Squeezebox Touch-tips, tricks & tweaks

heiney9

falconcry72 wrote: »

So what's your Musiland rig based on?

Asynchronous USB, ASIO enabled, not a soundcard, not a headphone jack, etc. When I refer to a straight PC I meant something like using an internal soundcard with a Windows K-mixer, or optical out w/Kmixer, etc, like so many here do which is really no better than an iPod or other type of marginal product.

H9

heiney9

falconcry72 wrote: »

Wasn't calling the SQB's DAC's **** at all.

The statement below pretty much infers the SQB dac's are **** if an mp3 thru a good dac will sound better than flac thru the SQB dac.

falconcry72 wrote: »

I am pretty ****'ish about lossless files (see my above post about 320kbps mp3's), and my collection is 99.9% lossless; however, I have found that a well-encoded mp3 file being output to a quality DAC will sound better than a lossless file being output by a **** DAC, such as an ipod or computer's internal DAC.

Now the SQB's DAC's aren't half bad, so I've been told, so I don't know which would be better here.... but, Steve, I betcha 5 bucks that a well-encoded mp3 going out of your SQB digitally to your Benchmark would sound better than a lossless version of the same track being output through the SQB's analog outputs.

H9


edit:

Just to be clear: I am in no way shape or form trying to condone the use of mp3's in a hifi setting! Friends don't let friends compress lossy!!!

That was the basis for my intial post on the subject.

P.s. I apologize if I read into it more than you meant.

nspindel

jaycam wrote: »

Well, 98% of my music in FLAC (ripped from cd) and I'm slowly getting some hi-rez stuff from HDTracks. I'm going to have to rely on the Touch's DAC for a while longer. The next upgrade on my list is my receiver. So, I'm getting there...just gonna take a while :-)

By the way, I've got a bunch of hirez downloads from HDTracks and I'm becoming more and more convinced that most of the stuff they sell is complete ****. Been looking at some of their stuff in Audacity. Compressed, brick walled rubbish, converted to 24-bit and called hi-rez. The stuff that Linn sells is excellent, but it's all classical for the most part.

steveinaz

Have you found any other "worthy" sources? I kind of wondered about HDTracks as they have a spotty reputation at best. I'm gonna have to hit the Linn site.

falconcry72

heiney9 wrote: »

Asynchronous USB, ASIO enabled, not a soundcard, not a headphone jack, etc. When I refer to a straight PC I meant something like using an internal soundcard with a Windows K-mixer, or optical out w/Kmixer, etc, like so many here do which is really no better than an iPod or other type of marginal product.

H9

yea, that's how I thought you were implementing the Musiland. What I'm saying, is that if you compare a good mp3 file through your Musiland, it will sound better than a FLAC file through the headphone jack.

EndersShadow

steveinaz wrote: »

Oh--so is your Integra used as a preamp? If so, that's a little different. I'd try it both ways--but listen to each set of DAC's for at least 2 weeks at a time (don't A/B switch). I've found that DAC's are a little easier to judge over a long term listening session. That's just my 2 centavos.

Yes it is used as a pre-amp. So given that would you opt for the powersupply off the bat or wait to see if I needed the external DAC of something like say the benchmark? Or am I splitting hairs here?

The plan/hope is to snag another pair of LSi 15's as well before they become harder to grab and have a 4 LSi 15 + LSiC HT setup with the front 3 LSi's with mods and all driven by the Sunfire.

falconcry72

heiney9 wrote: »

The statement below pretty much infers the SQB dac's are **** if an mp3 thru a good dac will sound better than flac thru the SQB dac.

That was the basis for my intial post on the subject.

Ah. I see the connection. I didn't word it right. I meant that I wasn't sure about the SQB, because it's not ****, but the fact that I bet on it losing does infer that I think it's ****, but that's not what I meant. What I meant was that a good mp3 through a GREAT DAC can sound better than a FLAC file through a pretty good DAC.

P.s. I apologize if I read into it more than you meant.

