jtfields
07-25-2006, 07:44 AM
As some of you may know, I'm a big fan of fan of Slim Devices and their Squeezebox (and former SLIMP3 product as well.) For years now all the audiophiles in their development community (their software is open source with an almost "cult" following) have been clamoring for an audiophile grade device that is rack mountable. Well it looks like Slim Devices has finally delivered. They announced their new Transporter last night:
http://www.slimdevices.com/pi_transporter.html
It looks to be basically a component sized Squeezebox on steroids with two displays. The $2,000 price tag definitely prices it out of most people's budget. The operation is going to be essentially the same as the Squeezebox but I guess it should sound much better.
Me personally, I love the look and the functionality. I've always wanted a device like the Squeezebox that was component sized with controls actually on the unit (it never ocurred to me to have two displays but that's definitely cool.) Not being an audiophile I don't need all the high dollar internals though (I'm plenty happy with the Burr-Brown DAC in the current Squeezebox.) I sure hope one day they develop a version of the Transporter with more modest internals and, more importantly, a more modest price.
From a functionality standpoint this is just what I've always wanted. I don't even know what having a "fully balanced analog stage" means much less want to pay $2,000 for. Clearly I'm not the target audience for this device but I'm hoping for a $500 version somewhere in the future. I'd be all over that thing.
http://www.slimdevices.com/pi_transporter.html
It looks to be basically a component sized Squeezebox on steroids with two displays. The $2,000 price tag definitely prices it out of most people's budget. The operation is going to be essentially the same as the Squeezebox but I guess it should sound much better.
Me personally, I love the look and the functionality. I've always wanted a device like the Squeezebox that was component sized with controls actually on the unit (it never ocurred to me to have two displays but that's definitely cool.) Not being an audiophile I don't need all the high dollar internals though (I'm plenty happy with the Burr-Brown DAC in the current Squeezebox.) I sure hope one day they develop a version of the Transporter with more modest internals and, more importantly, a more modest price.
From a functionality standpoint this is just what I've always wanted. I don't even know what having a "fully balanced analog stage" means much less want to pay $2,000 for. Clearly I'm not the target audience for this device but I'm hoping for a $500 version somewhere in the future. I'd be all over that thing.