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Squeezebox Touch £134.99 at Amazon UK

I agree with both arguments.

If setup properly then a WOL server tucked away somewhere discrete is no different to any other hifi component. Its just getting round to doing this , a step up from trailing usb cables from laptop and having to unpack and boot up all the time.

The SBT is a great little device and would be outstanding if it didn't need an external server. This failing is inexcusable in my view. Its a temporary filler for me until I get round to my server build.
 
I use media monkey, and a simple plugin that allows me to use iTunesRemote on my mobile (and tablet). Works very well.

Sam
 
PhilCTTE said:
I agree with both arguments.

If setup properly then a WOL server tucked away somewhere discrete is no different to any other hifi component. Its just getting round to doing this , a step up from trailing usb cables from laptop and having to unpack and boot up all the time.

The SBT is a great little device and would be outstanding if it didn't need an external server. This failing is inexcusable in my view. Its a temporary filler for me until I get round to my server build.
Click to expand...

External server?

Mine works quite happily without one.
 
Basil said:
External server?

Mine works quite happily without one.
Click to expand...

The SBT is capable of managing an attached USB drive with its internal server capabilities. If you read all the threads on user forums they all recommend to use a PC or capable NAS to run the Logitech Media Server software. The reason is, that its a bit slow and when playing hi-res, other than 44.1 material, it loses connection with attached USB drive (my experience). I previously owned a Sonos ZP80 which performed perfectly , all services (like SBT) seemlessly integrated under one UI. Fast reaction times and no drop outs. I was expecting something similar with the SBT ( I had been warned )

So the sticking point regards the SBT is, why bother with it when you have to install a server? With a vortexbox / LMS server you can do all the UI with an IPAD , Itouch or android tablet/phone device and have the same functionality. The touch screen is nice but not needed when you have all the remote capabilities. You can't actually see what your doing on the screen when using the remote.

Missed out on a bargain to pick up on the logitech squeezebox remote, with display at £49 ... this would have helped.
 
What hardware/software do you use as a player Phil? Or do you use a Touch but just think the touchscreen is a waste?
 
Just the SBT, no server software , attached USB is a western digital myworld 1tb (not compatible to run LMS). Its all hardwired no wirless.
 
PhilCTTE said:
Just the SBT, no server software , attached USB is a western digital myworld 1tb (not compatible to run LMS). Its all hardwired no wirless.
Click to expand...

With either a USB memory stick or a USB HD connected, no network is needed.

I have a few 24/96 test tracks from Chandos, I'll try via the Touch sans PC and network and report back.
 
If you are just using a standalone hard drive attached to the Touch, how can you amend album art, track and album data. I use iTunes as a library and editor and connect it to the Duet.
 
Pete the Feet said:
If you are just using a standalone hard drive attached to the Touch, how can you amend album art, track and album data. I use iTunes as a library and editor and connect it to the Duet.
Click to expand...

I don't bother with it, I don't wish to sound rude but I don't need pictures to remind me of what I'm listening to...

The novelty of using album art lasted about a week when I got the duet, after that I set it, and now the Touch to turn off the dislplay in the shortest time possible.
 
It's funny you should say that but the album art seldom works properly anyway. It seems a shame to have a screen and see nowt though. I look on the laptop interface and like to see who has written the song quite often.

Can you access Spotify without a link to a pc?
 
PhilCTTE,
It seems the SB remote is still available from Logitech for £49 (In my experience, their 'blemished boxes' are as good as new!)

http://www.logitech.com/en-gb/special-offers/blemished-box/devices/7609

I don't have a iPad/Pod/Phone or Android tablet/phone to compare it with, but I read that the apps are at least as good as the Remote controller when it comes to managing a squeezebox 'player'.

On a related note, a Vortexbox can be a good substitute for a server+squeezebox 'player', and can be built to be silent too. The integrated SB player also works with 24bit/192kHz (although having both hi-res and gapeless playback requires a bit of work)
 
Pete the Feet said:
It's funny you should say that but the album art seldom works properly anyway. It seems a shame to have a screen and see nowt though. I look on the laptop interface and like to see who has written the song quite often.

Can you access Spotify without a link to a pc?
Click to expand...

I think we have another 'classical v. pop' thing here?

Not sure about spotify, but internet radio works without the computer.
 
Regards artwork - I remove the USB drive and connect to laptop, I then rip via laptop, artwork folder.jpg is dropped into same folder then I copy to both NAS and USB drive (backup). The USB backup drive is then re-connected to Touch.

Eiffel -- >
Vortexbox can be a good substitute for a server+squeezebox 'player', and can be built to be silent too. The integrated SB player also works with 24bit/192kHz (although having both hi-res and gapeless playback requires a bit of work)
Click to expand...

Hmm was rather hoping all this was taken care of. So whats the difference between Vortexbox and LMS ? Is there a constant fiddle with 3rd party plugins all the time ? How stable is it ?

Regards the touch remote - thats goos to know , just need to think about whether I'm keeping the touch or spend another couple of hundred quid on a dedicated server and use my phone android app "doodah"


Pete the feet -
Can you access Spotify without a link to a pc?
Click to expand...
yea no problems.
 
The Vortexbox software solution includes LMS, as well as a full operating system (GNU/Linux Fedora 16 based), a ripping/tagging/cover retrieval solution (Insert a CD, Blu Ray or DVD in a machine running Vortexbox, and it will be automatically ripped to FLAC -and ALAC or MP3, if so desired-, tagged and some album cover will be downloaded).

Vortexbox does a few more things. For instance, it acts as a DLNA server,has an application to play music (similar to what runs on any Logitech squeezebox compatible device). It also acts as a conventional server/nas.

While it does quite a lot, it's very far from bloatware and remains a solution dedicated to media storage and audio playback. There is a good support forum, and its has proven reliable in my experience.

Obviously it's free, but one does need to dedicate a 'spare' PC for it to run on (no need for a keyboard or screen once it is installed).

The only drawback is that most people are more familiar with Windows/MacOS than with Linux and that the way to configure Vortexbox can be a bit rustic (simple web pages, etc.).

I haven't investigated gapeless playback of hi-res files on it, but understand that there is a good working solution which bypasses the Logitech architecture (by default, for playback, Vortexboxes are seen as up to 4 additional Logitech devices with full compatibility in terms of interface and features: multiple synchronized zones, etc.). The workaround, as I understand it, is quite easy to implement (it bypasses some of the Logitec compatibility stuff, but can also be controlled from an iPad/Pod or similar device).
 
sam_cat said:
My Netbook takes around 5 seconds to come out of sleep mode and to be sat at the desktop ready to play.. Its used for Media Monkey for the local music, spotify, BBC I player and is also used to stream media off my home server. All remote controlled by my phone or tablet (or the laptop for that matter). Netbook cost me about the same as a Squeezebox Touch, and is dedicated to the HiFi.

Really fits the bill nicely for my needs, but we are all individuals. What suits one person another will hate. Thats part of the joy of this, you can taylor the solution to your needs/expectations.


Sam
Click to expand...

a fair point and therein lies the rub. because of my work, i have typically upwards of 3 domains (with domain controllers, dns machines, exchange servers, sql servers, umpteen virtual servers etc etc) running in my office at home (i specialise in client/server software dev) at any time. so i'm esp. happy to see the back of them when i listen to music.
 
The same here.. Running a handful of VMs on the same server as Whs... But doesn't bother me as it works so well.
 
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