It is very reasonable to assume that you'll get a better sound quality from
the SB with a stand alone DAC. There are a couple of recent threads it may
be worth you reading: "[OT] Audiophiles: Can the audio reproduction of
theCDbeequalled or bettered?" and Squeezebox SP-DIF parameters.
The general consensus seems to be that there is very little reason that you
should not get very good quality reproduction indeed from a Squeezebox as
long as:
* You rip your Flacs correctly (using something like Exact Audio copy)
* You use an external DAC. A couple of people in these discussions have been
talking about adding quite expensive DACs to their SBs ($1000+!).
I bought an Arcam Delta Black Box (over ten years old) via eBay for just
less than £100 (UK sterling) to see if it would improve the sound of the SB.
It was £100 very well spent. The sound quality has measurably improved and
is much nearer to that obtained from my Naim CDX than it is to the SB
analogue-outs. In addition the volume level, which was always frustratingly
low from the analogue-outs is now on a par with that of all my other
peripherals.
I am hoping to borrow a good quality DAC soon to see if it worth me buying a
better one than the Arcam, with the eventual aim of getting rid of the CDX
all together. I'm pretty optimistic that this is a realistic idea.
There are quite a few interesting DACs on eBay UK at this moment, including
an Arcam Black Box and a Meridian 203, both of which should go for a little
over £100. Or, if you fancy something a bit classier:
2 x Meridian 566
2 x Tag McLaren Dac 20
PINK TRIANGLE DaCAPO
MUSE MODEL 2
or, my personal favourite...
Audio Note DAC4 (1x valve output) which is on "Buy Now" for a mere
£2,250.00!! :-)
Simon Turner
Brighton UK
> -----Original Message-----
> From: discuss-bounces (AT) lists (DOT) slimdevices.com
> [mailto:discuss-bounces (AT) lists (DOT) slimdevices.com]On Behalf Of Mark Aronica
> Sent: 01 March 2004 19:43
> To: Slim Devices Discussion
> Subject: [slim] External DACs
>
>
> I'm interested in purchasing an external DAC for my Squeezebox.
> Currently I
> have a Creek 5350 SE integrated amplifier which only accepts RCA analog
> inputs. Two questions:
>
> 1) Is it reasonable to assume that I'll get better sound quality
> running my
> SB through an External (standalone) DAC and then running the analog out of
> the DAC into my Creek? In my side-by-side listening comparisons,
> my SB isn't
> quite up to the same quality as my moderately priced CD player, even when
> playing FLAC -> WAV.
> 2) Could folks please list out my DAC options? I know there is a wide
> selection, but what are some good ones between $200 -> $1000?
> Has anyone out
> there actually tried out a couple and could give person
> impressions? Please
> focus on those that offer RCA compatible outputs so that they'll
> work with my
> Creek amp.
>
> Thanks so much for your help,
> Mark
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Peter Speck [mailto:speck (AT) ruc (DOT) dk]
> Sent: Sunday, February 29, 2004 11:10 AM
> To: Slim Devices Discussion
> Subject: Re: [slim] fix coming for b&k, meridian, superdac, et al
>
> On 27/2-2004, at 19:08, Sean Adams wrote:
>
> >
> > Using an analyzer, we found the problem, and after two weeks of
> > calling Micronas every single day, they have provided a fix.
> >
> > New firmware coming this weekend. Confirmed fix for b&k - expected to
> > fix all other s/pdif receivers.
>
> Works now with my SuperDAC 2496. Thanks for spending time on this
> problem!
>
> ----
> - Peter Speck
>
>
the SB with a stand alone DAC. There are a couple of recent threads it may
be worth you reading: "[OT] Audiophiles: Can the audio reproduction of
theCDbeequalled or bettered?" and Squeezebox SP-DIF parameters.
The general consensus seems to be that there is very little reason that you
should not get very good quality reproduction indeed from a Squeezebox as
long as:
* You rip your Flacs correctly (using something like Exact Audio copy)
* You use an external DAC. A couple of people in these discussions have been
talking about adding quite expensive DACs to their SBs ($1000+!).
I bought an Arcam Delta Black Box (over ten years old) via eBay for just
less than £100 (UK sterling) to see if it would improve the sound of the SB.
It was £100 very well spent. The sound quality has measurably improved and
is much nearer to that obtained from my Naim CDX than it is to the SB
analogue-outs. In addition the volume level, which was always frustratingly
low from the analogue-outs is now on a par with that of all my other
peripherals.
I am hoping to borrow a good quality DAC soon to see if it worth me buying a
better one than the Arcam, with the eventual aim of getting rid of the CDX
all together. I'm pretty optimistic that this is a realistic idea.
There are quite a few interesting DACs on eBay UK at this moment, including
an Arcam Black Box and a Meridian 203, both of which should go for a little
over £100. Or, if you fancy something a bit classier:
2 x Meridian 566
2 x Tag McLaren Dac 20
PINK TRIANGLE DaCAPO
MUSE MODEL 2
or, my personal favourite...
Audio Note DAC4 (1x valve output) which is on "Buy Now" for a mere
£2,250.00!! :-)
Simon Turner
Brighton UK
> -----Original Message-----
> From: discuss-bounces (AT) lists (DOT) slimdevices.com
> [mailto:discuss-bounces (AT) lists (DOT) slimdevices.com]On Behalf Of Mark Aronica
> Sent: 01 March 2004 19:43
> To: Slim Devices Discussion
> Subject: [slim] External DACs
>
>
> I'm interested in purchasing an external DAC for my Squeezebox.
> Currently I
> have a Creek 5350 SE integrated amplifier which only accepts RCA analog
> inputs. Two questions:
>
> 1) Is it reasonable to assume that I'll get better sound quality
> running my
> SB through an External (standalone) DAC and then running the analog out of
> the DAC into my Creek? In my side-by-side listening comparisons,
> my SB isn't
> quite up to the same quality as my moderately priced CD player, even when
> playing FLAC -> WAV.
> 2) Could folks please list out my DAC options? I know there is a wide
> selection, but what are some good ones between $200 -> $1000?
> Has anyone out
> there actually tried out a couple and could give person
> impressions? Please
> focus on those that offer RCA compatible outputs so that they'll
> work with my
> Creek amp.
>
> Thanks so much for your help,
> Mark
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Peter Speck [mailto:speck (AT) ruc (DOT) dk]
> Sent: Sunday, February 29, 2004 11:10 AM
> To: Slim Devices Discussion
> Subject: Re: [slim] fix coming for b&k, meridian, superdac, et al
>
> On 27/2-2004, at 19:08, Sean Adams wrote:
>
> >
> > Using an analyzer, we found the problem, and after two weeks of
> > calling Micronas every single day, they have provided a fix.
> >
> > New firmware coming this weekend. Confirmed fix for b&k - expected to
> > fix all other s/pdif receivers.
>
> Works now with my SuperDAC 2496. Thanks for spending time on this
> problem!
>
> ----
> - Peter Speck
>
>
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