Airport Express, Squeezebox and NAS advice

[admin_exported]

Just a few questions!

How well does the iPhone operate the AE and SB? Im assuming that it will integrate very well with the AE but does it show your entire music library rather than what is only on the iPhone itself? In terms of the SB, does the likes of iPeng operate the internet radio stations and last fm as well as your entire library?

Ultimately I want to go down the NAS route, prefering not to have my laptop on at all times to access music. Do the AE and SB have issues operating as such? In fact, how do you even go about setting up such a system?! Would something like the HDX/Popcorn work (and also giving me a good storage device for movies)?

Im obviously keen to save pennies but with Spotify fairly likely to be fully integrated with the SB some time in the future I suppose that route would ultimately be the wisest to take. But then I dont really know!

This is pretty much what I asked in the computer sections so apologies for the duplication!!!

 

[Dan Turner]

The iPhone Remote app controls the iTunes on your computer via your wifi network, so yes you have access to your whole library. Very slick it is too! if you have itunes on a wi-fi enabled computer and an iPhone then you can download the app and try it out.

 

[Anonymous]

Cheers Dan

And it would still function with a NAS without pc as long as the itunes library is stored there?

 

[professorhat]

With the AE you'll need iTunes running somewhere which means the PC / Mac has to be switched on. If you just want to access from the NAS, you need the Squeezebox (or equivalent) I think.

 

[Anonymous]

Cheers, thats one of the things I needed to know. Now to decide on using the iPhone or Squeezebox remote! Not to mention sorting out the best NAS route, amp, and cd with DAC or DAC!!! Christ!

 

[Dave_]

Whatever NAS you go for,if your going the squeezebox route,make sure it's one with squeezecentre pre-installed as its a right PITA to install yourself by all accounts.

 

[mattjax05]

J0n35y:

Cheers, thats one of the things I needed to know. Now to decide on using the iPhone or Squeezebox remote! Not to mention sorting out the best NAS route, amp, and cd with DAC or DAC!!! Christ!

Well, I'd 100% recommend using the iPhone/Touch with squeezecenter (with the iPeng app). It works very well and the iPeng's UI also look good too. Much better than the squeezebox remote considering all the other things you can do with it! You can then buy a squeezebox classic or a squeezebox receiver (the latter being cheaper but no display) to stream from NAS/pc to it. If you go down the NAS route though people on here recommend you buy one with squeezecenter pre-installed.

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks again all.

Does iPeng control internet radio and other squeezebox features too? It would def save on the pennies and is always something I could add later.

 

[mattjax05]

J0n35y:

Thanks again all.

Does iPeng control internet radio and other squeezebox features too? It would def save on the pennies and is always something I could add later.

Yes it does my friend. I don't have a squeezebox receiver/classic as yet, I'm using softsqueeze on my pc and my ipod touch controls that (but that means my pc is connected to my AV via a HDMI cable) I do want a wireless receiver though!

 

[Anonymous]

Brilliant! I assume with softqueeze or some other software I can effectively use my laptop (which currently stores all my tunes) as a gigantic controller too? Would be handy for the other half when I out the house and she wants to listen to stuff.

Was just looking at NASs. Didnt realise the problems involved! Was planing on going for something like the Buffalon Linkstation (due to cheapness) thinking I could muck about and install/set things up myself. usually ok with that sort of stuff but looks a nightmare! Do you know how the likes of the HDX 1000/Popcorn type storage devices operate in a hi fi set up? I know they focus on the video side of things but Id have plenty of use of that too.

 

[mattjax05]

J0n35y:

Brilliant! I assume with softqueeze or some other software I can effectively use my laptop (which currently stores all my tunes) as a gigantic controller too? Would be handy for the other half when I out the house and she wants to listen to stuff.

Sure can, softsqueeze is basically a software version of the classic/receiver. Download squeezecenter and softsqueeze now and have a play, it's free. http://softsqueeze.sourceforge.net/

 

[mattjax05]

mattjax05:J0n35y:

Brilliant! I assume with softqueeze or some other software I can effectively use my laptop (which currently stores all my tunes) as a gigantic controller too? Would be handy for the other half when I out the house and she wants to listen to stuff.

Sure can, softsqueeze is basically a software version of the classic/receiver. Download squeezecenter and softsqueeze now and have a play, it's free. http://softsqueeze.sourceforge.net/

Just having a look - you won't need softsqueeze if you have the classic/receiver. You will just need squeezecenter on your pc which can be used as a control to stream the music of your choice from your pc.

 

[Anonymous]

Cheers again! Much appreciated.

I now think Ive got the DAC sorted. I think I have my wireless route sorted. I even think I have an idea on the amp (down to 2 or 3 anyway!). Just need to sort the NAS! Phew!!!

 

[j4mm3r]

Hi, this is a very interesting thread, as im looking to get either a squeezbox receiver or an airport express.

Could someone just confirm if i got a squeezebox receiver, i assume you have to buy a remote separatley but i could use my iphone with an app instead? does this include setting it up or is that done via pc? also if i got the squeezebox receiver i could eventually go down the nas route (which i didnt even consider thanks for sharing your views!).

Can you use a nas with airport express? also does anyone no if theres any difference in sound quality between the ae or sqbr as the sqbr has a built in dac? if used a separate dac i quess that doesnt matter?

thanks for sharing your thoughts so far ive found them very useful.

