Need advice on dealing with retailers.

[nopiano]

I have to say the Sneaky looks fantastic, provided I could use without connecting directly to hub/nas with use of some powerline or wifi extender.

I think that's exactly what you do need to do, isn't it? Ethernet cable or homeplug required I believe.

More here:-

http://www.linn.co.uk/files/ccf1286d/SneakyMusicDS_infosheet.pdf

 

[CnoEvil]

Hi Cno Evil,

I appreciate where you are coming from and effort in responding.

One man's meat is maybe another man's living hell but you never know until you actually sit down demo and compare.

I can't ever remember going to a demo where my preconceived ideas, that actually turned out to be true!

Always ended up buying something else....... more expensive!

I will have to demo my current setup with Rega Dac vs sonos + rega dac vs linn sneaky to see if worth saving up longer for sneaky. Although I think i'd be really pleased with Sonos for ease and being able to play more music I wonder if I would be feeling I could be hearing much more with a better source. Speakers are Neat Motive 3 btw.

I have to say the Sneaky looks fantastic, provided I could use without connecting directly to hub/nas with use of some powerline or wifi extender.

Will report back once had demo.

Cheers for highlighting this.

Ambrose

Ambrose, you are more than welcome.

I believe the key to success, is being aware of the diversity of great products......and then doing a lot of listening. What I've learned over the years, is not to jump on the first product that sounds good, but use it as a benchmark (which can keep changing). Also, that the solution often lies outside "the usual suspects", which means you have to do a bit more digging to find out about them.

With regard to the Sneaky (or any DS), I believe Linn strongly recommend that they are hard wired to the NAS (to prevent drop-outs), but can be controlled wirelessly. It's not usually a problem, and the NAS can be in a different location. Further info on the FAQs here:
http://docs.linn.co.uk/wiki/index.php/FAQs#Does_the_NAS_have_to_be_in_the_same_room_as_the_DS_player.3F

Networks are not my thing, but the stability of doing it "Linn's way" is very sensible, and the ensuing sound quality is more than worth the effort.

Cno

 

[tino]

I have to say the Sneaky looks fantastic, provided I could use without connecting directly to hub/nas with use of some powerline or wifi extender.

With regard to the Sneaky (or any DS), I believe Linn strongly recommend that they are hard wired to the NAS (to prevent drop-outs), but can be controlled wirelessly. It's not usually a problem, and the NAS can be in a different location

When I looked at the Sneaky I was wondering the about the best way to set it up and dug up the D-Link DIR 685 router with built in uPnP server and hard disk. The idea being this could be hard wired to the Sneaky, but also act a a wireless router for eveything else in the house. It even comes with a pretty colour display for showing the weather and photos of the wife and kids!

 

[CnoEvil]

When I looked at the Sneaky I was wondering the about the best way to set it up and dug up the D-Link DIR 685 router with built in uPnP server and hard disk. The idea being this could be hard wired to the Sneaky, but also act a a wireless router for eveything else in the house. It even comes with a pretty colour display for showing the weather and photos of the wife and kids!

Did you get as far as listening to it?

 

[tino]

Did you get as far as listening to it

Not yet ... I tried to book a demo with House of Linn (just round the corner from me) but had to cancel due to work and travel comittments. I was told that that the Majik DS might be a better bet, but I couldn't justify spending that much. You may have gathered from my signature and some of my posts I'm playing around with some cheaper digital options ... Chordette Gem / PC / Squeezebox touch / apt-x bluetooth ... a couple of hundred £ here and there ... had I gone for the Sneaky in the first place it might have been a better bet! :doh:

My ideal ... Sneaky DS size player, internal 40W amp, at least 1 analogue line in + 1 digital input (and the same number out), equivalent audio quality (whatever that is), internal hard disk option, monitor output to display music collection, internet radio via network, and simple remote control that doesn't need a smartphone. And no silly iPod dock ;-). Price < £750. Failing that I am going to build one ... I even took a look inside my LK85 power amp to see how much free space was in there to add bits and bobs ... not enough

 

[CnoEvil]

Did you get as far as listening to it

Not yet ... I tried to book a demo with House of Linn (just round the corner from me) but had to cancel due to work and travel comittments. I was told that that the Majik DS might be a better bet, but I couldn't justify spending that much. You may have gathered from my signature and some of my posts I'm playing around with some cheaper digital options ... Chordette Gem / PC / Squeezebox touch / apt-x bluetooth ... a couple of hundred £ here and there ... had I gone for the Sneaky in the first place it might have been a better bet! :doh:

My ideal ... Sneaky DS size player, internal 40W amp, at least 1 analogue line in + 1 digital input (and the same number out), equivalent audio quality (whatever that is), internal hard disk option, monitor output to display music collection, internet radio via network, and simple remote control that doesn't need a smartphone. And no silly iPod dock ;-). Price < £750. Failing that I am going to build one ... I even took a look inside my LK85 power amp to see how much free space was in there to add bits and bobs ... not enough

Are you aware of the Linn Sekrit, which I think is available for £1500, and may meet some of your criteria.

There is useful information here: http://www.linn.co.uk/sekrit_ds-i

and http://docs.linn.co.uk/wiki/index.php/Sekrit_DS-I

and http://www.houseoflinn.com/mall/productpage.cfm/houseoflinn/_Sekrit%20DSi/233733/LINN%20SEKRIT%20DSi

Cno

 

[tino]

@Cno - re: Sekrit

Thanks for the links ... I was aware of the Sekrit, but it's priced at around £1500, so out of my price range. I tend to limit myself to around £500 - £600 max. per component (new or ex-dem), but this sometimes means I end up with more bits and bobs than I really need!

 

[CnoEvil]

@Cno - re: Sekrit

Thanks for the links ... I was aware of the Sekrit, but it's priced at around £1500, so out of my price range. I tend to limit myself to around £500 - £600 max. per component (new or ex-dem), but this sometimes means I end up with more bits and bobs than I really need!

No probs. It was a bit of a long shot....and you just never know. :shifty:

 

[nopiano]

@ tino, I think I'd beat you to that £750 device if it existed! In reality, I fear you may need to spend double or more to get anywhere near. Various Naim and Cyrus items spring to mind, such as Uniti and Streamline.

Would Marantz NA7004 plus PM6004 do the trick at around £900 for both?

 

[tino]

@ tino, I think I'd beat you to that £750 device if it existed! In reality, I fear you may need to spend double or more to get anywhere near. Various Naim and Cyrus items spring to mind, such as Uniti and Streamline.

Would Marantz NA7004 plus PM6004 do the trick at around £900 for both?

I think £500 for amp + integral DAC (think Brunoco Diva / Teac A-H01), then £250 for digital stuff (Squeezebox touch + micro server) ... it can be done!? :?

 

[tino]

The price of the Squeezebox on Amazon has dropped another tenner to a shade over £150.

Worth a punt. Woops ... I just did!

SB Touch arrived this morning ... got woken up by the postman ... and despite being a bit bleary eyed (I'm not a morning person!) ... I had it up an running within 10 minutes through its analogue outputs. I'd say it's a keeper. Now playing Linn radio through t'internet. Initial impressions are that it's on a par with the Bluetooth apt-x I used with my Chordette Gem. Now need to work out how to route the USB output through the Gem's USB DAC ... well maybe later ... off to have some breakfast now ....

 

[chebby]

Now need to work out how to route the USB output through the Gem's USB DAC ... well maybe later ...

Standard USB cable by the looks of the connections on the back of both devices.

Edit... Oops. No take that back. Looks like the SB Touch digital outputs are optical or coax. (The USB is for input.)

Sorry.

Guess you need (a) a different DAC (b) some kind of optical/coax ---> USB adaptor (c) tweak to SB Touch USB driver options*. (Disables optical and coax outputs and is 'iffy' with asynchronous USB DACs.)

*Can't post details here due to house rules regarding links to other websites/forums.

 

[tino]

Now need to work out how to route the USB output through the Gem's USB DAC ... well maybe later ...

Standard USB cable by the looks of the connections on the back of both devices.

Edit... Oops. No take that back. Looks like the SB Touch digital outputs are optical or coax. (The USB is for input.)

Sorry.

Guess you need (a) a different DAC (b) some kind of optical/coax ---> USB adaptor (c) tweak to SB Touch USB driver options*. (Disables optical and coax outputs and is 'iffy' with asynchronous USB DACs.)

*Can't post details here due to house rules regarding links to other websites/forums.

It is possible to route the USB to a USB DAC instead of using the SPDIF as you hinted at in your post. I've actually just done that and audio seemed a little bit better, but there were a few muted clicks every now and then, so I've reverted back to analogue outs for now and will try and work out what the clicking is at a later date. The Gem is an adaptive USB DAC, so not quite sure what the problem might be.

