Squeze Box Question

Three things must happen well for good sound regardless of technology:

1. Read all the bits correctly (source/transport)
2. clock them so they get converted to analog at the right time (clock, usually on transport but sometimes on DAC, particularly DACs that upsample)
3. convert them to analog (DAC)

Using a computer as a source can provide very good results usually for 1 but 2. can be rocky depending. 3. seldom ever takes place on the computer TTBOMK.

With a Squeezebox or Roku or similar network player, 1 occurs on the server, 2 is performed by the network player and 3 by either the internal or an external DAC, depending. Then some DACs may also upsample and re-clock as well.

Building a music server has literally breathed new life into my enjoyment of music. For me, this is more about the music than the equipment. In other words, I won't argue about which methodology sounds better. All I know is that I now listen to my music EVERY night. I don't even consider turning on the TV. I'm not even into my music DVD concerts as much as I used to be. I turn off the lights and sit in my chair with access to more than 5,000 songs from my library. I can listen to any song in any order. I have been listening to songs and albums that I haven't listened to in years. I can select the "jewels" from old CDs that I’ve nearly forgotten about and play them along side my brand new tunes. This is absolutely the coolest thing I've done with my music. Building a music server/library has been great fun too. It takes a while, and I’m not nearly finished ripping my CDs, but it is a process that, like “tweaking”, allows a physical interface with the music. I haven't even mentioned the possibilities of internet radio….

Once you set up your server, you'll know what I mean. You should definitely strive for the highest fidelity possible though. Use good ripping software (I still recommend EAC), rip in lossless (I recommend .flac), utilize a good DAC if you can swing it, and also use a really good digital cable between the DAC and Squeezebox.

2chnlben,

You nailed it. I feel the same way about my music server. There is a lot more to it than just top notch sound reproduction. It's about new and flexible ways to enable maximum enjoyment of music!

Those hesitant to join the club due to reservations about digital versus analog sound quality or whatever are missing out on a great thing. Stop complaining about digital, figure out how to get it right and JUST DO IT!

I enjoy it for the internet radio aspects..........I listen almost exclusively to classical....... the number of radio stations available to me is astounding and the sound quality is pretty darn good as well..........

Sounds like Mapman is pushing and pushing for some reason I can't explain. You need to be honest in these forums and don't take offense when someone says they are trying out the path YOU recommend and it does not sound as good as the old fashioned route. I am hopeful that with tweaks I can reach the nirvana Mapman has reached, but I owe it to the poster to provide honest results.

Believe me, I WANT PC audio to sound better, just right now it does not. Honest and truthful......so stop beating the drum here and let people post honestly and stop trying to drown out their posts.