Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Mar 4, 2014 17:40:40 GMT
One thing I was thinking of was I keep all of my music on my PC and have it all well backed up, so is it possible to make my music HDD or the music folders available over the network and stream them from my pc to my N50? (Javier might be able to help here)? until I can find more funds. Hi Chris, yes absolutely. My NAS is connected with a short length of cable to my router and my router and S-M6 are connected wirelessly. My Popcorn NMT is connected to my router with some Ethernet cable and my router talks wirelessly to my little Acer, letting me stream movies to my TV. AFAIK, as long as you have both items (N-50 and computer) hooked in to your router, then they should be 'linked' and one should be able to see the other. As you say though, Javier is the expert on these things.
You weren't tempted by Richer Sounds latest offer on the Sonata NP-30??? Wireless is included, you don't pay extra
You could sell the Pioneer for a couple of hundred and it would mean you could use the 3TB HDD you already bought and no need to buy wireless dongles!
Just a thought
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Javier
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Post by Javier on Mar 4, 2014 22:46:17 GMT
I have no experience with this type of devices but being fully DLNA compatible that would probably be the easiest way to play music from the PC in the Pioneer. There are a few DLNA server apps for Windows, there is even a Foobar plugin to make work as one.
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Post by hifidez on Mar 5, 2014 12:52:45 GMT
I'm still using, and am happy with, my system based around the Squeezebox Touch... an excellent sounding piece of kit. Main music library is a 3TB USB drive and a pair of 1TB drives for 2 backup copies; my library is still under 1TB so no issues there yet. But, with the recent addition of some digital EQ facility things are getting pretty complicated... I now need a 'map' to help me remember which item is connected to what, and how, and WHY. Here's my map showing the current one of many possible configurations:
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Crispy
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Madrigal music is playing - Voices can faintly be heard, "Please leave this patient undisturbed."
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Post by Crispy on Mar 6, 2014 9:39:06 GMT
Jeff I have been looking at the stream magic again and just need you to answer a few questions for me.
On their website it says it is an audio network player/preamplifier? Can it be used directly to a power amp/amps?
Wireless is built in YES?
Is the big knob on the right a volume control & can you control the volume of the SM6 directly from your phone/tablet.
Can you play portable hdd's from the rear A USB
No Headphone socket?
I have just found out that there is a Richer Sounds in Hull (you learn something new everyday) so I will probably go and have a listen to both the SM6 & and the N50 side by side, and if I then decide the SM6 is a better option I will see about selling the N50, my Xray CD player and my xcanv2+power supply to buy one.
I like to keep things simple if i can.
Thanks
Chris
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Post by Deleted on Mar 6, 2014 20:34:02 GMT
Jeff I have been looking at the stream magic again and just need you to answer a few questions for me. On their website it says it is an audio network player/ preamplifier? Can it be used directly to a power amp/amps? Yes.
Mine goes straight into my STP-80 (which is an integrated) via RCA's. What I normally do is set the amp to about "40", which is plenty loud. I then use the volume on the S-M (actually via my Nexus) to control the volume up or down. From the C-A Stream Magic website - "Digital pre-amplification .
Even more versatility! You can use your Stream Magic 6 as a digital pre-amp to connect to active speakers such as our SLA25, or a power amplifier."Wireless is built in YES? Yes.
Look at this picture and you clearly see the wi-fi aerial sticking up at the back. Is the big knob on the right a volume control & can you control the volume of the SM6 directly from your phone/tablet. Yes. The big knob is actually a scroller/controller for a context-menu system. It turns and you push to enter. So, in Preamp mode, it's a volume knob. You use it to scroll, highlight and select various items from various menus.
And Yes.
Can you play portable hdd's from the rear A USB Yes.
Listening to Boz Scaggs ATM from a 500 GB portable (the biggest portable I have). Remember though that Tech Help said it will read a 2Tb (max) portable. No. Its about the only thing it doesn't have. What I do is use the balanced XLR sockets at the rear with a couple of XLR-to-RCA adapters (a few quid each) straight into my X-10D,and from there into my X-V2.
Hope this helps, Jeff
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Crispy
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Post by Crispy on Mar 6, 2014 21:17:39 GMT
Yes.
Mine goes straight into my STP-80 (which is an integrated) via RCA's. What I normally do is set the amp to about "40", which is plenty loud. I then use the volume on the S-M (actually via my Nexus) to control the volume up or down. From the C-A Stream Magic website - "Digital pre-amplification .
Even more versatility! You can use your Stream Magic 6 as a digital pre-amp to connect to active speakers such as our SLA25, or a power amplifier."Yes.
Look at this picture and you clearly see the wi-fi aerial sticking up at the back. Yes and Yes. Yes.
Listening to Boz Scaggs ATM from a 500 GB portable (the biggest portable I have). Remember though that Tech Help said it will read a 2Tb (max) portable. No. Its about the only thing it doesn't have. What I do is use the balanced XLR sockets at the rear with a couple of XLR-to-RCA adapters (a few quid each) straight into my X-10D,and from there into my X-V2.
