Hi-Fi

[Chicane]

What would you recommend as a hi-fi?

I'm looking for something around £250. I've been looking at the Denon DM-31 as all the magazines recommend it. Problem is it can only take 1 CD at a time and I'm lazy and can't be bothered moving every time I want to change CD. The way around this would be to get a multi changer CD player or one with MP3 CD playback. I don't think Denon do systems with either option in my price range.

I was also wondering if can easily connect my MP3 player to a hi-fi to play the tracks through it. Is this possible?

I have considered going for seperates but I'd rather wait until I've graduated and can afford really good equipment before going down that road.

What do you think?

Regards,

Al.

[docevi1]

what are you after it to do? I have a decent Awia mini system which produces lovely sound which only distorts at the highest settings (MP3's don't help there) but all I use it for is to play my music from my PC/iPod. I would get better milage out of an Amp...

[Chicane]

docevi1 said:

what are you after it to do? I have a decent Awia mini system which produces lovely sound which only distorts at the highest settings (MP3's don't help there) but all I use it for is to play my music from my PC/iPod. I would get better milage out of an Amp...

it would be mostly for playing music but most of music is now in MP3 format on my PC but I'm not really satisfied with the sound i get. I've got an external soundcard hooked upto an ancient amp and speakers which probably plays a large part in the sound quality!

So I probably should get a new amp and speakers.

[docevi1]

an amp/speakers combo would set you back less (although more if you wanted) and you can always add a CD player if you need one later

[fatsteve]

Chicane,

The DM31 is a cracking unit and it outshines quite a few "budget" CD+amp combo's. For the same money you'd stuggle to get an amp+cd player+speakers for that money.

It as an AUX in, so you could connect an external source (mp3 player, pc, etc).

If you can locate your PC near it a £10 cable will do the job nicely to link your stereo with your PC.

Obviously there are loads of other options, but if you are on a budget I'd opt for a decent sounding combi system (ie DM31) connected to a PC, rather than spending money on loads of separates of mediocre quality.

Having said that, if you are patient, then separates are definately the way to go since you'd simply upgrade each componet as and when your budget allows.

HTH

Steve

[luca brazzi]

Squeezebox.



www.advancedmp3players.co.uk/shop/product_info.php?products_id=80

Bought one last week, took 3 minutes (really) to set up, wirelessly (will also connect via ethernet).

Put all my CDs onto the PC at 320Kbps...now listen to anything without ever having to change CD.

The box has 2 phono sockets (and a digital audio) for connecting to whatever sound system you want.

For me its an absolutely fantastic use of technology and home network bandwidth.

Box is 200 pounds - what a bargain. Not going to buy a hi-fi now.

LB

[rich-uk]

For that sort of money, I'd get a really good paid of speakers for my PC and use that.

Logitech do some good ones.

[gopher]

Luca

That squeezebox looks like just the thing I need - Q for you:-

I limit my wireless connection to allowed mac addresses only how easy is it to see the mac address on this?

Cheers

Paul

[fatsteve]

gopher said:

Luca That squeezebox looks like just the thing I need - Q for you:- I limit my wireless connection to allowed mac addresses only how easy is it to see the mac address on this? Cheers Paul

Piece of cake, the MAC address is on listed on the bottom of the Squeezebox (the wifi version), just make a note of it and add it to your AP's MAC allow list. I lock my wifi network down by MAC address too and have not encountered any issues with squeezebox when doing so. The usual rule of thumb applies though, get it working first, then tighten up the security.

HTH

Steve

>> Edited by fatsteve on Sunday 9th January 12:57

[gopher]

Thanks FS!

That does answer my question and so will be purchasing quite soon methinks, I noticed Luca's place was out of stock so found it here at a good price

[davidy]

gopher

There are two versions of the squeezebox, one with wired ethernet only the other with wired+wireless. Make sure you get the right one!

I got mine from www.broadbandstuff.co.uk, delivered in 18hours from ordering!

