Suggestions for improving sound from SqueezeBox Duet

[rksingla]

I am a newbie to digital music, and have just started digitizing my CDs and set up a SqueezeBox Duet. The whole concept -- being able to access all of my CDs from my couch -- is awesome, but the sound quality is not that great. So two questions for the more experienced out there:

1) I have an old (mid-90's) Sony Shelf system that I connected the SqueezeBox receiver to using the analog outputs. The sound coming out of the speakers is pretty distorted, however, particularly when I crank up the volume on the squeeze controller. When I use the stereo's volume control but keep the SC volume setting low, its not quite so bad. Any ideas why this is? I ripped the CDs using Max for Macintosh at MP3 VBR. I have a feeling it is the DAC in the squeezebox receiver. Could it be my old (802.11b) wireless networ?

2) Relatedly, any suggestions for relatively inexpensive speakers (powered?) that I can connect to Squeezebox receivers and get good sound? Do I need an external amp or DAC to get good performance?

Any thoughts/suggestions would be much appreciated.

[EnochLight]

I am a newbie to digital musi.. I ripped the CDs using Max for Macintosh at MP3 VBR.

Wow - kudos to you for having the bravery to post in an [audiophile] forum and admit that you ripped your collection in MP3 VBR! ;^P

To improve sound quality, for one I'd throw out that lossy-MP3-ripped collection and re-rip it in a lossless format (such as FLAC). Part of your sound could stem from the fact that MP3 - no matter what bit rate - tends to compress and "craptize" any audio!

As to why your sound is distorted... I am assuming you are inputting your sound via analog RCA cables? While that shouldn't have much to do with it, make sure the RCA input on your 90's Sony system isn't PHONO, as this could cause a bit of a problem.

Also, when you ripped your CD's did you have some sort of amp-gain setting on your files? Wait - scratch that - you said that if you turn the volume down on the Receiver and use your Sony to turn it up, the distortion stops? There is a setting on the Receiver that allows the volume to be set at a locked level if you plan to use your amp (in this case, your Sony) to control the volume. You might try changing it to that setting too.

I'm sure others will chime in here eventually.

Cheers,

EnochLight

[Mnyb]

You are not by any chance using the "phono" input ?
don't, it's specially made for pickups in LP-players.

Normally no input should have problems with the output voltage from the duet, even at full volume ? Nor should the duet distort on full volume ? strange.
test other inputs if possible, test on friends stereo if possible.

Edit* reciever has "4.8Vpp line-level outputs" meaning it swings +2,4v to -2.4v ca 1.7 volts rms (if sinus ) if that has any meaning for audio.

[darrenyeats]

1) I have an old (mid-90's) Sony Shelf system that I connected the SqueezeBox receiver to using the analog outputs.its not quite so bad The sound coming out of the speakers is pretty distorted, however, particularly when I crank up the volume on the squeeze controller. When I use the stereo's volume control but keep the SC volume setting low, its not quite so bad. Any ideas why this is? I ripped the CDs using Max for Macintosh at MP3 VBR. I have a feeling it is the DAC in the squeezebox receiver. Could it be my old (802.11b) wireless networ?

First if you're experiencing distortion (and, to me, "it's not quite so bad" on low volume counts still as a problem) that means something is set up wrongly or is not working correctly. I would wait to make a judgment about sound quality once you have everything functioning properly.

As to the problem, it could the be output level of the Duet is too great for your Sony shelf system (aka sensitivity matching). Since you have problems still on a lower volume setting, this might not be it. But it might - here's how to check. Pick the trashiest "loud" pop recording but one normally without audible distortion. Play it on the Duet, and reduce the volume using the digital volume more and more. Feel free to increase the volume on the Sony as required. If you can get to a point where there is no distortion it may be the sensitivity matching.

You can fix this by restricting the output of the Duet semi-permanently, digitally (via Squeezecenter there is a setting in Settings>Player>Audio called 'Preamp Volume Control'. Or, you can purchase some physical attenuators which you connect to the RCA leads where they plug into the Sony. The second way is better from a sound quality point of view, in theory, but whether you would notice it or not is system dependent.

