Squeezebox Touch-tips, tricks & tweaks

Syndil

I assume you're going for the Qnap TS-419PII then. It has a 2.0GHz CPU but it's a Marvell instead of an Intel, and still half the RAM as the Ultra 4, which sells for the same price.

The TS-439-PROII nearly matches the Ultra 4's specs **** for tat, but costs $100 more. The ReadyNAS has a 3-year warranty and the Qnap a 2-year.

SCompRacer

steveinaz wrote: »

Maybe this helps? http://vortexbox.org/documentation/changing-how-your-vortexbox-rips-files/

Thanks! I was too busy and/or lazy to find out for myself. I should also add I was referring to USB 2.0, not USB 3.0. So is the vortex USB 3.0?:cheesygrin:

tonyb

Moma's gotta SQUEEZEBOX she wears on her chest....... all this squeezebox talk can get to a man ya know.

Carry on...

steveinaz

ReadyNas request placed with Santa. Man I've been a good boy this year.

Syndil

I think you will be very happy with your ReadyNAS. Might want to check out this page to get a better idea of what you get with the ReadyNAS Ultra series:

http://www.readynas.com/?page_id=3962

steveinaz

Are the drives pre-formatted? If so, what file system?

Syndil

If you get a ReadyNAS with drives preinstalled, they will be formatted to EXT3. But keep in mind the format of the drives matters only to the NAS. Devices accessing the files on the NAS will be getting the info via SMB/CIFS and won't know or care what the format of the drives is. Keeping them EXT3 will give you the best performance out of the NAS.

steveinaz

Ok, thanks.

grimmace19

I just wired my squeezebox into my theater seats cupholder. The iphone app is great for controlling everything but nothing beats actually having the unit next to you to do searches on spotify and everything else. This was a far more productive way to use my 8m interconnects other than running them to my sub which is only 2m away.

steveinaz

Very cool!

mdaudioguy

Quite an interesting and lively discussion going on in the Squeezebox forum about Touch Toolbox 3.0 - even another cable debate beginning at post #313 (Yes, it's a long thread...) This time it's ethernet cables!!

http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=91322

Syndil

Wow. There is a whole lot of bunk in that thread. EMI/RF interference in/out of an ethernet cable? I hope you can hear me rolling my eyes. Ethernet cables are made of twisted pairs (the "TP" in UTP or STP) for a reason, and error correction is applied at the receiving in regardless of what happens to the bits as they travel along the cable. Bits IS bits. I guess some people are just not happy unless they can burn a pile of money in offering to the audio gods.

heiney9

Steve going through some old threads I came across this post I made shortly after adding a linear PS to my Squeezebox II. The smae results when adding the Welborne to the Touch. The Bolder Modded ELPAC is essentially the same as the CI Audo PS and Welborne, etc.

As a side note I replaced the very cheap stock switching power supply on the Squeezebox WiFi server I use with the Adcom dac, with a Bolder Modded ELPAC power supply. The ELPAC is a brick type linear power supply made for computers. Bolder adds hexFred rectifiers, Panasonic and Blackgate caps, a much beefier cable with the proper female plug as well as a beefier power cable. They also disable the 12V section of the PS. All I can say is I'm floored at the difference it makes. Simply floored!!!!!

I'll borrow a phrase from Madmax.............EVERYTHING MATTERS!!!! The difference is very apparent. I've spent a lot of time listening to 3 different very familiar songs over and over and over plugging/unplugging the stock switching PS vs. the modded ELPAC. I am simply blown away. This hobby never, ever, ceases to amaze me.

I listened for 4 things specifically...........1) instrument and vocal placement both depth and across the front plane of the sound stage . 2) extension of bass notes and decay of bass notes. 3) decay especially of cymbals and sympathetic vibration of stringed instruments. 4) for anything prominent that wasn't as apparent with one or the other power supply.

