FORUMS

You are here

Home » Forums » THE ARCHIVES » Stereophile Volume 30 » May 2007 Issue
Log in or register to post comments
April 22, 2007 - 11:07am
#1
Johncan
Johncan's picture
Offline
Last seen: Never ago
Joined: Apr 22 2007 - 10:48am
Roku Soundbridge

Nice review of the Roku Soundbridge M1001. I think Stereophile got it right regarding the Soundbridge M1001. However, I do want to point out a few things they missed.

(1) The Microsoft Media Connect 2.0 server software the reviewer used just plain sucks. It is a Microsoft problem, not a Roku problem. I would recommend using Firefly server software instead especially if you are using non-DRM music. I don't download music with DRM... I rip my own CD's to FLAC.

(2) The 48kHz upsampling in the Roku M1001 has been pretty well established on the Roku boards. If you want a non-upsampling model look for the original M1000 or the M2000 on the used market. I think the M2000 may be still available from Roku. These units output to 44.1 kHz as verified by my Musical Fidelity X-24K DAC. Both the M1000 and M2000 have regular analog RCA output jacks unlike the M1001 which has a mini output jack.

(3) For casual listening the DACs in M1000 and M2000 are adequate (when listening to Internet radio or lossy files). For critical listening (especially of lossless files), I would recommend an external DAC. I pass the digital signal to a Musical Fidelity X-DAC V3 in my main rig. I prefer it to my Rega Planet 2000.

(4) You can also control the Soundbridge from a desktop or laptop PC using Visual MR. It shows album art and playlists. It can be found on the Roku website or here: http://www.tl-it.de/media/pages/visualmr.php?lang=e

I love my Roku Soundbridge M2000 and M1000. Try and find one of those and use an external DAC.

John

Top
April 23, 2007 - 4:50pm
jkalman
jkalman's picture
Offline
Last seen: Never ago
Joined: Sep 20 2005 - 7:04am
Re: Roku Soundbridge

Maybe you can answer a question for me and save me some time.

I have the Roku M1000. I currently have it hooked up to my whole house system and stream content (.WAV) files from a computer. I'm building a new PC for my HT/Listening room and will be moving all my music to that PC. I want to be able to play the Roku on my whole house system and listen to the same content it is playing on the HT system as well (the new PC will be rigged up to the HT system via a Meridian 861 digitally), i.e. when I give a tour of the house during a party, per se, I want to be able to have all the rooms in the house playing the same song/list/etc and to all be in sync. Is there any way to do this besides connecting either the whole house (Niles) system digitally to the HT system, or the Roku digitally to the HT system (or with analog cables...)? I'm hoping the online/web-browser controls can be used in some way to allow me to pass the signal digitally from my PC to the HT system so I don't have to run a line up in the drop ceiling to the HT system (which is all the way at the other side of the basement!).

If you don't know, don't sweat it, I'll figure it out (just hoping to save time).

Thanks in advance,

Jeff

Top
May 3, 2007 - 4:25pm
Johncan
Johncan's picture
Offline
Last seen: Never ago
Joined: Apr 22 2007 - 10:48am
Re: Roku Soundbridge

Jeff,

I have no idea. Try the Rokulabs boards. Someone there will know.

John

Top

    • X