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Slice
Jan 5, 2015 19:29:24 GMT
Post by Greg on Jan 5, 2015 19:29:24 GMT
I've done a bit more research because of some of the questions being asked and have established that there is optical output at 24/192. The Slice can see any storage system on a network including PC's and NAS boxes and will do streaming so all bases covered. I hope that helps.
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Slice
Jan 5, 2015 21:14:58 GMT
Post by liffy99 on Jan 5, 2015 21:14:58 GMT
Thanks, that's helpful. Sadly I need SPDIF outputs to my digital amp. I'm not convinced that the little audio jack would do the business. I wonder if the Slice can be optimised for audio - eg with choice of outputs, inbuilt DAC or not, etc. Can't seem to raise a reply from the makers . . .
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Slice
Jan 5, 2015 21:52:56 GMT
Post by Greg on Jan 5, 2015 21:52:56 GMT
I wonder if the Slice can be optimised for audio - eg with choice of outputs, inbuilt DAC or not, etc. Can't seem to raise a reply from the makers . . . I really don't get what your problem is after all that has been revealed to you and information you can readily access on the Internet for you personal perusal. You have total choice of outputs and can use the internal DAC or use a linked external one of your choice. If these are the questions you are asking of the makers, no wonder you have no response! Everything you need to know has been published and is there for you to read and INGEST.
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Slice
Jan 5, 2015 23:48:13 GMT
Post by liffy99 on Jan 5, 2015 23:48:13 GMT
Ouch ! Steady on laddie, no need to get so terse. Believe me, I have watched the videos, read the 5 Ninjas site and forum, and the Kickstarter info and it is NOT clearly set out what some of the specs and capabilities of the device are. For example;
The spec reads as if a 3.5mm jack can either be an electrical or optical connection - first I have ever heard of something like that. I am thus inferring that the Jack output is analogue, electrical output from the internal DAC and that the only way to output to an external DAC is optical. Is the latter option possible over a 3.5mm Jack ? If not where is the optical output ? All I can see otherwise are USBs and HDMI.
It's also not clear to me whether the Slice must be connected to a TV to either configure it, or control the playing of media. Looks like a TV connection will allow both, but can the Slice do all this through a tablet ? I am again guessing that one could run the equivalent of Squeezepad or IPeng or Volumio (?) to control media playback but connect to a TV for configuration.
Similarly it is not clear how media is loaded onto the Slice. The blurb says to connect it to a PC and drag and drop ( from the PC presumably as the Slice would simply appear as a hard drive). That's fine except I would need to unplug and move the device to my PC every time I wanted to load a new album. Or can the Slice 'pull' media over a wi Fi link ? And would that be done via TV or through a tablet or smartphone.
Sure, my general knowledge may be the culprit here and apologies if I just don't understand the technical detail, but all I am trying to do is get answers to questions of useability in my system - computer in a different room from the Slice, digital amp with SPDIF inputs only, no real wish to have to use a TV - for me this would purely be an audio device, and be managed via a tablet.
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Slice
Jan 6, 2015 0:04:55 GMT
Post by Stratmangler on Jan 6, 2015 0:04:55 GMT
The Slice will doubtless announce itself over the network as a DLNA server, just as my WD Live Hub does. As long as it can be seen over the network it can be accessed by other computers on the network, and thus can have new material pasted into it. The connection is immaterial - it works equally well over wired LAN or wireless LAN, although the wireless will not be quite as quick as wired LAN.
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Slice
Jan 6, 2015 6:51:49 GMT
Post by MartinT on Jan 6, 2015 6:51:49 GMT
The spec reads as if a 3.5mm jack can either be an electrical or optical connection - first I have ever heard of something like that. I am thus inferring that the Jack output is analogue, electrical output from the internal DAC and that the only way to output to an external DAC is optical. Is the latter option possible over a 3.5mm Jack ? Yes, I believe that Sony first introduced the 3.5mm jack/optical interface and it's a standard connection now for many small devices. You said you needed S/PDIF and indeed that optical jack will support it.
You will need one of these cables:
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Slice
Jan 6, 2015 9:42:17 GMT
Post by Nick on Jan 6, 2015 9:42:17 GMT
I wonder if the Slice can be optimised for audio - eg with choice of outputs, inbuilt DAC or not, etc. Can't seem to raise a reply from the makers . . . I really don't get what your problem is after all that has been revealed to you and information you can readily access on the Internet for you personal perusal. You have total choice of outputs and can use the internal DAC or use a linked external one of your choice. If these are the questions you are asking of the makers, no wonder you have no response! Everything you need to know has been published and is there for you to read and INGEST. Hi liffy99
The guys at 5 ninjas are busy setting up the slices for the people who backed and will answer questions from them, there is a slice forum which you can ask questions on as there are very helpful guys there.
They were asked about doing an Audio version but as they are making it as a multi purpose tool for video, audio and photo use do not want to alienate 85% of their prospective investors/supporters. To be honest with an optical 24/192 output via multi 3.5 jack I don't think they need to do anything else.
The optical jack by the way is standard now (and for about 4 -5 years) on all Apple products and also quite a few PC based systems.
Nick
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Slice
Jan 6, 2015 13:27:32 GMT
Post by tony on Jan 6, 2015 13:27:32 GMT
Very interesting bit of kit, looks like all I would need is a an optical coupler to connect it to my DAC. Will be interested to get your impression of how it sounds in comparison to a lap top connected to the BM2. Iam a self confessed computer ignoramus but having looked at the slice I could be tempted-ideally if I could control it with a cheap tablet.
