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Ethernet instead of USB?

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Posted on October 27, 2004 at 14:45:22
bstan
Audiophile

Posts: 383
Joined: March 9, 2001
How about using Ethernet instead of USB to output the digital audio data stream (lossless not MP3) from a PC server to a DAC/receiver/prepro ?

This seems like it would be a natural cost-effective methodology to me.

Any unforseen problems?

Any products (DACs) currently have an Ethernet input port?

 

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Re: Ethernet instead of USB?, posted on October 27, 2004 at 16:21:53
ThomasPf
Audiophile

Posts: 835
Joined: January 22, 2002
All of the current wave of network receivers are in fact DACS starting back with the Turtle Beach Audiotron. However, these boxes seem to target the mass market from a quality perspective.

There are also a couple of surround receiver from Phillips and Onkyo that can get their data via Ethernet. There will be a talk on an IP based 5.1 surround speaker system at the AES conference next week.

Cheers

Thomas

 

Re: Ethernet instead of USB?, posted on October 28, 2004 at 12:07:50
bstan
Audiophile

Posts: 383
Joined: March 9, 2001
I also know about the NetStream products (IP-based distribution), where Buzz Goddard landed (Lexicon and TAG), is that what you're referring to?

 

squeezebox, posted on October 29, 2004 at 06:47:30
bobp


 

Ethernet is cheap and reliable, but the conversion of Ethernet to Spidif is not easy to do.

The cheapest way is to use Slim Devices Squeezebox (around $200)

PC> CAT5 > Squeezebox > Spidif > DAC

 

Re: Ethernet instead of USB?, posted on November 1, 2004 at 22:25:20
ThomasPf
Audiophile

Posts: 835
Joined: January 22, 2002
Hi,

there is a whole range of more mid-fi networked receivers.

http://www.turtlebeach.com/site/products/audiotron/
http://www.rokulabs.com/
....

and then there are the product lines from the traditional CE manufacturers
Phillips and Onkyo
http://www.streamium.com/
http://www.us.onkyo.com/prod_class.cfm?class=Nettune

There is an industry consortium called DLNA that works on standards in the home media space and you expect a series of product coming ot the market over the next 12 month.

Cheers

Thomas

 

Thanks!, posted on November 4, 2004 at 11:27:17
bstan
Audiophile

Posts: 383
Joined: March 9, 2001
Thomas,

Thanks for the additional information links.

Have you visited Netsream's website? Any comments on their products or strategy?

 

Re: Thanks!, posted on November 4, 2004 at 22:43:20
ThomasPf
Audiophile

Posts: 835
Joined: January 22, 2002
Sorry, I have not looked much into what netstream is doing. From a quick glance on their web site it appears they are focused more on generic home audio distribution than attaching a DAC to a PC.

Cheers

Thomas

 

Re: squeezebox, posted on November 8, 2004 at 16:44:08
bstan
Audiophile

Posts: 383
Joined: March 9, 2001
I would rather see the digital Ethernet signals be converted directly to PCM without first going thru S/PDIF. Seems to me this could be accomplished just like any of the common protocol conversions from Ethernet to other formats that have been done over the last 8 years. First test modeled with an FPGA then simply encoded into a chip.

This way a DAC or receiver or prepro or whatever could sport an Ethernet port (small real estate).

 

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