No worries, bro! It's Friday, and I'm fixin' to go get a good beer... if I can get away from my desk...

steveinaz

The power supply (IMO) for the Touch is not needed right away--it's a very, very subtle performance boost*. I'd try the comparo and run the Touch analog first for a couple weeks, then connect it digitally to the integra and see what you think.

*I still believe it's a worthy investment later down the road.

EndersShadow

steveinaz wrote: »

The power supply (IMO) for the Touch is not needed right away--it's a very, very subtle performance boost*. I'd try the comparo and run the Touch analog first for a couple weeks, then connect it digitally to the integra and see what you think.

*I still believe it's a worthy investment later down the road.

Good cause the powersupply was going to really put me close to going over my limit on spending lol......

EndersShadow

EndersShadow wrote: »

Good cause the powersupply was going to really put me close to going over my limit on spending lol......

I will put it on the christmas/birthday list for a later date....

dragon1952

nspindel wrote: »

By the way, I've got a bunch of hirez downloads from HDTracks and I'm becoming more and more convinced that most of the stuff they sell is complete ****. Been looking at some of their stuff in Audacity. Compressed, brick walled rubbish, converted to 24-bit and called hi-rez. The stuff that Linn sells is excellent, but it's all classical for the most part.

Interesting.........I've downloaded 5 or 6 albums and they all sound superb. Hotel California, Ray Davies (See My Friends), Beggar's Banquet, Let it Bleed, U2 Achtung Baby, Doobie Bros. Captain and Me....all sound excellent.

nspindel

This is one of those times where I wish I had just listened with my ears and not my eyes. I was pretty happy with sound quality as well. But you wouldn't believe how compressed and hot Hotel California is. Pull it up in Audacity and turn on the clipping alert. It's disgusting....

nspindel

I just made this discovery in the last week and emailed HDTracks. They blamed the labels and tried to discount what I had found. They even went so far as to suggest that compression is used to create audiophile recordings. I'm heading out in a bit, but I'll put some detailed posts up this weekend.

jaycam

I got my Touch on Saturday and got it hooked up and running quickly. The sound quality is much better than the Duet I had. I have it connected to my receiver via toslink...I think it's setup to decode my flac files on the Touch. One question I have (might be a dumb one); is it okay to have the Touch sitting on top of one of my M60's? I had it on my tv stand it was too low to comfortably walk up to and use. Sitting it on the speaker gets it up to a good level for use.

Thanks!

Justin

steveinaz

That's fine if it works for you. By default the Touch will decode Flac with on-board TinySB.

EndersShadow

Jay if you have a smartphone there are apps that allow you to use your phone as the remote. Then it doesn't matter where you place it

jaycam

EndersShadow wrote: »

Jay if you have a smartphone there are apps that allow you to use your phone as the remote. Then it doesn't matter where you place it

Yeah, I have SqueezeCommander and love it. I just don't like having to pop a squat if my phone isn't on me. If having the touch on a speaker wont mess up the Touch or the speaker I think I'll leave it there for now. Plus it's out of reach of the kids...for now :-)

thsmith

nspindel wrote: »

I just made this discovery in the last week and emailed HDTracks. They blamed the labels and tried to discount what I had found. They even went so far as to suggest that compression is used to create audiophile recordings. I'm heading out in a bit, but I'll put some detailed posts up this weekend.

Interesting findings Neil, post those details please.

nspindel

Yes, sorry I didn't get around to it this weekend. Ended up with tickets to the Giants vs. Falcons game, which was far more interesting! :cheesygrin:

nspindel

http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?128354-HDTracks....-Is-it-a-scam

steveinaz

Ref: SQB Touch (Streaming PCM)

Take this for what it's worth; while listening again last night to my 24/96 download I experienced my first "drop-out." having a pretty darn robust wireless cable modem (Motorola Surfboard), on a hunch I decided to let LMS decode flac, and send as PCM, thinking the 24/96 might be a bit much for the Touch's TinySB/computing power. It worked. So their may be some truth to alleviating the Touch of "heavy-duty" processing (especially 24/96). Keep in mind, my laptop is a wired connection to the modem, the the signal is sent wireless to the Touch. The modem is only about 15ft away from the Touch.

heiney9

In 5 years never had a drop-out and I can say early on I didn't have the best wireless router. Even now the wireless router I have is older. There have been some times when I first fire things up some lag in loading a track, but never a drop-out after it started playing.

