hile the latest big news in the consumer electronics industry has been Apple’s 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. It’s 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 it’s part of the device itself, which is usually placed near the audio system and not the listener. In last month’s "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 doesn’t have the Anchor Bay VRS video processing used in the BDP-83; it instead relies on the player’s main video decoder chip for all of its video processing. It also doesn’t 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 you’re 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.

SoundStage! BackStage! No.130

In addition to the Logitech Squeezebox Touch, we’re also eagerly anticipating the release of Syabas’s Popbox NMT (Networked Media Tank), which we first saw at CES in Las Vegas. It’s 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 isn’t 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. It’s scheduled for release in March.

For those who can’t 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 isn’t 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 they’ll play back most high-resolution and high-definition files.

But for owners of a networked PlayStation 3, there’s a piece of software called PS3 Media Server that should be of interest. It’s a Java-based media server that lets you play most types of audio and video files on a networked PlayStation 3. The PS3 itself doesn’t 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 doesn’t 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 we’ve 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