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Slice
Jan 6, 2015 19:35:56 GMT
Post by liffy99 on Jan 6, 2015 19:35:56 GMT
The spec reads as if a 3.5mm jack can either be an electrical or optical connection - first I have ever heard of something like that. I am thus inferring that the Jack output is analogue, electrical output from the internal DAC and that the only way to output to an external DAC is optical. Is the latter option possible over a 3.5mm Jack ? Yes, I believe that Sony first introduced the 3.5mm jack/optical interface and it's a standard connection now for many small devices. You said you needed S/PDIF and indeed that optical jack will support it.
You will need one of these cables:
Ah, you see, I'm a few years behind the times ! so that would take care of the connectivity. I did'nt think the Slice was wireless (though I can connect it via Ethernet to my wireless bridge), so that would mean I could drag and drop files from my PC upstairs without having to keep unplugging the thing. What would be then best to control playing of content via a tablet ? From the illustrations using a TV the remote is used to select libraries etc. could this all be done with Volumio ? I am assuming that software is an alternative to the likes of IPeng.
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Slice
Jan 6, 2015 20:02:41 GMT
Post by Nick on Jan 6, 2015 20:02:41 GMT
Yes, I believe that Sony first introduced the 3.5mm jack/optical interface and it's a standard connection now for many small devices. You said you needed S/PDIF and indeed that optical jack will support it.
You will need one of these cables:
Ah, you see, I'm a few years behind the times ! so that would take care of the connectivity. I did'nt think the Slice was wireless (though I can connect it via Ethernet to my wireless bridge), so that would mean I could drag and drop files from my PC upstairs without having to keep unplugging the thing. What would be then best to control playing of content via a tablet ? From the illustrations using a TV the remote is used to select libraries etc. could this all be done with Volumio ? I am assuming that software is an alternative to the likes of IPeng. liffy99
I am fairly certain that you have not read any of the Slice stuff because if you had you would know that it can have a WiFi dongle fitted to one of the three usb ports, and that it is compatible with ANY of the XBMC phone or tablet apps for control purposes.
Of course my version of reading might be different to yours !!!!!
Nick
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Slice
Jan 6, 2015 20:21:53 GMT
Post by liffy99 on Jan 6, 2015 20:21:53 GMT
Believe me I have read but quite willing to accept there are things I don't understand. That is largely because so much technology these days is written from the perspective of the manufacturer / designer and simply states something can have a "wifi dongle" (now I understand what one of those is, thanks) or is compatible with "XBMC" or whatever but giving virtually no explanation of what all this does. This is most evident in manuals which often do little more than replicate what one can see, without giving any context.
Perhaps if they wrote from the perspective of potential users veils would lift.
For example by answering questions like; How is the digital output fed to a digital or analogue amp, How can source media be selected without using a TV (if at all)
Hope you get my drift . . .
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Slice
Jan 6, 2015 20:55:12 GMT
Post by ChrisB on Jan 6, 2015 20:55:12 GMT
I agree - fast moving technology does tend to leave those behind who didn't get on board at (or near) the start. Many manufacturers and technical writers do seem to presuppose an unrealistic amount of knowledge from the point of view of new adopters.
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Slice
Jan 6, 2015 21:00:40 GMT
Post by Greg on Jan 6, 2015 21:00:40 GMT
OK, liffy99, sorry for being a little blunt. Join the Slice forum here and you should be able to get the answers to all your questions. forums.fiveninjas.com/top
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Slice
Jan 6, 2015 21:38:03 GMT
Post by Nick on Jan 6, 2015 21:38:03 GMT
Believe me I have read but quite willing to accept there are things I don't understand. That is largely because so much technology these days is written from the perspective of the manufacturer / designer and simply states something can have a "wifi dongle" (now I understand what one of those is, thanks) or is compatible with "XBMC" or whatever but giving virtually no explanation of what all this does. This is most evident in manuals which often do little more than replicate what one can see, without giving any context. Perhaps if they wrote from the perspective of potential users veils would lift. For example by answering questions like; How is the digital output fed to a digital or analogue amp, How can source media be selected without using a TV (if at all) Hope you get my drift . . . Oh I do get your drift but perhaps instead of making statements like "It does not have a digital output" and "it wont be good enough" and "you cant control it from a tablet" you should ask if you don't understand.
Nick
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Slice
Jan 6, 2015 23:30:13 GMT
Post by liffy99 on Jan 6, 2015 23:30:13 GMT
Looking at my posts I've not said any of those things ! In fact I have a.ways recognised the Slice did have a digital output ( for example ) but was unaware that the 3.5mm Jack could do a double act (just one of the assumptions made by the designers that people somehow just know). My questions have pretty much been phrased as 'how's' rather than making any assumptions about the Slice having, or not having, certain capabilities. But I've reached the point now, from this forum and other sources, that I understand what the Slice does and pretty much how it is used. How it sounds is another question . . My main concern is whether it will sound as good as, or better, than my Touch. Perhaps we had better wind this debate up and realise that some people have more expertise and knowledge of certain topics than others ? .
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Slice
Jan 7, 2015 6:18:27 GMT
Post by MartinT on Jan 7, 2015 6:18:27 GMT
could this all be done with Volumio ? No, you are confusing the OS of the Slice with the fact that it runs from a Raspberry Pi. Volumio cannot be applied here as the Slice has been developed with its own OS. It looks like there are plenty of options for remote controlling the slice from a phone or tablet.
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