| March 2010  hile the latest big news in the
consumer electronics industry has been Apples announcement of the iPad tablet,
computer audiophiles have been patiently waiting for the release of the Logitech
Squeezebox Touch since it was announced last fall. This latest version of the Squeezebox
incorporates a color touch screen, an SD card slot, and a USB port as well as all of the
usual Squeezebox features. Its also the first Squeezebox model to support
24-bit/96kHz audio files.
Although it comes with an infrared remote control, like
most networked audio players and iPod docks the relatively small display is difficult to
read, as its part of the device itself, which is usually placed near the audio
system and not the listener. In last months "Digital Domain"
column, Rad Bennett recommended the iPeng app for the iPhone and iPod Touch. For only
$9.99, this is an essential app for anyone with an iPhone or iPod Touch and a Squeezebox.
With this app, you can control your Squeezebox using the touch screen of an iPhone or
iPod, which doubles as a display for the system. With its support of high-resolution audio
and a list price of $299, the Squeezebox Touch and iPeng (along with an iPhone or iPod
Touch) might be the digital streaming solution that computer audiophiles have been waiting
for.
For audiophiles on a budget looking for a
high-quality Blu-ray player from a specialty audio/video manufacturer, Oppo has introduced
their new entry-level BDP-80. At only $289, the BDP-80 doesnt have the Anchor Bay
VRS video processing used in the BDP-83; it instead relies on the players main video
decoder chip for all of its video processing. It also doesnt have dedicated stereo
outputs like the BDP-83, but the DACs and analog output stage are said to be the same as
those used in their previous flagship DV-983H DVD player, making it what Oppo calls
"an excellent audio player at a very affordable price." The BDP-80 offers SACD,
DVD-Audio, and HDCD playback, and it supports many types of audio and video media files.
If youre looking for an inexpensive universal Blu-ray player or transport, the
BDP-80 is a strong choice.
Also new from Oppo is a firmware
update for the BDP-83 that adds network streaming capability to the player. It requires a
DLNA-capable media server running on your network and supports the media types that are
common to the BDP-83, as well as what the media server can stream. It also includes an
experimental interactive television service that will initially feature casual games,
widgets, and movie art.
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SoundStage! BackStage!
No.130
In addition to the Logitech Squeezebox
Touch, were also eagerly anticipating the release of Syabass Popbox NMT
(Networked Media Tank), which we first saw at CES in Las Vegas. Its said to be able
to play back high-resolution WAV, FLAC, Apple Lossless, OGG, and WMA (including WMA Pro)
audio files, in addition to most high-definition video files. It will also support Netflix
2.0 and other services through the use of "Popapps." The user interface of the
Popbox appears to be very user friendly, which isnt usually the case with networked
media players. An 802.11N Wi-Fi version of the Popbox will be available for $149, or you
can get an Ethernet-only version for $129. Its scheduled for release in March.
For those who cant wait for the Popbox, Syabas has
quietly released the A-200 NMT, which replaces their A-110. The A-200 adds a new
"rich user interface" and an "App Center," although support for
Netflix isnt yet listed. The Ethernet version of the A-200 sells for $179, while the
802.11N Wi-Fi version is $199. There are currently a number of networked media players on
the market, such as the popular Western Digital WD TV Live and Asus O!Play, with street
prices near or even below $100, and theyll play back most high-resolution and
high-definition files.
But for owners of a networked PlayStation
3, theres a piece of software called PS3 Media Server that should be of interest.
Its a Java-based media server that lets you play most types of audio and video files
on a networked PlayStation 3. The PS3 itself doesnt natively support many types of
media files, but PS3 Media Server will transcode them on the fly and stream them to the
console. It supports Apple Lossless, OGG, APE, and even 5.1-channel 24-bit/96kHz FLAC
files, but not WAV files. It can also play high-definition video files including MKV,
which the PS3 doesnt support.
The only downside, other than the lack of support for WAV
files, seems to be the requirement of a relatively fast computer, such as a Core 2 Duo
processor, and a fast network connection (preferably Ethernet) if you want to transcode
and stream high-definition video. The best part is that PS3 Media Server is available as a
free download, and once you install and run it on your computer your PlayStation 3 will
find all of your attached drives (including optical drives) and folders.
The PlayStation 3 is one of the most flexible Blu-ray and
media players weve come across. And with PS3 Media Server and the recent release of
the disc-based application for Netflix support, as well as the upcoming firmware update
for 3D video, it will probably remain so for some time.
. . . Roger Kanno
rogerk@soundstagenetwork.com |