Plus, I don't think the SQB Touch is designed right at the lowest threshold of processing. There should be ample processing power no matter what the material is. Again, I've more hiccups using the computer to play music when I'm doing other processes. Why would processing at the computer alleviate this? It's one of the reasons I'm glad the Touch does it's own decoding.

H9

steveinaz

Considering the 24/96 files are HUGE, I think that's what taxed the Touch. An average 16/44 file is approx 35Mb vs a 24/96 at apprx 150mb. I've had zero issues with 16/44 flac being decoded either way.

Like I said, FWIW it worked flawlessly letting the server decode first. Maybe just dumb luck? Could be, I don't know.

heiney9

steveinaz wrote: »

Considering the 24/96 files are HUGE, I think that's what taxed the Touch. An average 16/44 file is approx 35Mb vs a 24/96 at apprx 150mb. I've had zero issues with 16/44 flac being decoded either way.

Again, why would they allow hi rez decoding if the processor was so taxed to the limit? Continue to experiment because this may just be an anomoly. Wish I could contribute but I can't do hi-rez.

H9

steveinaz

Probably a mixture of trying to send wireless, and huge files (or like you said, an anomoly). Most everyone on the SQB forums recommend wired connection if your going to be playing alot of 24/96 material.

Switching to server side decoding is simple and fast, so I figured I'd try that first.

I also doubt my modem is optimized for best performance either, as I've done nothing "special" with the settings. I'm going to research that aspect, and make sure I've got it setup for best performance.

The "Touch" is simply my wading in the fray device for now. Sometime down the road, as better/more flexible hi-fi products are made available--I want a "hard drive player" of some type; but nobody is making it---yet. I'm sold on the computer audio aspect, as it's clear to me that HDD derived music sounds very, very good.

tonyb

They make hard drive players Steve, but they aren't cheap.

steveinaz

The only thing that comes close to what I want is the Olive; and even it doesn't have the stand-alone flexibility I want.

I realize I could build one, and I am considering that idea. I'm looking for an all-in-one unit that requires no network connection, can do hi-res, and either has it's own large display OR has a video output. Think "Flac Jukebox with display."

heiney9

I like the Touch because of it's small foot-print and I can have the associated computer hardware in a completely different place.

How do you get your files on a stand alone HD player and still use them elsewhere? That would be the draw back for me because I stream to other devices (Squeeze Radio) and I also play music on my computer system and I don't want to keep two sets of files, one on the HD player and one on the computer. If it turns out the HD player is bascially a mini-computer then why not just use the computer as we do now?

I suppose something like "cloud" technology and wireless through your in wall wiring is an alternative. My Direct TV box communicates with the internet through the wiring in my walls.

H9

thsmith

tonyb wrote: »

They make hard drive players Steve, but they aren't cheap.

This looks interesting if you have some computer skills

http://cheap-silent-usb-linux-music-server.blogspot.com/2009/03/where-it-all-started.html#comment-form

thsmith

heiney9 wrote: »

I like the Touch because of it's small foot-print and I can have the associated computer hardware in a completely different place.

How do you get your files on a stand alone HD player and still use them elsewhere? That would be the draw back for me because I stream to other devices (Squeeze Radio) and I also play music on my computer system and I don't want to keep two sets of files, one on the HD player and one on the computer. If it turns out the HD player is bascially a mini-computer then why not just use the computer as we do now?

I suppose something like "cloud" technology and wireless through your in wall wiring is an alternative. My Direct TV box communicates with the internet through the wiring in my walls.

H9

A lot of peeople seem to use Mac Mini with Apple TV for multiple rooms.