We've been running a computor-based transport for several years. It is based on Linux, and so does not crash like a lot of Micro-based approaches.
Data is read from the CD drive at a multiple of the playback. If a bit cannot be read, a variety of software and hardware techniques are used so that the bit stored on the hard drive is actually correct. The data on the drive is then buffered through memory and sent to the data output, jitter-free, as the Linux kernal is configured for zero-latency.
We used to have to work to find decent audio cards, but now that there are (finally!) DACs available that use USB inputs, we have a fairly easy connection.
Its a nice setup, and the process will run on a Pentium III, so it is not expensive. We couldn't figure out how to market it and never have, but the process is solid and performs as well as any transport we have seen.
Once you operate a transport that uses a hard drive, its hard to go back to one that does not! Hard drives get rid of all sorts of problems and ultimately you can get much better sound. Plus its cheap.
Another nice thing about this approach is that the process can be run remotely and wireless, so you can use the squeezebox as a remote interface. If you add a mouse, keyboard and monitor, the machine is Linux and can cruise the web effortlessly with no viral problems. It can store 1000 CDs. I am convinced that this is the future for CD playback, or for that matter, all digital formats.
Data is read from the CD drive at a multiple of the playback. If a bit cannot be read, a variety of software and hardware techniques are used so that the bit stored on the hard drive is actually correct. The data on the drive is then buffered through memory and sent to the data output, jitter-free, as the Linux kernal is configured for zero-latency.
We used to have to work to find decent audio cards, but now that there are (finally!) DACs available that use USB inputs, we have a fairly easy connection.
Its a nice setup, and the process will run on a Pentium III, so it is not expensive. We couldn't figure out how to market it and never have, but the process is solid and performs as well as any transport we have seen.
Once you operate a transport that uses a hard drive, its hard to go back to one that does not! Hard drives get rid of all sorts of problems and ultimately you can get much better sound. Plus its cheap.
Another nice thing about this approach is that the process can be run remotely and wireless, so you can use the squeezebox as a remote interface. If you add a mouse, keyboard and monitor, the machine is Linux and can cruise the web effortlessly with no viral problems. It can store 1000 CDs. I am convinced that this is the future for CD playback, or for that matter, all digital formats.