Sync'd SBs mess up on AAC, AIFF

[selop]

I have multiple SBs synchronized to move sound through the whole house. WHen I am playing a shuffled playlist (out of iTunes), the SBs begin to stutter and generate noise when they hit an AAC or AIFF track. All of the MP3s are fine, but a single AAC in the playlist will mess things up when that one is played.

Any ideas?

[radish]

Sounds like your bandwidth is marginal. AAC and AIFF are (by default) streamed in a lossless format thus needing much more bandwidth than MP3. If you don't mind taking a hit in sound quality you can configure it to use MP3 for all formats, the only other option is figure out how to make the connection more solid. Options include new antennas, boosters, relocation of the access point, using wired not wireless, etc.

[selop]

Will convert to MP3

AAC is definitely in the minority in my library, so converting to MP3 is easy ... thanks.

And yes, makes sense that it is a bandwidth issue: 4 or 5 sync'd units, all on wireless (802.11b, so not super fast).

[ajmitchell]

Try this : Server & Network Health

Hi,

I have exactly the same problem as you, but only when I am playing from a NAS. I suggest you run slimserver's Home / Server & Network Health test (=>Home / Server & Network Health => enable monitoring). I suspect it will tell you there is a problem as already suggested. My experience is that running lossless / AAC off an internal hard disk in multiple Sbs will work just fine if your wireless settings are ok. You can always test hard wiring them just to check it does work ok.

[radish]

Hi,

I have exactly the same problem as you, but only when I am playing from a NAS. I suggest you run slimserver's Home / Server & Network Health test (=>Home / Server & Network Health => enable monitoring). I suspect it will tell you there is a problem as already suggested. My experience is that running lossless / AAC off an internal hard disk in multiple Sbs will work just fine if your wireless settings are ok. You can always test hard wiring them just to check it does work ok.

I think you'll have real trouble running more than a couple of units on 802.11b (which the original poster mentioned) with lossless. With a G network you can certainly run several - I run 3 with no problems - but B is very much more limited.

[radish]

AAC is definitely in the minority in my library, so converting to MP3 is easy ... thanks.

And yes, makes sense that it is a bandwidth issue: 4 or 5 sync'd units, all on wireless (802.11b, so not super fast).

Just as an FYI - you don't need to convert your files - just enable "Bitrate limiting" in the player settings and the file will automatically be converted to mp3 for streaming.