news for classical music users

[WSLam]

I spent a good portion of 2005 digitizing my CDs so that I can build my listening experience around the SB2 (then, SB3 now).

Then this comes along... I wish I waited a tad longer.

http://www.fortunaclassical.com/

I have a Hush as my music server! Same computer! But they are still using PC as source, whereas I think SB3 is a clearly superior solution! SD should work with Fortuna and create a few packages!

But Fortuna will be a GREAT START for people migrating to the SB3.

Now I wish SlimServer offers interfaces like the one they have...

ws

[aubuti]

Wow. I can see how people with a large classical collection would like a product that organizes music more sensibly than the typical pop artist/album structure. But $5000 for a player that you need to hook up to an HDTV to see what's playing? And only support for proprietary formats (WMA lossless and MP3)? But I'm sure it will work for some folks, and probably boost Olive's and Sonos's sales, as their products look inexpensive by comparison!

[WSLam]

Wow. I can see how people with a large classical collection would like a product that organizes music more sensibly than the typical pop artist/album structure. But $5000 for a player that you need to hook up to an HDTV to see what's playing? And only support for proprietary formats (WMA lossless and MP3)? But I'm sure it will work for some folks, and probably boost Olive's and Sonos's sales, as their products look inexpensive by comparison!

It's funny that when I did it on my own, I went down the same path. The computer they are using is a Hush...SOTA Fanless. I simply won't settle for any fan based cooling computer...as time passes by, dusts gathers and it will be noisy (at least in HK).

I also picked WMA Lossless. Personal choice. No intention to defend myself here.

Anyway, the high price is mostly due to the Hush. It's a first rate computer and what I use as my MCE and SlimServer now. It's been flawless. Fanless...is imo a start for any audiophile. Now only if they would bundle a few SB3 in the setup, they can consider themselves truly walking down the Audiophile path.

[)p(]

Another closed system classical database like the one for the olive symphony...what we need is an open one

peter

[WSLam]

Another closed system classical database like the one for the olive symphony...what we need is an open one

peter

closed you mean their tagging?
i agree... but then, classical music just doesn't have the same market appeal... I doubt the mainstream software will change to accomodate the tagging needs of classical music.

[aubuti]

Good point about silent, fanless computers being more expensive, although I am surprised just how much more expensive. Of course, silent/fanless only matters if the computer is somewhere you can hear it.

Re the closed nature of the system, it's not just the tagging system, but also (a) the recommended way of putting your music on the system ("send it to us"), and (b) the prohibition on hardware tinkering (what if 400GB gets too small?).

[)p(]

closed you mean their tagging?
i agree... but then, classical music just doesn't have the same market appeal... I doubt the mainstream software will change to accomodate the tagging needs of classical music.

There are several enhancements requests filed for slimserver some time ago which in theory could make it a great interface for navigating classical music.

But even when we get there we will still need to tag our classical cd's mostly by hand. A classical cd database is what we really need... Maybe in the form of a community effort. Now al the classical music fans that use slimserver are on their own and are most likely duplicating tagging lots and lots of cd's. A central database of some sort would be ideal.

I personally find the task to tag my 1000+ classical cd's at the moment too scary to even start. So my sb3 is only used for popular music at the moment. And because it works so good I find myself listening much less to classical music as I used to do.

peter

[WSLam]

Good point about silent, fanless computers being more expensive, although I am surprised just how much more expensive. Of course, silent/fanless only matters if the computer is somewhere you can hear it.

You are of course right. With SB3 wireless capability, it is not difficult to have a computer that is far enough for noise not to be an issue. Since I also wanted a MCE machine, I went with the Hush. Sort of kills two birds with one stone, at a price. Fanless is expensive! The thing weighs like 20 to 30lbs! it's one gigantic heat sink!

Re the closed nature of the system, it's not just the tagging system, but also (a) the recommended way of putting your music on the system ("send it to us"), and (b) the prohibition on hardware tinkering (what if 400GB gets too small?).[/QUOTE]

Oh, that. Well, it's because of the fanless thing...everything is connected inside via heatpipeps. I do have an external HDD connected using SATA in a SmartDrive HDD Enclosure, so I could have ore capacity without adding a single fan...

I OTOH just wishes that UI will include one for CLASSICAL music.

[aubuti]

Something I overlooked in my earlier comments is that the $5000 includes ripping and tagging up to 1000 CDs, adding liner notes, etc. If they do it well and you value your time at all, that service is worth a good part of the total price tag, especially with the dearth of free online classical music databases.

That is good to hear that you can add capacity easily via external HDD. Is there anyway to do a backup, or do you have to rely on the backup they keep on their server (mentioned in the FAQ?).

[mherger]

> Oh, that. Well, it's because of the fanless thing...everything is
> connected inside via heatpipeps. I do have an external HDD connected
> using SATA in a SmartDrive HDD Enclosure, so I could have ore capacity
> without adding a single fan...

....and is this really a Windows sticker on the back?!?

--

Michael

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