way. The interphase of the Squeezebox isn't able to support that. If it did it would be 3 times the cost. You still need a computer to run the Squeezebox software shell. They make units that you can just plug a HD into or have their own internal HD but plan on spending atleat $1K or more. The Squeezebox Transporter is one such device and I've never seen them under $1K.

    H9
    "Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Pangea AC14SE MKII | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node 3 - Tubes add soul!
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  • punk-roc
    punk-roc Posts: 1,150
    edited October 2011
    I've been leaning towards picking up one of these as the days go by. I should be able to stream the music stored on my NAS drive to SB touch right? And now it appears that they support podcast streaming, without iTunes or whatever (which is why I still had a laptop in my system).

    I need one of these, lol

    Jason
    2-Channel - So far...
    Pre: Dodd ELP
    DAC: W4S-Dac2
    Source(s): Computer and Denon 2910
    Amp: Parasound HCA-1200II
    Speakers: LSi9s - Vr3 Fortress Mod
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  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,165
    edited October 2011
    punk-roc wrote: »
    I've been leaning towards picking up one of these as the days go by. I should be able to stream the music stored on my NAS drive to SB touch right? And now it appears that they support podcast streaming, without iTunes or whatever (which is why I still had a laptop in my system).

    I need one of these, lol

    Jason

    What type of NAS? The only NAS I am aware of that you can run without a computer is the Qnap, because it has a SQB software interphase. Now, it has been awhile since I've researched a NAS system so that may have changed in the past year, but I don't think so.

    H9
    "Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Pangea AC14SE MKII | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node 3 - Tubes add soul!
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  • punk-roc
    punk-roc Posts: 1,150
    edited October 2011
    hmm ok. I have a Synology NAS. Can't remember the model #, I'll have to look more into this

    Jason
    2-Channel - So far...
    Pre: Dodd ELP
    DAC: W4S-Dac2
    Source(s): Computer and Denon 2910
    Amp: Parasound HCA-1200II
    Speakers: LSi9s - Vr3 Fortress Mod
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  • punk-roc
    punk-roc Posts: 1,150
    edited October 2011
    it says it supports "DLNA/UPnP Compliant Media Sever" - not sure if the SBT can utilize that software to stream the music..
    2-Channel - So far...
    Pre: Dodd ELP
    DAC: W4S-Dac2
    Source(s): Computer and Denon 2910
    Amp: Parasound HCA-1200II
    Speakers: LSi9s - Vr3 Fortress Mod
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  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,165
    edited October 2011
    punk-roc wrote: »
    it says it supports "DLNA/UPnP Compliant Media Sever" - not sure if the SBT can utilize that software to stream the music..

    Not that I am aware of............it has it's own proprietary software if you want to stream your user generated music. Squeezebox has a BB, just like this one. Maybe they can shed some light but I don't think much has changed in the past year. Qnap's are pretty pricey that's why I still haven't made the jump. A Qnap with 1TB raid 5 is like $700 or more.

    H9
    "Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Pangea AC14SE MKII | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node 3 - Tubes add soul!
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  • punk-roc
    punk-roc Posts: 1,150
    edited October 2011
    hmm ok. I found a squeezebox server software package on synology.com. I'll have to investigate this later, but it looks as though Synology has developed a way for the SBT to talk to my Synology NAS

    http://www.synology.com/support/news.php?lang=enu&news_id=228

    Jason
    2-Channel - So far...
    Pre: Dodd ELP
    DAC: W4S-Dac2
    Source(s): Computer and Denon 2910
    Amp: Parasound HCA-1200II
    Speakers: LSi9s - Vr3 Fortress Mod
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  • polkfarmboy
    polkfarmboy Posts: 5,703
    edited October 2011
    While this threads up I thought I would ask a quick question

    Where can I get information on how to stream cd's to my squeezbox ?
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  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,165
    edited October 2011
    The logitech website, like what kind of information?

    It's like asking, "Where can I get information on how to use Microsoft Word?". There isn't a user manual per se, but there is a very helpful Squeezebox forum. I suggest you head over there.

    H9
    "Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Pangea AC14SE MKII | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node 3 - Tubes add soul!
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  • sda2mike
    sda2mike Posts: 3,131
    edited October 2011
    i have 4 classics throughout the hacienda...great device...has some flaws, mostly user created;)...i like them, alot! i hear stuff from my library i don't even recognize!
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  • dkg999
    dkg999 Posts: 5,647
    edited October 2011
    polkfarmboy wrote: »
    While this threads up I thought I would ask a quick question

    Where can I get information on how to stream cd's to my squeezbox ?

