Re: AUDIOTRON Digest - 4 Mar 2005 to 5 Mar 2005 (#2005-61)

> Date:    Sat, 5 Mar 2005 12:15:46 +0000
> From:    Glenn Richards <glenn <at> SQUIRRELSOLUTIONS.CO.UK>
> Subject: Developing replacement for AT
>
> Right... the project is a bit tentative at this stage, but a group of us
> are looking at developing a replacement for the Audiotron. We're
> currently building a prototype on an embedded development board, and
> aiming to have the following features:
>
>  * Support for MP3 (obviously), WAV, OGG and FLAC files
>  * Extensible architecture allowing new features/formats to be added
>  * USB interface for eg 802.11g interface
>  * Similar UI, front panel controls/display
>
> Additionally we're looking to possibly include the following options:
>
>  * Ability to plug in a USB hard disk and CD-ROM. The unit would then
>    function as "master", with other units on the same network operating
>    as "slave". CD-ROM would enable ripping to FLAC format.
>
>  * Web interface, as on the Audiotron
>
> Currently we are experimenting with an embedded development board, and I
> have a number of samples of a high quality Burr-Brown DAC with SPDIF
> capability.
>
> I have not included WMA or internet radio support in the above spec, as
> we're aiming this at the high quality audio market and 56Kbit/sec MP3
> streaming isn't quite up to audiophile standards! WMA is lossy (and
> proprietary!), and the intention here is to use FLAC as the primary