I joined the SB world as a reviewer so I received the pre-press release the same time the websites did. Unlike those sites (Jez take note!), I followed the instructions and waited for the SB website to be updated at 3 PM PDT. So I was sitting on this all afternoon and barely able to contain myself from gushing about it right here.
They've listened to nearly every single feature I've seen requested: - rack mount - knob on the front (yes, the magical and lamented Audiotron/popcorn knob!) - controls on the front - better remote - balanced outputs - better power regulation/supply In addition there are a few things that are a surprise: - TWO displays - wonder how they work? Can't be two independent Now Playing screens. May lead to new visualizers as having Now Playing on one screen with a spectrum analyzer on the other looks cool but may not be truly informative to the audiophile. Audiophiles may be more interested in some sort of multi-line technical readout, i.e. wireless strength, buffer status, etc. I kind of suspect that the second screen was added for visual symmetry to offset the knob in the centre. - digital INPUTS, including BNC and balanced! INPUTS, so the unit can act as a DAC too... - BNC and balanced digital outputs in addition to optical/coax - external word clock input - an even better DAC - integrated IR repeater - RS232 port (never thought about that) - two external antennas to address wireless strength issues - "full 54 Mbps bandwidth PCI wireless interface" I don't think SlimServer can currently accommodate 96 kHz FLACs so modifications are coming. I wonder if this means any new capabilities for the SB3? Maybe yes, maybe no - the Transporter doesn't have the same CPU as the SB3. The specs for the Transporter list a 325 MIPS, 8-way multithreaded processor. The Ubicom 3023 in the SB3 is listed as 250 MIPS at 250 MHz. The top-of-the-line Ubicom StreamEngine 5170 tops out at 270 MIPS and is 10-way multithreaded. So either Slim is no longer using a Ubicom processor or they've overclocked a 3023. :-) Either way, the hardware is more capable and would be able to do things the SB3 might not be able to do at some point in time, so there could be different functional feature sets, much like the SB1 versus the SB2/3. The unit must have fairly extensive firmware, getting away from the "slim device" approach somewhat. The digital input functionality and dual screens must be controlled by firmware, no? It would definitely have different firmware than the SB3 due to its feature set. I get the impression SS 6.5 is being groomed specifically for it. Development on 6.3.x has slowed and most of the work is aimed at 6.5. Another cool touch: "The company will begin shipping the product on September 18, 2006 and will accept pre-orders until then. Any order placed before the ship date will receive a free Squeezebox, an ideal solution for customers who wish to listen to their digital music in more than one room." So users have something to play with and can get SlimServer up and running. They'll get a feel for the system and have a chance get their music library in order. When they get their Transporter, they can use the SB3 in another room. Sounds like Slim has a winner on their hands! Congratulations to Slim Devices! This is a no-holds-barred, the-sky's-the-limit kind of device. It ought to trounce competitors like Olive Musica, who should be very nervous right about now - remember, Slim invented this market. People who are shocked that the SB3 costs $299 will complain about the $1999 price, but they aren't the target market and audiophiles tend to spend this kind of money on CDPs anyway - sometimes much, much more. Now the term "Transporter" is awfully long to type so it won't be long before people start abbreviating it. Let's come up with a suitable abbreviation right here... TP? Too much like "toilet paper". TR? Maybe, but not intuitive enough. Tporter? Not enough of an abbreviation. Personally I won't be able to afford the thing for 2 years at least, maybe longer. Plus the rest of my current system just wouldn't do it justice. -- Mark Lanctot ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Mark Lanctot's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=2071 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=25771 _______________________________________________ discuss mailing list [email protected] http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/discuss
