Digital Music Player / Server

Toki

[FONT=&quot]I’m looking for a device that allows me to play FLAC / MP3 / WMA audio files that I have stored on an external hard drive via my HiFi phono connections. I’m not really interested in streaming music over my wireless network, as all my music is stored on the hard drive, any new music I get, I’m quite happy to disconnect and manually add in via my PC.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]I’ve looked at Sonos (too expensive) and Logitech Squeezebox Touch so far but neither exactly meet my needs. I believe the Squeezebox is designed to play music over either a wired or wireless network and not for attaching a hard drive via the USB connection as the server can only support so many tracks before the server struggles.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]I do like the idea of the Squeezebox screen to show which track is playing and the ability of controlling via my mobile but feel if I go down this route I’ll have to either leave my PC on all the time that I want music, or have to go down the NAS route, which means more expense and hassle.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]I also like that it has an onboard DAC with digital and analogue outputs as I intend to upgrade my all in one HiFi to a separate amp and good quality speakers in the coming years, once I save up some cash.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]So in short I’d like[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]
Digital music/media player/server with USB connection for external hard drive, not to be used for streaming via network but possibly for internet radio / Last FM (not crucial).[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Touchscreen remote or mobile compatible[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Digital and analogue outputs [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Any ideas anyone? If you want more info on my requirements then please ask.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Thanks in advance.[/FONT]

KillerWatt

Popcorn Hour A210

Toki

KillerWatt wrote: »

Popcorn Hour A210

Thanks, never heard of it to be honest, have you got one? How do you know which track to select or play? Do you have to have your TV on?

I should have mentioned, I wanted it to be as standalone as possible, no TV, no PC having to be on.

Sorry for not mentioning this before.

Fifer

Toki wrote: »

I’ve looked at Sonos (too expensive) and Logitech Squeezebox Touch so far but neither exactly meet my needs. I believe the Squeezebox is designed to play music over either a wired or wireless network and not for attaching a hard drive via the USB connection as the server can only support so many tracks before the server struggles

I've been using Squeezebox equipment for years. I use a small Unix mini-ITX server I built (very low power consumption, size and cost!- details here) rather than my PC, but the Squeezeserver software can run on several NAS units rather than your PC if you prefer. I've had no problem with Squeezeserver struggling with well over 5000 tracks in my database.

You can drive it from the touchscreen and also from Android and Apple phones and tablets using free apps - very cool.

DCFC79

Fifer wrote: »

I've been using Squeezebox equipment for years. I use a small Unix mini-ITX server I built (very low power consumption, size and cost!- details here) rather than my PC, but the Squeezeserver software can run on several NAS units rather than your PC if you prefer. I've had no problem with Squeezeserver struggling with well over 5000 tracks in my database.

You can drive it from the touchscreen and also from Android and Apple phones and tablets using free apps - very cool.

nice setup,

Fifer

DCFC79 wrote: »

nice setup,

Thanks. Just to be clear, the link isn't to my set-up, but is the system I copied for my server. But you're right, it makes a very nice low power low cost server. I bought all of mine from eBay - the processor board and case were used but perfect. I think the HD was the only new part. It's been running for probably 3 years without a problem.

I'm a big fan of Squeezebox products, having started with a Squeezebox 1 (which I still have along with a Squeezebox 2 somewhere) but my current set-up feeds a Slim Devices Transporter and a Squeezebox Duet in two different rooms.

KillerWatt

Toki wrote: »

Thanks, never heard of it to be honest, have you got one? How do you know which track to select or play? Do you have to have your TV on?

The kids have an A110 each (prior model to the A210)
They quite happily stream music & HD video (both at the same time) from the Infrant ReadyNAS that lives in our understairs cupboard, and they also use them for downloading their torrents.

Toki wrote: »

I should have mentioned, I wanted it to be as standalone as possible, no TV, no PC having to be on.

Well you're gonna need the TV on to see the menu at the very least unless you spend a bit more and get one with the front LCD panel, but then you'd need the TV on if you go with your original plan anyway.

Once it's playing though, you can switch the TV off providing you have the audio output connected to an amplifier.

Fifer

KillerWatt wrote: »

Once it's playing though, you can switch the TV off providing you have the audio output connected to an amplifier.

Alternatively, the Squeezebox Touch has it's own screen and headphone socket, so no need for TV or amp and you can use a similar NAS setup.

Toki

Fifer wrote: »

I've been using Squeezebox equipment for years. I use a small Unix mini-ITX server I built (very low power consumption, size and cost!- details here) rather than my PC, but the Squeezeserver software can run on several NAS units rather than your PC if you prefer. I've had no problem with Squeezeserver struggling with well over 5000 tracks in my database.

You can drive it from the touchscreen and also from Android and Apple phones and tablets using free apps - very cool.

Thanks for that, looks very impressive setup, something I'd love to be able to do but budget limitations are the reason I'd rather use USB external hard drive into a device rather than do what you have done and having a server. I note it cost £300 in 2007 on top of the £200 for the Squeezebox Touch.

Any other ideas? I wouldn't mind paying £00 if the device had an internal server capable of running a USB external hard drive, rather than having the Squeezebox Touch along with a NAS or separate server.

Thanks.

DCFC79

Fifer wrote: »

Thanks. Just to be clear, the link isn't to my set-up, but is the system I copied for my server. But you're right, it makes a very nice low power low cost server. I bought all of mine from eBay - the processor board and case were used but perfect. I think the HD was the only new part. It's been running for probably 3 years without a problem.

I'm a big fan of Squeezebox products, having started with a Squeezebox 1 (which I still have along with a Squeezebox 2 somewhere) but my current set-up feeds a Slim Devices Transporter and a Squeezebox Duet in two different rooms.

wondered if it was yours,

Fifer

Toki wrote: »

Thanks for that, looks very impressive setup, something I'd love to be able to do but budget limitations are the reason I'd rather use USB external hard drive into a device rather than do what you have done and having a server. I note it cost £300 in 2007 on top of the £200 for the Squeezebox Touch.

Any other ideas? I wouldn't mind paying £00 if the device had an internal server capable of running a USB external hard drive, rather than having the Squeezebox Touch along with a NAS or separate server.

Thanks.

Here's pretty much the same thing (no HD) used on eBay for £35 inc shipping. You can get a Squeezebox reciever for £90 new. It has no screen but you can control it from a phone app if you have a wireless router and a smartphone.