 

[CustomCable]

Hi PP, good thread. Seems you made a really good decision with the DACmagic. To be honest there are many items coming soon that could be game changers in regards to streaming so a standalone DAC for the Arcam was a good call at the moment in my honest opinion.

As the topic title "what to look out for" I know i'm not really supposed to comment but when it comes to streamers it's all well and good talking about sound quality and it plays a major, major part. The only advice I normally give however is how the UI works and how easy it is to naviagate all 100's if not thousands of discs you now have stored on a HDD. Many streamers offer great sound....CliC, Stream DS and possibly the Leema Streamer (Not sure yet if this has a two-way remote) but with the standard supplied remote navigating your albums and songs is next to a nightmare! So this is where playing with the units and the controls really helps. The Simple Audio, Cyrus Xx, Sonos, Squeeze all tick my boxes for ease of access to your software library.

I know this won't help you now you have steered away from a streamer for now but thought this may help some others.

Regards

Phil

 

[plastic penguin]

Hi PP, good thread. Seems you made a really good decision with the DACmagic. To be honest there are many items coming soon that could be game changers in regards to streaming so a standalone DAC for the Arcam was a good call at the moment in my honest opinion.

As the topic title "what to look out for" I know i'm not really supposed to comment but when it comes to streamers it's all well and good talking about sound quality and it plays a major, major part. The only advice I normally give however is how the UI works and how easy it is to naviagate all 100's if not thousands of discs you now have stored on a HDD. Many streamers offer great sound....CliC, Stream DS and possibly the Leema Streamer (Not sure yet if this has a two-way remote) but with the standard supplied remote navigating your albums and songs is next to a nightmare! So this is where playing with the units and the controls really helps. The Simple Audio, Cyrus Xx, Sonos, Squeeze all tick my boxes for ease of access to your software library.

I know this won't help you now you have steered away from a streamer for now but thought this may help some others.

Regards

Phil

Thanks for the advice, Phil. I've got the DacMagic but it's still boxed at the moment - probably won't be tinkering for a few days (busy home life at present).

TBH, I'm totally fed-up with hi-fis; think I've OD'd over the past few weeks, hence why I'm not going post anymore unless I can directly (and positively) contribute to a particular thread. This narrows it down to Arcam and Leema amps...

Cheers, pp

 

[CnoEvil]

Thanks for the advice, Phil. I've got the DacMagic but it's still boxed at the moment - probably won't be tinkering for a few days (busy home life at present).

TBH, I'm totally fed-up with hi-fis; think I've OD'd over the past few weeks, hence why I'm not going post anymore unless I can directly (and positively) contribute to a particular thread. This narrows it down to Arcam and Leema amps...

Cheers, pp

...and CA Dacs (shortly) :shifty:

Don't be too much of a stranger. :O

 

[tino]

Hi PP, good thread. Seems you made a really good decision with the DACmagic. To be honest there are many items coming soon that could be game changers in regards to streaming so a standalone DAC for the Arcam was a good call at the moment in my honest opinion.

As the topic title "what to look out for" I know i'm not really supposed to comment but when it comes to streamers it's all well and good talking about sound quality and it plays a major, major part. The only advice I normally give however is how the UI works and how easy it is to naviagate all 100's if not thousands of discs you now have stored on a HDD. Many streamers offer great sound....CliC, Stream DS and possibly the Leema Streamer (Not sure yet if this has a two-way remote) but with the standard supplied remote navigating your albums and songs is next to a nightmare! So this is where playing with the units and the controls really helps. The Simple Audio, Cyrus Xx, Sonos, Squeeze all tick my boxes for ease of access to your software library.

I know this won't help you now you have steered away from a streamer for now but thought this may help some others.

Regards

Phil

Couldn't agree more with this comment. What stops me spending a lot of money on a digital network player is how rapidly digital devices become technically obsolete or superseded by cheaper and more capable equipment. I think it makes sense - if it's just stereo music you are in to - to invest in high quality analogue reproduction (amp + speaker) and digital to analgoue conversion (DAC) as these devices will stand the test of time and not need changing so often if at all ... and choose the most convenient and affordable digital setup that works for you - it doesn't need to be expensive - and change as your needs and expectations change. Now I'm off to listen to my £150 SB Touch