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You have your choice of using the front panel buttons, the remote control or the computer interface. Your dealing with low bit-rate streams in most cases, there is quite a good world wide station search functionto use. I've noticed nuances unheard before in a numberof my chosen reference recordings, as well as previously unnoticed distortions. I'm really not going to get into the web audio streaming functions.
I've found it best to backup the PC settings before doing any tweaking to be able to undo easily. I do however thoroughly appreciate having those choices made available. with the other units or independent of them. From where I sit I'm going with the new box and a bit higher resolution included therein. Adding a few custom settings in my (C.A).software firewall remedied that problem.
Steve S. The remote that comes with the Transformer does not have a display and is line of sight only. The firewall settings are actually mentioned in the manual.go figure. The Transformer remote takes standard batteries, the Squeezebox remoteis rechargable with station include.
It can also be in sync. It makes the fun, funner, the good, gooder and the hey. I was thrown at first getting my pc server to release the data being read. I put the Duet receiver out in my workshop. To me its akin to putting a new stylus on your favorite cartridge. This also allows you to use the remote controller as a third unit via it's 1/8" headphone jack or with adapter cables to plug it into another system as well.
There is some very knowledgable info about the Transformer at wikipedia.org, the Logitech site is useful for basic system software and a few FAQ's. Start a folder on your PC and save all links to it. Adding the Squeezebox unit did cost more money, however the ability to program and operate the Transformer was greatly increased with this upgrade to the system. Being somewhat past the half-century mark I may not fully utilize some of the available functions offered herein. Confused by what I've just written, than you'll need a trusted friend with a bit above average computer skills and a free afternoon, or be prepaired to pay someone to do your setup for you. My wife really enjoys having the local weather data available at a glance. There is a Java based software emulator that some may like also.
The unit auto updates it's own firmware, software seems to be updated on a regular basis too. This system is not designed for the impatient. If either of these is going to be the case than you might want to reconsider purchasing this unit. It is very hard to not go on and on about the Transporter, as mentioned it is a piece of gear that demands patience. Fort Worth, Tx I never noticed Coltrane bumping the mic stand on that or was that a squeek from Charlie Byrd's chair. There are limitless choices here both free and pay to play. There are also options that will connect you to web based music databases, Amazon.com, and also Bio and Discog search abilities plus plenty more bells and whistles to boot.
Before you get into the tweaks have the overall system operation down pretty well. Do yourself a favor and write down all ip settings for future reference. The Transformer runs on an open source platform and some of the the tweaks written by use group members are nice additions to the unit. I've used the optical line in feature to do a bit of A/B testing between CD's and Lossless streams and really have heard no discernable difference in sound quality between them. To be able to either Set It and Forget It, or to be transported into an entirely new audio adventure. The brief manual included with the unit is out of date regarding computer software names and links. It is also possible to program many system settings of the Transporter via your computer, your offered plenty of built in redundancy. The use groups at wikipedia are where you'll find the fun stuff.
This really allows you to do some cool stuff, you can sync the music on the players or have them run independently. Is it a combination of these things or none of them. However the Transporter is different in that respect. After a few weeks I went ahead and bought a Squeezebox Duet system to gain a remote with display and non line of sight control. So I cannot stress strongly enough to (RTMD.Read The Manual Dummy).
As with most all high-end gear, source is very important (GIGO). This can be annoying for general listening. It is possible to program and control music via computer, plus compatability with WinAmp. Or could it be that we desire to hear new subtleties after dropping a decent chunk of change on a new toy. Most electronic hardware is a snap to set up, why waste time reading the manuals.
Audio listening being subjective makes one wonder if hearing such is due to the critical listening of the moment or the new gear. The Squeezebox remote is also very customizable in both function and appearance.
And my GCD-750 is a great CD player. At $1800 it's not chump change, but if you've been thinking about a music server, or even a stand-alone DAC, you can't go wrong with the Logitech Transporter. It surpassed my trusty old friend, the GCD-750, with a wider sound stage, more "air" and transparancy between the performers, warmer mid-range, cleaner highs, and more slam in the bass. With over 600 CDs ripped into the unit, I am now like a baby in a candy shop with every single tune in my collection not more than 5-10 seconds away.
I wouldn't say it is night and day, but it is a significant improvement. I remember carefully opening the unit as not to destroy any of the packaging expecting I might take advantage of the 30-day return policy. There are great improvements in higher end equipment, and even interconnects, but I'm not a sucker and don't subscribe to $20 per foot speaker cable. Well, the box and packaging is now downstairs in the basement for good. I was going to be rather content with the unit if it sounded pretty good, but offered the convenience features of an audio server. But I'm not a hard-core audiophile in the sense that I don't spend my freetime auditioning interconnect cables or "breaking in" solid state audio gear.
I own a pair of Thiel CS2.3 speakers with the last of the breed, and rather venerable, Adcom GFP-750 preamp (which even today, is a fantastic silent pre-amp compared to anything under $2,000) and the Adcom GFA-5802, which also is a venerable solid-state amplifier receiving excellent reviews from high-end audiophile magazines at the time, and continues to fetch an excellent price on E-bay. When I ripped some uncompressed audio from my CDs and queued up some tunes in the transporter, I was literally amazed by the quality of sound from the Transporter. I was skeptical of the format of a music server, so the fact that it offered BETTER music reproduction than my GCD-750 source is truely a remarkable achievement for a unit you can pick up for $1700, if you watch the sales. It is truly the finest audio component I've ever purchased. OK, so I've been an "audiophile" for 20 years. I never expected that the slim devices Transporter would sound better, or even as good as, my Adcom GCD-750 CD player as a source component.
The feature set is also stunning and exceeded, by far, my expectations.
For my dad, I just have him set up to use the boom as an internet radio. All in all a great sounding solution. It's a great sounding system and is easy enough for my technologically impaired father to manage. For my less audiophile/geek friends I have gotten them Logitech Booms. It's actually easy to set up and for the geeks of us out there, the DAC sounds great, easily the best DAC in the price range. I'm a bit of an audiophile tech geek and I love this thing. The system itself is flexible and with the more recent software updates it's removed any of the minor glitches I might have complained about. You can use this device and the boom with or without the logitech squeezebox server software.
Be sure to back up your files as it takes a long time to build up a hard drive with good music files and you do not want to lose them. This unit does come with a squeeze center software that allows you to link to iTunes if you already have that set up and also it allows different playlists. Of course with mp3's it is a little less quality, but that is no fault of this unit. I recommend buying and using a different software like Easy CD-DA extractor to convert your cds to hard drive files into formats like FLAC or m4a or mp3. If you want something for less, and don't need the higher quality, the regular squeeze box is worth a look. It can also take downloaded higher quality 24 bit/96khz files and play them in addition to the 16 bit/44 khz cd quality files or mp3's.
There are some other more expensive units like from Naim, etc, and compared to them this is a good value. This unit works very well to send music to a quality stereo system via a high speed home wireless network. Then the transporter can be linked to your music files on the hard drive and you can play them via your computer. The sound of the cds when converted to FLAC files are as good as from a very high end cd player.
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