If there is always some distortion regardless of digital volume level, no matter how low, then some part of the system has a fault, whether the Duet or the Sony, or you're plugging into the wrong input (last post), or some other problem...
Darren

[rksingla]

I spent two days trying everything i could think of, and you all solved my problem in like two minutes. I had been using the Phono input not knowing that the amp treated that differently from othere input. I switched to the Video input and it now sounds great.

[swhite58]

Regarding your second question about pwered speakers, a lot of people on this forum recommend the Audioengine 5

http://www.audioengineusa.com/

I can't comment as I haven't heard them. I can't find anyone in this city who stocks them.

Shane

[mswlogo]

Wow - kudos to you for having the bravery to post in an [audiophile] forum and admit that you ripped your collection in MP3 VBR! ;^P

To improve sound quality, for one I'd throw out that lossy-MP3-ripped collection and re-rip it in a lossless format (such as FLAC). Part of your sound could stem from the fact that MP3 - no matter what bit rate - tends to compress and "craptize" any audio!

I agree FLAC is what you want, but MP3's are the least of his problems. Most people can't hear the difference between 192kps and lossless.

I agree about your point of being brave to post having hooked it up to a mid 90's sony receiver and then complain about it.

It should be hooked up DIGITALLY (TOSLINK or RCA). And then go into settings and Lock Volume at MAX. Then use the reciver to control volume. If you can't hook it up digitally then get a new receiver.

AFTER you do that then look into ripping to FLAC instead of MP3.

[pfarrell]

mswlogo wrote:
> It should be hooked up DIGITALLY (TOSLINK or RCA). And then go into
> settings and Lock Volume at MAX. Then use the reciver to control
> volume. If you can't hook it up digitally then get a new receiver.
> AFTER you do that then look into ripping to FLAC instead of MP3.

First, check that the speakers sound "OK" on something else. If not,
replace them and the amp.

If the speakers sound "OK", move them away from the walls. Put them on
dinning room chairs or something that holds them at least a foot off the
floor and a couple of feet from all walls. Listen again.

The cheapest improvement in sound is to move the speakers off bookshelves.


--
Pat Farrell
http://www.pfarrell.com/

[Nonreality]

Wow - kudos to you for having the bravery to post in an [audiophile] forum and admit that you ripped your collection in MP3 VBR! ;^P

To improve sound quality, for one I'd throw out that lossy-MP3-ripped collection and re-rip it in a lossless format (such as FLAC). Part of your sound could stem from the fact that MP3 - no matter what bit rate - tends to compress and "craptize" any audio!

As to why your sound is distorted... I am assuming you are inputting your sound via analog RCA cables? While that shouldn't have much to do with it, make sure the RCA input on your 90's Sony system isn't PHONO, as this could cause a bit of a problem.

Also, when you ripped your CD's did you have some sort of amp-gain setting on your files? Wait - scratch that - you said that if you turn the volume down on the Receiver and use your Sony to turn it up, the distortion stops? There is a setting on the Receiver that allows the volume to be set at a locked level if you plan to use your amp (in this case, your Sony) to control the volume. You might try changing it to that setting too.

I'm sure others will chime in here eventually.

Cheers,

EnochLight

Wow, I can't believe you even said this. Throw out the mp3 and go to flac because his Sony shelf system isn't sounding good. Wow. I don't want to insult you as you have myself and others, but it is so obvious that the problem lies in his hookup or his system not in the encoding. I'm not insulting his system at all when I say that mp3's and flac will both sound equally good in the right level of encoding. It just needs to be set up right. Your comment just keeps the elitist crap going on. I'll apologize in advance as you just got me going on this one.

[mswlogo]

Oops, I just read the whole thread and noticed he fixed it. Good suggestion who suggested he was using phono input. I'm amazed a sony shelf system even had a phono input.