The ELPAC won all these specific tests with the 3 familiar songs everytime and without a doubt. Biggest thing I noticed was even more separation of instruments and vocal, the decay on the cymbals was to die for and bass didn't seem like it hit a wall suddenly, it extended a tad deeper but more naturally rolled off (decay). I noticed a tad better clarity which I think has to do with a slightly less digital, edgy sound. Much less congestion with the ELPAC.

H9

tonyb

I know at least you and I Brock, are in the power supply matters crowd. Hopefully Steve will be soon too. I sincerly hope others who think just because these little boxes like the Touch are digital and won't benefit from a better power supply, or analog output stage like in a seperate dac, change their mind and at least give it a try.

nspindel

No doubt. I have the Welborne, and actually picked up a used Bolder-modded Elpac just to see if I can notice any differences. Haven't had a chance to do any of that testing yet, it's way down on the list, but couldn't pass up a good deal on the Elpac.

brgman

Might want to be careful ordering a Welborne.I have one on order and cannot get any responses from them.
After several tries i finally went back to Paypal to file a case before it got too late.

heiney9

Welborne does have pretty poor communication, but the products are top notch and I don't believe they are out to take anyone's money. All of us (5) had the same issue with Welborne not answering emails very quickly and we all got our products in perfect working condition.

CI Audio is an alternative if people are uncomfortable with Welborne's slow approach, but they are more expensive and the power supply's are pretty much identical.

H9

heiney9

brgman wrote: »

Might want to be careful ordering a Welborne.I have one on order and cannot get any responses from them.
After several tries i finally went back to Paypal to file a case before it got too late.

So you are approaching 30 days with not a single response or product? How many times and when did you contact them?

H9

steveinaz

Good deal, thanks for the impressions Brock. I've done some pretty extensive listening now, and I'm confident that the Touch's performance justifies this upgrade, so the Channel Island PS is on the way.

brgman

heiney9 wrote: »

So you are approaching 30 days with not a single response or product? How many times and when did you contact them?

H9

Yep
I have sent several emails over this time without ANY response.
i also am leary just because a company that rebuilds some bigass jacks for the still mill i work with has 2 of my jacks and their phone is now disconnected.
That put me over the top.We all know how this economy is and i guess never having dealt with such a non-communicating outfit had me worried.
hell i was jonesin to get this thing.i read many very good reviews.
wanna send me yours?

nspindel

Funny, because I just ordered a dc cable replacement from them, and ended up in an email conversation with them. I got 8 emails from them between Nov. 18 and Nov. 23., they were great to deal with (although I haven't received the cable yet). You sure you're using the right email address? I was emailing to sales1@welbornelabs.com, and was corresponding with a woman named Dana.

brgman

That's the one i used.
I guess the just don't like me!
Damn!

steveinaz

Channel separation (at least what I've heard) is off the charts with the Touch--very nice; so is articulation of multiple voices. The minor thing I'm noticing is a little less weight to things like low bass, and piano key strikes--which I "caught" while listening to a couple tracks on "The Nightfly" a few days ago. Very subtle, but I have noticed it.

PrazVT

I'm still not clear - from an electrical engineering perspective - how the Touch's SQ is improved by adding a linear PS? Ex. there's a discussion over at Slim Devices here against the idea. The Touch has an internal ps and regulators inside it already.

That's the argument against - is there one for? $300 - $400 is alot to take on faith alone, I guess is my point. To me, "most things matter" - as I've tried ICs / speaker cables / power cables and appreciate the audible improvements.

heiney9

brgman wrote: »

Yep
I have sent several emails over this time without ANY response.
i also am leary just because a company that rebuilds some bigass jacks for the still mill i work with has 2 of my jacks and their phone is now disconnected.
That put me over the top.We all know how this economy is and i guess never having dealt with such a non-communicating outfit had me worried.
hell i was jonesin to get this thing.i read many very good reviews.
wanna send me yours?

I understand, hopefully it will get worked out. I didn't like that they never notified me when they were shipping and no tracking number. If you initiate a claim it might light a fire under them. Be sure to check your junk mail folder just in case they sent you something about a delay. As I understand these are built to order so if they had a parts shortage or whatever maybe that's holding it up.