Hope this helps, Jeff Brilliant Jeff Thanks for the time and effort - that is everything i need to know for now - I am already 99% convinced I would be better off with the SM6. That is everything I wanted the N50 to do in the first place - shame I didn't do my research properly as it would have been better to save that bit more money and get the SM in the first place. Never mind my gear will sell easily on E-Bay and now that I know there is somewhere in Hull where I can hear them side by side I will have to get my finger out and go have a listen. Chances are that I will be buying one in the not to distant future. Thanks Chris
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Mar 6, 2014 22:02:11 GMT
Chris, One small word of caution. The way you plan to use it, with a large portable HDD hooked up to either the front or rear type A usb's, is fine as far as it goes, the only downside I can see is that you will have to use Cambridge's own, awful control app for your phone or tablet. Or if you are reasonably close you could use the actual supplied remote control. The top-quality third-party apps like Media-Monkey or the one I use - Bubble - are to control a UPnP program like you would use to actually stream your music from a NAS or PC. You can't AFAIK use them to control the music on a HDD. I' ve tried with Bubble and it doesn't work. As I say, to control the music on a HD, you have to use either the supplied 'normal' remote, or Cambridge's own app. Here's what I said back in September about how bad it was . . . . "Marc, I did give the Cambridge Audio App a try. I'm glad it works for you, but in my case, I can see what all the criticism is about. When I installed it, it found my NAS right away, I opened the Music folder and played a Zero 7 track. About 30 seconds in, I decided to skip to the next track. It then jumped to a local radio station, Radio Clyde, and then crashed. It simply wouldn't start again. I uninstalled and went back to what I've been using all day, Bubble. There is a free version, but the paid app only costs £3 so it's a no-brainer. It's very flexible and does everything I want and hasn't crashed, what more can you ask?
Chris, if you do go down this route with the Stream Magic or the excellent NP 30 , don't bother with Cambridge's own App, it's dreadful. How a company can produce a stunning piece of kit like this and then f**k it up with an almost useless App is beyond me. I get the impression that the day before the Stream Magic was due to be released, someone suddenly said "Oh Christ, we've forgotten to develop one of those new-fangled App things! What'll we do?" "Don't worry mate, my cousin works in IT, I'm sure he can knock something up in time for tomorrow. Problem sorted, lets go for a pint".
If you really want to see how bad this App is check Cambridge's own site on Google Apps - Scroll down to where you see "Reviews" and then click the arrow to the right for lots and lots and lots more very poor reviews." My strong advice would be take in your HD as well and explain this is how you want to use it. Download the Cambridge Audio app to your phone or tablet. Ask him to hook up your HD and see how you get on using the C-A app to control the HD.
Jeff
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Mar 6, 2014 23:16:55 GMT
Something else I just thought of.
Don't know if it matters to you or not, but I know of no app or control program (even my beloved Bubble!) with a working 'seek' bar. So ATM, you are unable to "FF" or " REW" through a track.
Never used it with CD and never missed it with the Stream Magic, but thought I'd mention it as it might be important to you.
Jeff
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Post by Deleted on Mar 6, 2014 23:51:38 GMT
. . . . and if I then decide the SM6 is a better option I will see about selling the N50, my Xray CD player and my xcanv2+power supply to buy one Chris, if you sell your X-V2, what will you use to listen via headphones?
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Crispy
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Post by Crispy on Mar 7, 2014 20:22:15 GMT
. . . . and if I then decide the SM6 is a better option I will see about selling the N50, my Xray CD player and my xcanv2+power supply to buy one Chris, if you sell your X-V2, what will you use to listen via headphones? Jeff I am not that fussed about listening through headphones, I prefer listening through speakers and I can easily listen direct from my laptop through my DT770's without a problem. Having said that, the XCan V2 has a lot of sentimental value to me as it was my first adventure into modifying and learning electronics and it will definitely by the last thing to go if I really need to sell it (Will try not to) then I can do the same as you and maybe use the balanced output with adapters?
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Crispy
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Madrigal music is playing - Voices can faintly be heard, "Please leave this patient undisturbed."
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Post by Crispy on Mar 7, 2014 20:23:17 GMT
Something else I just thought of. Don't know if it matters to you or not, but I know of no app or control program (even my beloved Bubble!) with a working 'seek' bar. So ATM, you are unable to "FF" or " REW" through a track. Never used it with CD and never missed it with the Stream Magic, but thought I'd mention it as it might be important to you. Jeff Snap, don't know why they need a FF or Rew anyway never ever used one.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Mar 14, 2014 21:54:53 GMT
Arrgh!! Done it again
Went to upload the wonderful "Celebration Day" music video to my NAS, only to notice it was asking me to upgrade the firmware.
OK, no probs, usually only takes five minutes.
Five minutes later - done.
