Just about to buy, reliability question

[FredBasset]

Some good replies, thank you all very much indeed.

I've been looking into this for ages but have lived in a caravan whilst finishing our house for a couple of years.

I had pretty much convinced myself to go the Sonos route but a few things have put me off it. I'd like to use Windows Home Server, Sonos won't run off it. Then I've got a lot of Home Automation here and wanted a single controller to use for av, lights, music etc, as nice as the Sonos one is it's a single purpose device and another bit of clutter.

Actually I specialise in technology /user interaction and I think functionally the Sonos controller is great, the actually hardware I think is a little dated now.

I also want to be able to use the BBC listen again feature and I understand Sonos can't do that. I also like the fact that there are mods to the Squeezebox such as the SB+ for more audiophile listening.

Each system will be a wires only install here so I'm not too worried about Sonosnet against normal wifi.

So I've tried out SS and SoftSqueeze and used my Nokia 770 to control it and as I said I'm impressed. I've got a copy of Barry Gordon's Slimserver pronto code to install on my Pronto.

I also like the fact that this is an open community.

If WHS does not work out for me I'll go the Linux route.

Thank you all, I just wanted to get some feedback on reliability, I take the point this is a Slim Devices forum but sometimes the most vocal members of forums are the ones with problems so I'm taking the responses to this thread as a positive.

I've also managed to find three little used Black and Silver SB3's for a much reduced price.

The last thing putting me off was the lack of Napster support (I'm in the UK), from the posts here though I'll check out last fm.

Looks like I will be going this route.

Thanks once again

Regards
Fred

[Relayer35]

Good luck Fred. I've browsed this thread quickly, and just want to add one thought. Make sure you don't do much else with the SlimServer other than being a server. After a recent motherboard death, I moved my server to a different PC, which also handled a lot of BitTorrent traffic (all legal stuff mind you). I started having all sorts of issues with the user interface freezing. This happened on the two wireless Squeezebox's as well as PC's running SoftSqueeze. I eventually found that it worked fine if I didn't Torrent on that PC. I have a very large library and found that the 512mb of RAM wasn't cutting it either. (I had a lot more on the other PC before it died). Anyway, its all up and running fine now and has been very stable since I stopped using the machine for other things. Also, if you're looking for stability, keep the plugins to a minimum.

[FredBasset]

Cheers, I only plan on a couple of plugins.

Just got my Tranquil T7 with WHS, so far so good. Only have a little bit of Flac music transferred so far.

3 Squeezeboxes arrive on Friday. Barry Gordon's pronto screens/scripts work beautifully to control SlimServer.

I have a T amp to try and so far I'm happy.

Regards
Fred

[4mula1]

Glad to hear you took the plunge. With a wired setup you should be virtually bulletproof in the reliability department.

That being said, SlimServer is a pretty solid product, but it's only as reliable as the hardware and environment you put it on. I used to run SlimServer on my XP box which my wife, daughter, and I all use and it was an ok experience at best (bear in mind my system is a meager Athlon 1200Mhz). I looked at my extra computer hardware and $136 later I had a dedicated box built that I installed Solaris 10 on. Outside of the bad stick of RAM and the occasional power blip it's been rock solid and I couldn't be happier with it. It's sole job is to serve me music.

It is ironic, it took me over a week to get SlimServer running on Solaris and the first song I played on that system was "Life Wasted." I think my wife thinks that!

You'll love your new setup and if WHS doesn't live up to expectations then *nix is where it's at!

[Mark Lanctot]

I used to run SlimServer on my XP box which my wife, daughter, and I all use and it was an ok experience at best (bear in mind my system is a meager Athlon 1200Mhz). I looked at my extra computer hardware and $136 later I had a dedicated box built that I installed Solaris 10 on.

To put this into perspective I have a similar box, Duron 1200 MHz, with only 512 MB of RAM, so slower than that. However it runs SC7 just fine.

The difference, as you noted - it runs Linux (Ubuntu Linux 7.10). Also I'm generally not doing other things with it.

I could get more performance if I went with a lighter distro, Ubuntu Server for instance. But it works just fine even with the Ubuntu eye candy.

[4mula1]

To put this into perspective I have a similar box, Duron 1200 MHz, with only 512 MB of RAM, so slower than that. However it runs SC7 just fine.

The difference, as you noted - it runs Linux (Ubuntu Linux 7.10). Also I'm generally not doing other things with it.

I could get more performance if I went with a lighter distro, Ubuntu Server for instance. But it works just fine even with the Ubuntu eye candy.

My 512MB stick of RAM is out for RMA right now...I'm down to 256! Still runs okay but have noticed an occasional track restart for no reason.

I, too, could wring some more performance out of my box if I didn't have the GUI running. It's always at the login prompt but there's the overhead for that. I'm just not confident enough in my Solaris skills to go without it yet.

[rdb001]

I've spent a long time looking into SB3's and Sonos. Recently I've set up SS and used softsqueeze and I've been impressed with it.

I have cat5 all around the house and won't be using wireless. As I have a Pronto TSU9600 I can use this for control.

Regards
Fred

Please let me know whether you get the 9600 to control Slimserver/TP. I just got a Pronto 9600 but programming is not nearly as easy as I thought it might be. I have a TP in to an Audio Research Ref 3 on Aux 1, Sonos in on Aux 2 and also on processor (to use the Sonos remote volume control), a Comcast moto box, and an Elite 1150.

Many thanks.

[FredBasset]

Well I've finally got around to rigging this up in our kitchen. I've got a T amp and a pair of Tangent Evo's for the first client.

I've ripped everything to FLAC and using the Squeezebox to decode. Everything is wired and I have a gigabit capable network.

Sound quality is great and the convenience is superb. Only down side is that every so often the music stops and you need to press play to get it to start again.

The server is dedicated to Slim Server.

Cheers
Fred

[FredBasset]

Well the issues I've had are sorted and I have to say I'm extremely happy with the Squeezeboxes.

I've been playing one non stop for three days to test reliability and its been fine. I've also listened to lots of music, both my own and internet radio.

If anyone is reading this thread in the future I can definitely recommend using Squeezeboxes. In fact I'm going to buy a Transporter for the lounge now.

Regards
Fred

[haunyack]

... I'm going to buy a Transporter for the lounge now.

Open bar?

If you would indulge me a bit...what's your audio plan for the "lounge" TP?

.