 

[Anonymous]

Well from what I can gather:

1. You can use your iphone/touch as a remote with iPeng. This gives you access to your library and all the other Squeezebox radiio functions and I assume access to Napster (which is Squeezecentre compatibile) and hopefully in the future Spotify if they get the finger out.

2. Not sure on the setting up but from what I understand it is pretty painless and straightforward.

3. The nas route is definately something Im considering. Id rather get a cheaper harddrive like the Buffalo models and try to fit the software onto it but it is apparently very difficult. QNAP systems can be bought with everything sorted for you but you have to pay quite a bit more for these "ready made" systems.

4. Im sure you can use a nas with the airport express but you have to move itunes and your music library onto it so you can point the AE to the right location. It wont stream songs from a library on a NAS as it sort of uses iTunes as its communication method (or something like that!).

5, Sound quality wise I think it comes down to personal preference. Some prefer their AE with the dacmagic, others the SB. Also there are preferences for the difference external dacs out there. Some even think the SBs dac is good enough on its own.

Hope that sort of helps. Bear in mind I didnt know what I was talking about at all 5 days ago!!!

 

[mattjax05]

j4mm3r:

Could someone just confirm if i got a squeezebox receiver, i assume you have to buy a remote separatley but i could use my iphone with an app instead? does this include setting it up or is that done via pc? also if i got the squeezebox receiver i could eventually go down the nas route (which i didnt even consider thanks for sharing your views!).

You don't necessarily need a remote. You can control your music via Squeezecenter (the program you need to install on your pc)

If you did get the iPeng app all you do is install Squeezecenter on your pc and open the iPeng app and it should automatically connect to Squeezecenter.

 

[j4mm3r]

J0n35y & mattjax05 thanks for input much appreciated.

If i dont need a remote as such for the sb receiver then i think i will go down that route as it has a decent dac built in and i could always add an external one at anytime just as i could add a nas when i have the funds. thanks for that info think i will try and get one tomorrow as they are about £70 not bad price compared to the sb 3.

Couple of other thoughts, feel free to shoot me down! what would be the best way to connect to the stereo? if the sb receiver has a dac (digital to analogue converter) would i be better off using rca cables, i see they have digital optical outputs too, not sure if im getting confused but i have spare optical & rca so guess i can try out!!

Also, today ive been playing about with simplify media 2 app on iphone streaming apple lossless files to iphone, outputting through stereo, one thing i would say it didnt quite sound as good as just connecting the iphone directly and playing songs, it sounded a bit more muffled/confused, whereas direct play sounded alot more clearer and dynamic. do you think squeezebox/airport express would do a better job than a £4 app on an iphone? just thought i ask before i spend £70.

thanks

 

[mattjax05]

j4mm3r:

Couple of other thoughts, feel free to shoot me down! what would be the best way to connect to the stereo? if the sb receiver has a dac (digital to analogue converter) would i be better off using rca cables, i see they have digital optical outputs too, not sure if im getting confused but i have spare optical & rca so guess i can try out!!

If you want to utilise the Receiver's DAC you will need to connect to Amplifier using the RCA cables. If you use a digital connection (optical for example) you would be by-passing the Receiver's DAC.

 

[mattjax05]

j4mm3r:

Also, today ive been playing about with simplify media 2 app on iphone streaming apple lossless files to iphone, outputting through stereo, one thing i would say it didnt quite sound as good as just connecting the iphone directly and playing songs, it sounded a bit more muffled/confused, whereas direct play sounded alot more clearer and dynamic. do you think squeezebox/airport express would do a better job than a £4 app on an iphone? just thought i ask before i spend £70.

Bit confused here, are you:

1) streaming from pc to iphone (using simplify) then connecting iphone to stereo amp? and then

2) playing songs directly from iphone connected to stereo amp?

What connection in both cases are made from iphone to amp?

I'm not sure what Simplify does to your music files however with Squeeze the files are unaltered from the original. And don't forget with using your iphone as the source you are probably using its own DAC (depending on your connection from iphone to amp) which won't be as good as the SB receiver's DAC.

 

[j4mm3r]

mattjax05,

Thanks for your thoughts, yeah i streamed music to my iphone, which was connected to my amp via a lead into the headphones socket of iphone, connected to right & white inputs on amp, this was same connection when i played directly off iphone rather than streaming. it didnt quite have the same separation or depth, but ive read other peoples comments and they dont seem to think the quality of simplify media was as good as say airfoil (similar software).

I appreciate the above is a crude cheaper way of streaming & connecting, the cable is a freebie i have got from somewhere but even so i hope squeezebox or airport express is a marked improvement, as i have bucket loads of apple lossless files, and want def want to purchase a squeezebox receiver.

thanks

 

[mattjax05]

j4mm3r:

mattjax05,

Thanks for your thoughts, yeah i streamed music to my iphone, which was connected to my amp via a lead into the headphones socket of iphone, connected to right & white inputs on amp, this was same connection when i played directly off iphone rather than streaming. it didnt quite have the same separation or depth, but ive read other peoples comments and they dont seem to think the quality of simplify media was as good as say airfoil (similar software).

I appreciate the above is a crude cheaper way of streaming & connecting, the cable is a freebie i have got from somewhere but even so i hope squeezebox or airport express is a marked improvement, as i have bucket loads of apple lossless files, and want def want to purchase a squeezebox receiver.

thanks

I'm confident that with the SB receiver you will be very happy with the sound quality. I'm looking to buy one in a couple weeks, then I'll be fully wireless