As the title states, I'm considering the purchase of a Slingbox or similar media streamer device. I've done some reading on the subject, but some of the questions I have don't ever seem to get straight answers (as far as manufacturer feature descriptions go). Thus...

REQUIREMENTS

I need the media streamer to be able to access files from a NAS.
I have over 400gig of MP3 materials on the system.
I'm working on encoding all my CDs (2800) to lossless FLAC encodes, so the streamer should be able to play these as well.
I'd really like to avoid needing to have a PC online to manage the file shares for access. If it really came down to that choice, I think I'd just end up building a silent Home Theatre PC and using it to play media and access the NAS.
I have CAT6 gigabit wired network access throughout my home, including behind the home theatre rack.
Xbox360/PS3 are not viable options, such devices would be overkill and far too loud for my listening environment.
Video playback is not necessary. Ultimately, I just want to have instant access to the lossless FLAC encodes of my CD collection.


Any input, suggestions or other are appreciated!

The Popcorn Hour A-100 will play FLAC/MP3/MP4/etc. files directly from a NAS with no additional PC needed as long as the NAS supports NFS and SMB mount points, however there are some drawbacks that you should be aware of:

1) Your TV will have to be on to navigate and select music. Future versions to be released sometime this year are supposed to have LCD screens as an option to correct this.

2) Currently there is no playlist support without using the PC based software. The PC based software is not needed to simply play an album but is required for playlists. This is supposed to be fixed in a future firmware update.

3) It only has a coax digital output along with the standard stereo analog outputs.

If you can live with these drawbacks and hope that the firmware gets fixed in the next couple of months then it is a fine player that will also play video as well. There is no fan so it is totally silent unless you install a HDD which is not needed for simple music playback.

Laters,
Jeff

As the title states, I'm considering the purchase of a Slingbox or similar media streamer device. I've done some reading on the subject, but some of the questions I have don't ever seem to get straight answers (as far as manufacturer feature descriptions go). Thus...

REQUIREMENTS

I need the media streamer to be able to access files from a NAS.
I have over 400gig of MP3 materials on the system.
I'm working on encoding all my CDs (2800) to lossless FLAC encodes, so the streamer should be able to play these as well.
I'd really like to avoid needing to have a PC online to manage the file shares for access. If it really came down to that choice, I think I'd just end up building a silent Home Theatre PC and using it to play media and access the NAS.
I have CAT6 gigabit wired network access throughout my home, including behind the home theatre rack.
Xbox360/PS3 are not viable options, such devices would be overkill and far too loud for my listening environment.
Video playback is not necessary. Ultimately, I just want to have instant access to the lossless FLAC encodes of my CD collection.


Any input, suggestions or other are appreciated!I suspect that you are looking for a player rather than a source. A Slingbox is a source - it takes an analog video feed, such as the video out from a TiVo, and transmits it over a network (either your home network or the Intartubes) to a waiting PC for display.

What you describe wanting is a device that will play music centrally stored on an NAS. The two options that immediately jump to mind are the Squeezebox and Sonos systems.

Server software for the Squeezebox runs reasonably well on some NASes. Alternatively, you could build a cheap low-power server and hide it away with your NAS. The Sonos system costs more but seems to be a closer fit to your design requirements.

Other solutions include the Roku SoundBridge, which is feature-for-feature very similar to the Squeezebox Classic. There are also a bunch of PC-to-stereo solutions that don't seem to fit your requirements. This latter bunch includes offerings from Sony, Onkyo, Linksys, Logitech...

Squeezebox (http://www.slimdevices.com/pi_squeezebox.html)
Squeezebox forums (http://forums.slimdevices.com/) (note particularly "3rd Party Hardware," where you will find discussion of running the music server on an NAS).
The ZonePlayers (http://www.sonos.com/products/zoneplayers/) from Sonos. ZonePlayer 80 plugs into your receiver; ZonePlayer 100 has an integrated amp.

I agree with the above poster: For music only get a Sonos or Squeezebox. Both have a small box that plugs in your stereo, and an iPod like controller that selects the music, and can also select internet radio stations. Squeezebox is cheaper ($300 vs $800), but it relies on your NAS running the streaming software (squeezecenter). Sonos has an additional box that steams the music. Both play mp3 and FLAC files.

I agree that a Sonos or a Squeezebox would be good for you, especially if you decide that whole house audio may be in the future. Be careful with the Sonos though, based on your description you have well over the number of tracks that it will allow without using a server configuration.

I just set up my Squeezebox Duet yesterday. I took an old laptop that had a broken display and set it up as my "server". It is only drawing about 35 watts or so. I had the server up and running in no time over the weekend and within 10 minutes of getting the box inside last night I had music playing on my home system. It is an AWESOME setup.

I just set up my Squeezebox Duet yesterday. I took an old laptop that had a broken display and set it up as my "server". It is only drawing about 35 watts or so. I had the server up and running in no time over the weekend and within 10 minutes of getting the box inside last night I had music playing on my home system. It is an AWESOME setup.
This is a brilliant idea. I actually have an old Celeron 400 laptop (that is broken as hell) that I've been irregularly using as an app testbed. The screen hinge is completely snapped and I have the display velcroed to a wall! I could easily recase this system and use it as the "brains" for one of the Slingbox systems to interface with the NAS.

Thanks guys!

and the beauty of it is you can install the server, start up a java based emulator on a desktop and play with a little to see what you think about the setup. HOWEVER - the Duet controller changes the whole experience, it is amazing.

Question about Squeezebox Duet, can it be controlled by a Logitech Harmony 880? I should expect so, given that Slim Devices has been acquired by Logitech, but just want to be sure...

unfortunately the Duet receiver can't. It relies on network commands for all of its controlling. The SB3 can, but you will have to pay a little more for the ability to do IR based commanding.