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Re: Considering Squeezebox -- Please help

Hi -

Since some of your comments leave me wondering, let me say that I would never try to run a SB2 and a NAS without a computer (tower or laptop, Mac or PC) somewhere on the same network.

Both USB and SB2 have their place. The big issue in my mind is not so much quality as how you are using the gear in your house.

The real question is, what equipment do you already have and what do you want to spend. Having followed these boards for over a year, I can tell you that for most people the difference between their transport and any form of PC/digital front end is huge because of the elimination of jitter from the transport. That is the single biggest difference. Knock out any remaining smear from a crappy SPDIF cable and you get another incremental step up.

A lot of people are very happy going from the SB2 to the preamp using the analog out. Several companies are offering mods that supposedly improve this even more. With an SB2 you can also go SPDIF out to a DAC.

If you already have a DAC you like, maybe try a SB2 direct to your preamp and via DAC - its a cheap bet and you'll use the SB2 unit somewhere. Maybe spend some of the money you save on a better cable - I found that it can make a huge difference.

The SB2 display is not the easiest way to surf a large library but it is doable. As long as you have the SB2 app on a computer somewhere on your network you can use the free full screen browser based interface. As long as that computer is on, you can remotely control the SB2. What I like to do is set up playlists and just access those from the SB2. A lot of guys are also getting into high bit rate Internet Radio which is pretty easy to deal with on the SB2

The USB DAC and its sibling, the Waveterminal, both make great sense if there is going to be a computer physically located in the listening area. Frankly while there are guys posting here who are using USB cables longer then 15 feet, I don't think it's either a cost effective or elegant solution. To me, that is the point to go to SB2 over Ethernet. It's cheaper and its a very robust format that is designed to carry data long distances. If you are thinking NAS you are already committed in that direction anyhow.

Right now, there are only a few USB DAC's, though no doubt there will be more. If you know that the current USB DACs will give you the sound you want and a computer is nearby that could be a good way to go.

But if you already have a DAC and you like it, why not first get a Waveterminal for about $150 bucks - connect it to the USB out of your computer and then connect it via SPDIF or Toslink to your existing DAC. If its a better DAC you may be ahead of the game.

You might also want to do a USB/SB2 combo. For instance, in my office I have my 2 channel system and I run it from my computer using iTunes. I put up with the computer fan noise since at normal listening levels I don't hear it on anything but the very quietest passages. Admittedly, for a classical buff this might be an issue. In my living room I use a SB2 - no computer need apply to mama's living room...

You can access the same Library folder from both SB2 and iTunes.

I do not know for a fact but I see no reason that if you use a NAS, the computer would have to be on. For that to work, you would have to install the Library and the SB2 applet on the NAS. And of course you would not be able to use the SB2 browser. Frankly, I don't get the big deal about having the computer off but whatever makes you happy.

Yes - a router is the piece of equipment used to connect Ethernet devices. The fact that it is a wireless router means you can also access it from a 802.11b/g (WiFI) equipped computer.

Most often these days the router is also used to connect your entire network to the Internet through either a DSL modem or a cable modem supplied by your provider. Linksys, Belkin, DLink etc all make comparable units. Set up is fairly straightforward. Be sure to get a big enough router for your needs - with a NAS, SB2 and laptop you will be close to maxing the small 4 port units. If there are others in the house who also want Internet access, if you have a networked printer etc then you should probably go up a size to an 8 port.

Even with a wireless router, your NAS will not be wireless - meaning that you will need to run an Ethernet cable to the NAS from the router. You also have to hardwire your SB2 to the router so the devices can talk to each other. You could get the wirless SB2 but in most peoples experience, the hardwire solution is much more robust then an over the air connection in most situations. (And its cheaper) You could then control the SB2 from a wireless laptop as long as the Library was not on the laptop.



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