Squeze Box Question


I am new to music servers and would like to know he advantages of the Squeze Box and if using this device in addition to a computer and DAC would be an equal or better alternative to a Red Book CD player / Transport.

Thanks
insight
I own both a Transporter and Squeezebox, which Slimdevices gave to me when I ordered the Transporter...but were behind in production.

1. The Transporter DAC is by far superior to that of (the original) squeezebox.

2. The Transporter's DAC is a bit too analytical (less warmer). less 'musicality'

3. For the longest time I used my Audio Aero Capitole DAC with the Transporter and was very happy

4....Until I got an Anthem D2 and this DAC has been the best, so far.

Now, prior to the D2, CDs sounded better on the Capitole than from my computer (Apple G5, on Lossless, error correction) than even from burned CDs on my computer. No comparison; just much better.

Since, with my D2, the comparison is such that I have not listened to a CD in many months. What I don't know is

1. Have squeezecenter downloads made the improvement or is it the D2.

I think it is both.

Either way, I have finally gotten my computer-based library to sound so good that I no longer feel I have to go to the 'source', the original CD to get the 'best' rendition of my songs.
One note with Roku is that the Soundbridge uses a a very simple and conventional remote control device. You have to be within eyesight of the Soundbridge to use it. It won't work from a different room.

To control the Roku from a different room you access a web page provided by the Soundbridge via a web browser from any computer on your network or you log into the Radio Roku Website (www.radioroku.com) via internet from same browser and use that web site to control your Soundbridge(s).

Note that the Soundbridge has no controls on the device itself, you must use either remote control or web browser to control it and actual control functionality varies significantly with each approach. Eventually, I would like to see each approach (remote, Soundbridge-provided webpage, RadioRoku site) provide similar complete functionality for both internet radio and music servers, but that is not the case currently.
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I love my cd player, my turntable and my FM tuner. However, my unmodded Squeezebox with no external DAC has become my number one source of listening to music. It's just too easy to access nearly unlimited amounts of music instantly. With vinyl, there's the whole cleaning ritual, with cd's you've got to find the one disc among over a thousand and put it back in its place when done listening, and my FM tuner is tuned to the only jazz staion in town. The Squeeezbox, for a miniscule fraction of the price of all of the aforementioned components does all of those functions much faster and it is much more convenient. I'm not quite ready to give up my other sources just yet, but I can see the handwriting on the wall. Once I pull the trigger on a Modwright-modded Transporter, the cd player and the tuner will have to go. I cannot afford that kind of redundancy.
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I'm in same boat as Mitch4t only with server, Roku + external DAC. I use the Roku for ~ 80% of my listening currently between music server and web radio. Most of the rest is turntable, with occasional use of FM tuner or CD player, but I tend to rip a disk to server now first to listen so the Denon player is geting very little play time these days.

If I could find a way to convert my vinyl to digital faster and easier for access off the server when needed my time with vinyl could be in more jeopardy as well.

Just a year ago, prior to the server/Roku, my listening was perhaps 60% CD, 25% vinyl, 15% FM tuner.
"unmodded Squeezebox can't touch a Wavelength Brick"

I certainly hope the $1750. Wavelength Brick sounds better than a $300. Squeezebox.

"A 15 foot SPDIF cable would break the bank."

You can get a 15' SPDIF cable for under $50. see

http://www.bluejeanscable.com/store/digital-audio/index.htm

Insight- If you don't already have small PDA or iPhone/iTouch, take a look at the Logitech Duet.