New to me - Transporter!

[ob_kook]

After being a long-time LMS / SB user (SB2, Duet, SB Radio, SB Boom, and SB Touch), I FINALLY picked up a Transporter that I found on CL near me.

This has interrupted my experimentation with various RPi-based players in conjunction with a Digi out hat playing to a Tone Audio DAC. Effective, but ugly and unwieldy.

I've got to say that the Transporter sounds fantastic and now that I've spent a little time updating my LMS implementation with Material Skin, it feels pretty modern as well! I still need to get MusicIP + Sugarcube up and running so I can have a replacement for my Plexamp server - I really like the auto DJs they built in.

Am I crazy to buy something so long in the tooth? Not sure, but it sounds good to me and has been a fun project.
Besides, my amp is a 1975 Luxman, so I guess by comparison, this is spring-chicken technology!

[garym]

After being a long-time LMS / SB user (SB2, Duet, SB Radio, SB Boom, and SB Touch), I FINALLY picked up a Transporter that I found on CL near me.

This has interrupted my experimentation with various RPi-based players in conjunction with a Digi out hat playing to a Tone Audio DAC. Effective, but ugly and unwieldy.

I've got to say that the Transporter sounds fantastic and now that I've spent a little time updating my LMS implementation with Material Skin, it feels pretty modern as well! I still need to get MusicIP + Sugarcube up and running so I can have a replacement for my Plexamp server - I really like the auto DJs they built in.

Am I crazy to buy something so long in the tooth? Not sure, but it sounds good to me and has been a fun project.
Besides, my amp is a 1975 Luxman, so I guess by comparison, this is spring-chicken technology!

My transporter is in my primary listening setup. Love it. Even bought a new-in-box (knob-less) Transporter to hold onto as a backup unit. Haven't needed it yet. By the way, the only issue I ever had was with a power supply. It cost only a couple of bucks for a plugin replacement. See this thread if this happens to you:

https://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?105822-Fix-for-spuriously-rebooting-Transporter

[iwalker]

After being a long-time LMS / SB user (SB2, Duet, SB Radio, SB Boom, and SB Touch), I FINALLY picked up a Transporter that I found on CL near me.

This has interrupted my experimentation with various RPi-based players in conjunction with a Digi out hat playing to a Tone Audio DAC. Effective, but ugly and unwieldy.

I've got to say that the Transporter sounds fantastic and now that I've spent a little time updating my LMS implementation with Material Skin, it feels pretty modern as well! I still need to get MusicIP + Sugarcube up and running so I can have a replacement for my Plexamp server - I really like the auto DJs they built in.

Am I crazy to buy something so long in the tooth? Not sure, but it sounds good to me and has been a fun project.
Besides, my amp is a 1975 Luxman, so I guess by comparison, this is spring-chicken technology!

Congratulations on your purchase! I don't think you are crazy at all.

I bought my first Transporter in 2007!
That one was fried due to a power surge, but I now have four; two in use and two as spares.
They are fantastic devices.
I use one in my secondary system with its internal DAC driving a pair of active ELAC Navis ARB 51 speakers using its balanced outputs.
That system works really well.

In my 'main' system, the Transporter is used with an external DAC (Schiit Yggdrasil).
It is connected to a pair of active ATC SCM 100ASL speakers, again with balanced XLR connections.
It sounds fantastic!
I auditioned some very expensive streamers and sent them all back, as the combination of sound quality from the Transporter and functionality of LMS is unbeatable for me.

I am sure you will enjoy this iconic device.

[iwalker]

My transporter is in my primary listening setup. Love it. Even bought a new-in-box (knob-less) Transporter to hold onto as a backup unit. Haven't needed it yet. By the way, the only issue I ever had was with a power supply. It cost only a couple of bucks for a plugin replacement. See this thread if this happens to you:

https://forums.slimdevices.com/showt...ng-Transporter

Hello @garym
I have a Transporter in my primary listening system, and love it too!
I replaced a power supply in my first Transporter and bought another one as a spare as well.
The Transporter does everything I need and with the Qobuz plug-in and iPeng App, I believe it stacks up very well against current streamers.
It was a brilliant design by Sean Adams and I am really grateful to the dedicated LMS supporters who continue to enhance this open-source software.
(I am still on an old version, but do use the Qobuz plug-in and I bought the IOS iPeng App)
As a streamer/DAC/preamp it is a fantastic package, especially driving active speakers via its balanced outputs.
I added an external DAC to the Transporter in my main system, which, to my ears, improved the sound still further, but at a cost £1200, it should do!
The DAC in the Transporter still sounds very good, despite being a 15+ year old design.
Sean Adams really came up with a design classic when he launched the Transporter.
That's why I own four of them!

[garym]

Couldn't agree more. Really ahead of its time. I also use the balanced outputs of the Transporter in my main system.

[Deaf Cat]

Haha yep I joined the Transporter club about 6 months ago, so pleased I did !! I have 2 now :-) Yeah a little behind the times, (my first SB was a SB2 a fair while ago now!) but better late than never ay! :-)

One TP in the lounge (replacing SB2) going though a slightly modified TAG dac, the other is XLR outs into active crossover etc :-D

I have pondered the Pi4 thing but... never got round to it, as I fear it will take time and frustration to get working :-o

[Zombie]

Anyone replaced the elcos in them? Should be about time now.

[cliveb]

I have pondered the Pi4 thing but... never got round to it, as I fear it will take time and frustration to get working :-o

The most frustrating and time-consuming part of building a Squeeze player from a Raspberry Pi is actually obtaining one for a sensible price. The only ones around are from scalpers at 3 or 4 times the correct price.

Once you have a Pi in your hands, getting piCorePlayer working takes about 5 minutes.

BTW, I can confirm that piCorePlayer runs just fine on even a Pi1 - you don't need a Pi4. But you won't want to use the analogue output of any Pi.
Even the Pi4 has noticable noise, and the Pi1 is about as bad as an 8-bit Soundblaster, with all sorts of squawks and warbles.
Use a USB DAC, or a HAT with a decent DAC or SPDIF output. (Note that HATs don't work on PI1's).

[Eric Seaberg]

WELCOME to the TRANSPORTER CLUB!!! I bought mine in 2007, along with another poster above. Also have 2 or 3 SB3s and a couple of Duets. Of course the Transporter is the only device that will play anything over 48KHz, so it's used a lot for my high-sample rate and surround material.

ENJOY!!

[cfuttrup]

The most frustrating and time-consuming part of building a Squeeze player from a Raspberry Pi is actually obtaining one for a sensible price.

I was notified yesterday that The Pi Hut has the Raspberry Pi 3 Model B back in stock at 40 GBP. I signed up for this information but purchased my 3B a while ago. The 3 Model B is plenty good for a piCorePlayer.

These are not listed on their website (it says sold out), you have to sign up for their early-bird deals.

/Claus

[Zombie]

Funny how a Transporter thread turns into a Pi thread.

[bunkertoy]

Also a Transporter owner. Bought mine about 8 years ago. Also have 2 Duets. I only really started digging deeper into the functionality of these systems. Every time I look at other streamers, they just don't cut it compared to the Transporter. I truly love this device. I also have it hooked up to an external DAC. I sync the transporter up with my Duet for my patio music setup.

Thanks to the people who continue to support these great products.

[pfarrell]

Well I sure loved my Transporter. I used mine on my main stereo for years. This thread will make me unpack it and plug it in.

[garym]

if you have any issues, see this thread. Cheap simple fix for a common power supply issue.

https://forums.slimdevices.com/forum/user-forums/diy/97013-need-help-for-broken-transporter/page9