apple ipod music on your ML system - Wadia dock or Airport extreme???

[amey01]

I'm not thrilled about the concept that in order to listen to music I need to turn on a TV (or just not care about what is playing).

Correct - I'm not thrilled about that either.

[amey01]

Do any local chains sell the SB or is online my best bet? Amazon has it for $265

Check eBay - you should find one for cheap there. (new).

[Craig]

Not all the downloaded iTunes music is DRM protected. But I have been burned more than once by paying for a download from iTunes only to learn later that it was DRM and I couldn't play use on anything other than iTunes. I now only download from iTunes Plus which is not DRM infected and has a better sound quality.

[Burke]

The Sonos approach is great - no doubt about it, but it is proprietary. There are more options with the Squeezebox because it's open source. For instance, if you like the Sonos controller then you can use any multitude of options with the Squeezebox. They include the Duet controller as you said, an iTouch or iPhone (using iPeng), a Windows Mobile device (using SlimRemote), internet tablets, any Windows laptop or "Netbook" (using Moose) or any other Linux/Mac laptop (using the web interface). I'm sure there are many I've forgotten, but as you can see the options are endless!

All of those same options for remote control exists with the Sonos as well. I now use my iPhone rather than the Sonos controller. And I have been using the computer app since day one. The Sonos itself is not open source but the controller interface is, in fact the Linux / Perl controller code is 'open source'.

[amey01]

Not all the downloaded iTunes music is DRM protected. But I have been burned more than once by paying for a download from iTunes only to learn later that it was DRM and I couldn't play use on anything other than iTunes. I now only download from iTunes Plus which is not DRM infected and has a better sound quality.

But as we said - burn them to CD and then re-import them. Then you can play them on anything!

[akm3]

Except that means that you have to have your computer on doesn't it? Or at the very least have a monitor hooked up to the Apple TV so that you can see your iTunes window. That doesn't help me in either my listening room or out on my deck (no monitor in either place).

I'm not thrilled about the concept that in order to listen to music I need to turn on a TV (or just not care about what is playing).

That is true, I run a Mac Mini as my itunes server, so it sits there with no monitor (admin it remotely) and it only uses 13-40watts so it's not a big power killer. Great little servers those are If your only computer is some loud power hogging behemoth, then yea my suggestion isn't very good.

[akm3]

Not all the downloaded iTunes music is DRM protected. But I have been burned more than once by paying for a download from iTunes only to learn later that it was DRM and I couldn't play use on anything other than iTunes. I now only download from iTunes Plus which is not DRM infected and has a better sound quality.

All iTunes songs are now DRM free. There is no more DRM on iTunes, although old songs you bought with DRM still have it, you can upgrade them all to DRM free for a small charge per song.

iTunes 'Plus' is 256kb AAC files, no DRM and now all itunes songs are iTunes plus (that is a better way to say it)

[gordonmenninger]

actually I just upgraded all of my downloaded itunes tracks to itunes plus for $.30 / song. No big deal! That was pretty easy! One click - done!

[amey01]

actually I just upgraded all of my downloaded itunes tracks to itunes plus for $.30 / song. No big deal! That was pretty easy! One click - done!

How much did Apple get from you for that? Ouch - $.30 per song to re-purchase music you already own! Double-ouch.

[amey01]

That is true, I run a Mac Mini as my itunes server, so it sits there with no monitor (admin it remotely) and it only uses 13-40watts so it's not a big power killer. Great little servers those are If your only computer is some loud power hogging behemoth, then yea my suggestion isn't very good.

Atom based "Netbooks" make good SC servers.

[JonFo]

Atom based "Netbooks" make good SC servers.

This Shuttle mini-pc also makes an awsome SC server:

http://us.shuttle.com/ConfigurePacka...ackage=SLX2700

Quiet and small, just what you need for AV.

[gordonmenninger]

ok, I just bought the Squeezebox3 off amazon for $260 incl free shipping (actually it was JR Music world off amazon). Ebay had them used for around $200... not worth it imo to go that route. What's an extra 60 clams in this crazy hobby!

I will report back when I have it in my system and everything hooked up! Thanks everyone for all the great advice as usual!

Now does anyone have the optional remote with the color screen on it??? That looks pretty nifty, but seems kind of expensive...
Any suggestions?

[amey01]

ok, I just bought the Squeezebox3 off amazon for $260 incl free shipping (actually it was JR Music world off amazon). Ebay had them used for around $200... not worth it imo to go that route. What's an extra 60 clams in this crazy hobby!

Congratulations!! Enjoy - I'm sure you'll be happy!

Now does anyone have the optional remote with the color screen on it??? That looks pretty nifty, but seems kind of expensive...
Any suggestions?

See post #30!! Do you own any of those devices?

There are many options, but the easiest is to start off simply with any web browser enabled Wi-Fi device.

[PinePoint]

I purchased a Zune 120G a few months ago, and have loaded app 40G of .wav files so far. I'm not a huge microsoft fan, but portability of carrying a LARGE % of my collection with me (I travel a lot) was very desireable. IMHO, the sound through my etymotics surpassed anything any other devices I've tried, including the Cowan I4 (very good) and a Sansa E280 (pretty good). I then antied up for the Zune AC dock, and cabled into our party room Adcom GFA 535 to the in-ceiling speakers....Whoa...very nice! Got me thinking, what if I plug it into the Jolida>ML Aerius i's?? Stinking good!...not SACD level....but surprisingly it bumps up uncomfortably close to the standard CD playback (depending on the recording) of my Sony XA 9000. Anyone else tried this???

[gordonmenninger]

I just received the squeezebox 3 this afternoon. This thing is about the easiest piece of equipment I have ever hooked up! I thought it would be a bit more complicated. I lieterally had this thing connected to my computer and synced all of my ipod files within about 5 minutes and I was ready to go!
First impressions, it sounds very good! Very intuitive, and I think I am going to love all the internet radio stations - I am streaming Pandora right now... The possibilities with this thing are endless! Thanks everyone for all the advice in making me lean to this device over the Wadia ipod dock!



I do have a few questions for the sb3 experts on here:
- can you play the music that the squeezecenter is streaming also from your computer speakers that the SB3 is hooked up to???
- do I need to change anything on the audio output settings to be sure I am gettin maximum bitrate, sound quality, etc...?
- volume control - what do you guys do? Should I just leave it on 100 and call it a night?
-the optional Squeezebox remote controller with the nice lcd screen that sells for $299 really intrigues me... My only question - is the actual remote wifi as well so I can use it anywhere in the house / deck the network reaches or do I have to actually be close to the sb3 and point it at its IR port?????


thanks!