Great piece of kit.

davidy

[gopher]

davidy said:

gopher There are two versions of the squeezebox, one with wired ethernet only the other with wired+wireless. Make sure you get the right one! I got mine from www.broadbandstuff.co.uk, delivered in 18hours from ordering! Great piece of kit. davidy

Well spotted that link is indeed for the ethernet version! cheers.

[davidy]

BTW the Squeezebox has some advanteges over its competitors-

1) It will play uncompressed WAV files. It will also play FLAC files (a lossless WAV file), in this instance the decompression is done by the SlimServer software, not in the box. Either of these will give high quality otput much better than MP3s

2) It has Digital Outputs (Optical and Co-Axial) so an external DAC can be used. I have only just bought my unit but intend to use it with my Meridian DAC into my Naim Pre/Power Combo.

It is really does produce some great quality audio.

davidy

[fatsteve]

davidy said:

BTW the Squeezebox has some advanteges over its competitors- 1) It will play uncompressed WAV files. It will also play FLAC files (a lossless WAV file), in this instance the decompression is done by the SlimServer software, not in the box. Either of these will give high quality otput much better than MP3s It is really does produce some great quality audio. davidy

To expand on this, it will work with any codec (FLAC, Shorten, Ogg/Vorbis, Monkey, Apple Lossless, AAC etc)that you install. It's fantastically flexible. You can also to all manner of clever transcoding too, such as downcoding the bitrate for HTTP access (ie you original MP3's are at 320kbs, these can be streamed on the fly at lower bitrates - great for streaming over broadband etc.)

The server software (slimserver) is open-source so there are constant improvements, which are free (you only pay for the hardware).

Awesome product.

Steve

>> Edited by fatsteve on Sunday 9th January 16:59

[neil.b]

Missed this thread somehow....

I've had a Squeezebox for over a year now and just got a second one for the bedroom. Use the alarm to wake up to any one of 25,000 songs. Makes for some interesting mornings sometimes

Have to agree with what's been said, truly brilliant piece of kit.

Having said that, I've just ordered one of these, mainly out of curiosity and for the video/photo side of things.

www.elgato.com/index.php?file=products_eyehome

[size13]

A cheaper solution to wireless...

www.scan.co.uk/Products/ProductInfo.asp?WebProductID=147135

[davidy]

But it only plays compressed files, the Squeezebox/Slimserver approach will handle uncompressed files

davidy

[neil.b]

neil.b said:

Missed this thread somehow.... I've had a Squeezebox for over a year now and just got a second one for the bedroom. Use the alarm to wake up to any one of 25,000 songs. Makes for some interesting mornings sometimes Have to agree with what's been said, truly brilliant piece of kit. Having said that, I've just ordered one of these, mainly out of curiosity and for the video/photo side of things. <a href="http://www.elgato.com/index.php?file=products_eyehome">www.elgato.com/index.php?file=products_eyehome</a>

The EyeHome turned up in the post today, will try to give it a whirl tonight and will report back.

Couple of things from just unpacking it;

1) Its tiny! I imagined it would be about the size of a DVD player (don't know why), but its only 8 inches wide and 1/5 inches deep. That's no bad thing though.

2) They've been a bit naughty claiming that its a "Wireless Version" - what it is, is the wired version with a bloody ugly wireless interface that plugs into the LAN socket. The wireless adapter is as big as the bloody player itself! AND, the plug on the wireless adpater is a big molded transformer with two pins, supplied with a two-pin-to-UK adapter. Making the whole plug look like a small power station.

3) Seems to be Mac only as the only software supplied is for the Mac. Doesn't bother me but its worth knowing.



>> Edited by neil.b on Tuesday 15th February 16:44

[stuh]

davidy said:

BTW the Squeezebox has some advanteges over its competitors- 1) It will play uncompressed WAV files. It will also play FLAC files (a lossless WAV file), in this instance the decompression is done by the SlimServer software, not in the box. Either of these will give high quality otput much better than MP3s 2) It has Digital Outputs (Optical and Co-Axial) so an external DAC can be used. I have only just bought my unit but intend to use it with my Meridian DAC into my Naim Pre/Power Combo. It is really does produce some great quality audio. davidy

Seriously? I hadn't even considered using a streaming device to my main hi-fi as i assumed it would be pants.