    Not sure what exactly you want to do, however the usual method is to rip the CD to your hard drive or NAS with your choice of ripping software (ie MediaMonkey, dbpoweramp, etc.) then tell the Squeezebox server software where those files are at. It all works amazingly well.
    DKG999
    HT System: LSi9, LSiCx2, LSiFX, LSi7, SVS 20-39 PC+, B&K 507.s2 AVR, B&K Ref 125.2, Tripplite LCR-2400, Cambridge 650BD, Signal Cable PC/SC, BJC IC, Samsung 55" LED

    Music System: Magnepan 1.6QR, SVS SB12+, ARC pre, Parasound HCA1500 vertically bi-amped, Jolida CDP, Pro-Ject RM5.1SE TT, Pro-Ject TubeBox SE phono pre, SBT, PS Audio DLIII DAC
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  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,165
    edited October 2011
    I'll add to DKG999's post that you can tell SQB only one directory, so once you set that directory up all your music has to be in that directory if you want to stream it. Of course you can have that same music in another directory, just know that any music you want to stream from a computer has to be in the designated directory. So be sure to choose a HD or disc space large enought to accomodate future music because it is a PITA to redesignate a new directory and move all those files at a later, etc.

    H9
    "Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Pangea AC14SE MKII | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node 3 - Tubes add soul!
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  • Emlyn
    Emlyn Posts: 4,490
    edited October 2011
    I bought a couple of these last month. While the sound quality into a DAC doesn't provide quite the same quality as a standalone CD player in my systems, it's pretty close. Could get even closer with some tweaks I suppose, but for the price and having access to the 700 CD's I've ripped to iTunes losslessly so far, it's more than worth the relatively small cost. I'm glad I waited to deploy something like this. The technology finally seems to be worth while. Only problem I had was getting cover art from iTunes to show up on the Squeezebox, but that's an iTunes issue not a Logitech issue, and easily resolved for the CD's I didn't have tagged "correctly" with the cover art in iTunes.
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  • jkrepner
    jkrepner Posts: 21
    edited October 2011
    Just my 2 cents to add to the OP... I love the SqueezeBox Touch. I bought it 2 months ago and can't believe I lived without.

    I installed the little software server on my Mac and can stream all of the iTunes but even better is Shoutcast. If you don't know what it is go to shoutcast.com. Anyway it is a free app on the Squeezebox that lets you listen to internet radio stations from around the word and even let's you sort by bitrate. I think the 320kbs stuff sounds pretty darn good, especially since it is free. The AVRO classical stations sound great.

    Also, you can download the remote app for Android or iPhone and you can control the device from anywhere in the house. It's like the future dream world you though one day would happen. I can sit on the patio and use my cell phone to change stations, switch to Pandora and thumbs up/down, switch to internet radio, switch to shoutcast, or pick any song from the itunes library to listenon my outdoor speakers. (only the latter requires the computer to be turned on--which is nice).

    FYI, I'm on Android, but go to the market and download the $5 Squeeze Commander remote app. I think it works better than the freebie on from Logitech.

    Also, I'm running this via RCA cables instead of optical. I have decided the DAC in the Squeezebox is better than the one in my Pioneer AVR. Of course that is just my opinion but the sound is much fuller. Your mileage may very.

    Next I'm going to buy a Squeezebox radio for the bedroom. It can run independently or synced with the Touch.

    Buy it and you won't regret it.
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  • SCompRacer
    SCompRacer Posts: 8,500
    edited October 2011
    jkrepner wrote: »


    FYI, I'm on Android, but go to the market and download the $5 Squeeze Commander remote app. I think it works better than the freebie on from Logitech.

    Just curious, what difference did you experience between the two apps? I've had no problems with the freebie app, and it does everything I want.
    Salk SoundScape 8's * Audio Research Reference 3 * Bottlehead Eros Phono * Park's Audio Budgie SUT * Krell KSA-250 * Harmonic Technology Pro 9+ * Signature Series Sonore Music Server w/Deux PS * Roon * Gustard R26 DAC / Singxer SU-6 DDC * Heavy Plinth Lenco L75 Idler Drive * AA MG-1 Linear Air Bearing Arm * AT33PTG/II & Denon 103R * Richard Gray 600S * NHT B-12d subs * GIK Acoustic Treatments * Sennheiser HD650 *
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  • jkrepner
    jkrepner Posts: 21
    edited October 2011
    For me, Squeeze Commander doesn't lose connection to the server as often as the Logitech app, which could just be my phone's fault really. The other thing that I really like, off the top of my head, is when using shoutcast I can click on a station and it shows what song that station is currently playing so you can decide if you want to click on it and "tune in". I don't recall, but the factory app doesn't do that, right? I don't have the old one installed anymore, but it is on my GF's iPhone so maybe I'll take a look at it again.
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  • polkfarmboy
    polkfarmboy Posts: 5,703
    edited October 2011
    Cool I have that mediamonkey when I joined HD tracks
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