Native FLAC Player

Since PS3 cannot play flac files from its own hard drive the media server has to process the flac file, down-convert and stream it to the PS3.

I'm not really familiar with the PS3 in this application, but if it doesn't support FLACs . . . then that's the type of bottleneck that would require the music file to be transcoded or down-converted simply for it to play at all.

The idea behind uPNP is that music files can be transferred between a media server and a "media renderer", and selected by a "control point" . . . and sometimes two or all three of these things are combined in one box. In a Linn DS setup, you have a uPNP media server (usually a dedicated Network Attached Storage appliance), a control point that's used to select your music (i.e. a PDA or laptop running Linn music-browser software), and the Linn DS itself, which is the media renderer. "uPNP" is simply the protocol by which the information is transferred between these three devices, in the same way that "TCP/IP" or "Windows file sharing" is a protocol . . . and have nothing to do with the content of the file itself (as long as nothing is broken and the files arrive intact).

To play FLACs, the media server has to support them because it must be able to read the data tags from the music files and send them to the control point so you can see your collection - but when the file is played, it is transferred whole and unmolested from the media server to the media renderer, which must also support FLAC in order to play it natively. Thus, the ultimate determiner of the sound quality *should* simply be the media renderer.

If you are willing to shell out a little more, the new PS Audio Perfect Wave DAC with network bridge will do every PCM format and resolution. DAC is $2999 with the network bridge adding about $500 (available in the late fall).

As an added bonus, you don't have to have a computer to use it (like Slim Devices) - just throw your files on a NAS and your off.

Thanks everyone for your responses... Has anyone used the Escient FireBall MX-111 ? How good is the DAC on that? Does it actually decode FLAC natively?

The Escient Fireball MX-111 does natively decodes FLAC files. Additionally, it will encode your cd's to FLAC. It is a very nice media server solution. The software is easy to use and nicely catalogs and organizes your media. It also acts as a web server to any web enabled devices on your network. This is a very nice feature since you can use your touchscreen smartphone as a nifty remote.

The downside to the software is that it is a bit dated. Escient does not seem to support it with regular updates. Not that the software is buggy, but updates to support Pandora, Netflix and YouTube would be easy and welcomed additions.

As for its built in DAC, I haven't utilized it nor do I intend to do so. You must remember that this unit is nothing more than a proprietary branded pc running their software. You want to keep audio circuits as far away from this thing as possible. I use mine with a PS Audio Digital Link 3 for D/A conversion. This solution works very nicely.

Check out the MusicVault which to my mind is a hybrid NAS/Music server which auto-rips FLAC files and can send them wirelessly or wired to a network player. Also has squeezecenter built-in so you get internet radio, and Pandora/Rhapsody/Amazon etc. I feed the digital data wirelessly to a Modwright Transporter but there are lots of "player" or DAC solutions out there.