So I switch on my Stream Magic, and it tells me there is a new upgrade to be downloaded.
OK, no problem, press "Download"
Two minutes later, Firmware is upgraded. Think to myself "Nice to know they're still supporting it".
Now for some music - pick up my Nexus, and start "Bubble". It tells me there is an updated version with many bugfixes (none of which I had ever noticed). Oh well, in for a penny, in for a pound! This must be some kind of 'firmware upgrade perfect storm'
So in a fevered, but happy state of firmware upgraditis, I happily hit "O.K."
One minute later, I've upgraded my Bubble to its latest, greatest iteration.
Now for some MUSIC!! How good is the music going to sound now that I've updated all three elements of my playback system??
Bet it's going to sound AMAZING!!!
Unfortunately I can't hear anything. Not a blessed thing.
My amp is on, turned up, and the correct source is selected. My Nexus, running Bubble, shows the track seems to be actually playing. When I look at the screen on my SM-6, it shows the track to be playing.
But no sound.
I immediately think that the combination of three firmware upgrades has completely upset, unbalanced, and generally pissed off the Magical Music Pixies who live inside hi-fi boxes. I shouldn't have carried out three upgrades at once. It's obviously driven them nuts! I should have known better, a real schoolboy error!
After spending nearly an hour looking for previous firmware versions from Cambridge Audio, Synology, and Bubblesoft, and checking out port-forwarding on my router (which seemed fine), then rebooting it anyway, I suddenly remembered writing a post in DIYAH about having no sound. In that case I had idly been faffing around in the menus, and had inadvertently set up preamp mode. With the volume turned down!
I reckoned the Stream Magic upgrade might have somehow set the preamp mode to 'On'( maybe that's the default mode?) with the Volco set to "0".
Went into the menu, checked the preamp mode, sure enough it was set to "On" Checked the volco, yes, set to "0". Turned it up and got music. So all's well that ends well?
Not really. The first time was my own fault, messing around with settings. But you shouldn't have to go through that because you've upgraded the firmware. I would say I'm computer literate, but in no way an expert, and if I struggled to work out what was going on for nearly an hour, then I imagine Cambridge are in for a deluge of support tickets!!
Chris, (and anyone else contemplating buying an SM-6), be aware that no-sound scenarios should be investigated first by checking the preamp mode is not set to on.
ATM, I'm listening to "Mirror" by Turin Brakes from Outbursts, and after three separate system upgrades, and an hour's worth of faffing around, it sounds just as good as it did before. Not three times better after three upgrades. Not worse, not better (that I can hear), just exactly the same.
Have I noticed any improvement in the functionality, speed or useability of either Bubble, Synology, or Stream Magic?
NO !
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Post by Deleted on Mar 29, 2014 0:27:43 GMT
Hi Jeff, Do try the UPnPlay app, IMHO much better than bubble, at least in my setup. It finds the renderer easier (i.e. more often at first trial) and is more stable. Cheers, Marc Hi Marc, If you've calmed down now after managing to get tickets to see 'our Kate', can you give us details of your system? You use "UPN'P", so it's a streaming system? What about some pics?? Jeff
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Post by Deleted on Aug 20, 2014 23:33:09 GMT
I've just discovered that Cambridge Audio have released a 'Stream Magic V2' Now I have been plenty happy with the original "Stream Magic 6 (V1)", and before I made the switch from CD, I A-B'd it against my own £2K CD player. I felt it equalled it in every respect except visually. Believe me, a Shanling CDT-100C with all four valves glowing orange plus the acrylic transport lid glowing blue, playing 'Hotel California' in 24/96 is a sight to hear and see. But the boring silver box of the CA SM-6 beat it sonically, just, . . . so although it made me sad, it had to go. Now there is a Stream Magic V2 on sale. C. A. say that it is better because it is twice as fast and four times more powerful. What worries me slightly is in their PR puff . Stream Magic V=2
What worries me is one paragraph states it upsamples to 24/192Khz and in the next paragraph it says it upsamples to 24/384Khz. Am I missing something?
Also whether "Thanks to the new processor architecture, the Stream Magic 6 V2 is more than four times more powerful than the Stream Magic 6 original and over twice as fast, delivering smoother, lower jitter playback of your music. "
Is this possible, or just a load of of nonsense??
Can anyone with real technical knowledge throw any light on this?
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gommer
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Post by gommer on Aug 23, 2014 8:09:40 GMT
There are a few possibilities here: They might have redesigned and use a faster micro-controller or FPGA. This would only imply the machine is more future proof in order to accept more demanding software. All the other blabla is nonsense as long as the core digital or analog hardware did not change.
It could also be worse: it's common practice in the industry to stick a v2 label to something. The raw price (for production) might have risen but they cannot increase the retail price for an aging product. Result: margins drop. Solution: stick a v2 to it and restore the margins.
I would look for reviews and compare photo's of it's internals, if you can find some.
Cheers, Marc
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