I'll keep mine, but thanks for asking :cheesygrin:

H9

heiney9

PrazVT wrote: »

I'm still not clear - from an electrical engineering perspective - how the Touch's SQ is improved by adding a linear PS? Ex. there's a discussion over at Slim Devices here against the idea. The Touch has an internal ps and regulators inside it already.

That's the argument against - is there one for? $300 - $400 is alot to take on faith alone, I guess is my point. To me, "most things matter" - as I've tried ICs / speaker cables / power cables and appreciate the audible improvements.

Maybe Rich will repost his scope of the sine wave with the switching supply vs. the linear supply. It went from jagged to smooth. I was floored at the difference in sound. The power supply is the most important part of any audio design, and improvements are heard. The switching supply that comes with it is a weak link. I paid $220 for the Welborne so I'm not sure where you are getting the $300-400 quote from. It comes in a kit form for $160, IIRC.

H9

heiney9

PrazVT wrote: »

That's the argument against - is there one for? $300 - $400 is alot to take on faith alone, I guess is my point. To me, "most things matter" - as I've tried ICs / speaker cables / power cables and appreciate the audible improvements.

heiney9 wrote: »

As a side note I replaced the very cheap stock switching power supply on the Squeezebox WiFi server I use with the Adcom dac, with a Bolder Modded ELPAC power supply. The ELPAC is a brick type linear power supply made for computers. Bolder adds hexFred rectifiers, Panasonic and Blackgate caps, a much beefier cable with the proper female plug as well as a beefier power cable. They also disable the 12V section of the PS. All I can say is I'm floored at the difference it makes. Simply floored!!!!!

I'll borrow a phrase from Madmax.............EVERYTHING MATTERS!!!! The difference is very apparent. I've spent a lot of time listening to 3 different very familiar songs over and over and over plugging/unplugging the stock switching PS vs. the modded ELPAC. I am simply blown away. This hobby never, ever, ceases to amaze me.

I listened for 4 things specifically...........1) instrument and vocal placement both depth and across the front plane of the sound stage . 2) extension of bass notes and decay of bass notes. 3) decay especially of cymbals and sympathetic vibration of stringed instruments. 4) for anything prominent that wasn't as apparent with one or the other power supply.

The ELPAC won all these specific tests with the 3 familiar songs everytime and without a doubt. Biggest thing I noticed was even more separation of instruments and vocal, the decay on the cymbals was to die for and bass didn't seem like it hit a wall suddenly, it extended a tad deeper but more naturally rolled off (decay). I noticed a tad better clarity which I think has to do with a slightly less digital, edgy sound. Much less congestion with the ELPAC.

H9 .

There's the for

H9

PrazVT

Maybe Rich will repost his scope of the sine wave with the switching supply vs. the linear supply. It went from jagged to smooth. I was floored at the difference in sound. The power supply is the most important part of any audio design, and improvements are heard. The switching supply that comes with it is a weak link. I paid $220 for the Welborne so I'm not sure where you are getting the $300-400 quote from. It comes in a kit form for $160, IIRC.

H9

Ok sorry - I guess it's been a while since I've looked into this. I know the CI Audio VDC is $259 - thoughts on that one?

Thanks,

Praz

FTGV

PrazVT wrote: »

I'm still not clear - from an electrical engineering perspective - how the Touch's SQ is improved by adding a linear PS? Ex. there's a discussion over at Slim Devices here against the idea. The Touch has an internal ps and regulators inside it already.

High frequency harmonics ,and switching noise from a poorly designed switch mode supply can find their way into the audio signal.Most users here have reported improvements using the digital output but I would expect even greater improvements when utilizing the analog outputs when fed with a good linear supply.Modifying the internal regulators IMO would have even more potential for improvements but thats not a task easily undertaken.

steveinaz

Received my duet controller last night for my Touch--now that's what I'm talking about! Very nice.