dcbrush

Kal thanks for the advice. I have not tried FLACS because I use iTunes on a Mac. However, if I recall the reviews I read about the Squeeze Box Touch, it will handle FLACS and 24-bit, so I will give it a try. My Netgear NAS NV+ uses a scaled down version of the Squeeze Box software, so the only issue I see is if the scaled down version does not have the FLAC functionality. By the way, keep up the good work at Stereophile.

Thanks Chris. I faithfully used the video you posted to convert the files with Max, so I don't think that is the issue. Besides, why would some of the converted files work and some not work? I do not change the settings between songs.

For a long time, I have been using a Netgear NV+ NAS, SqueezeBox and PS Audio DAC III connected to a Rotel receiver with four sets of speakers in the ceiling throughout my house. I have also started to experiment with 24-bit downloads from HD Tracks with my main 2-channel audiophile set up. For the HD Tracks, I convert the flacs to aiff using MAX and load them on my MacBook Pro (iTunes) connected optically to the PS Audio DAC III into my Audio Research preamp. Recently, I bought a Squeeze Box Touch because of its ability to play 24-bit, 96 KHz tracks. I substituted the Touch for my old SqueezeBox in the house system. Here is where the problem arises. Some of the downloaded 24-bit HD Tracks (Diana Krall) will play just fine with the Touch in the system. Other tracks (downloaded and converted at the same time to aiff) play only as a bunch of high level static that sends me diving for the volume control. I tried to determine what the problem is by (1) downloading the files from HD Tracks again, (2) converting the original tracks again with Max, (3) trying to play the tracks that are static through my MacBook Pro with iTunes (they all play just fine). It's as if there is a flag missing in some of the converted tracks that causes the SqueezeBox Touch to not recognize and play them. Can anyone help me or suggest how I can trouble shoot this dilemma? Thanks!

I downloaded the same HDTracks sampler. I have a PS Audio DAC III and a 24" iMac running iTunes (V 8.1?). Information on the DACIII is sketchy on the PS Audio website, but I know it has been reviewed on this site. The claim is that the DAC III has a 24 bit DAC, but upsamples to 96 or 192kHz. Would I be able to play the HDTracks 24/96 by running USB from my iMac to the DAC III and then into my preamp or is this not possible? Do I need to make any changes to the settings in iTunes?

I am new to this website and have been trying to follow this thread. I have a question for Chris or anyone else who is familiar with the Apple Remote application. I currently have a NetGear Ready/NAS NV+ RAID array (4x500GB) where all my music resides as Apple Lossless files. The NAS has a slimmed down version of the Squeeze Box software, so it runs independently from my iMac (I didn't want the hard drive in my iMac to take the abuse). I select songs using a Squeeze box display and run the coax into a DAC into a receiver. The NAS is hard wired into my network. The NAS also says it supports iTunes, but it is not really iTunes (Firefly?). I recently purchased a 3G iPhone and downloaded the Remote app. I can control iTunes on my iMac with my iPhone and really like the capability. Is there any way for me to get the NAS to recognize the iPhone Remote app over my network and run without the Squeezebox or iMac? By the way, did you guys see the July newsletter from PS Audio where Paul McGowan used an iPod Touch, DAC III and 160 GB Apple TV as a music server? He also created a playlist of radio stations to set up his favorite stations in iTunes.