Touch vs. Transporter digital output (again)

[bhaagensen]

Hi,

firstly, I've read most of the threads on this topic. Secondly, I will do a listening test myself at some point. But for now...

Two questions. They are rather (over) simplified, strict, and probably flawed in many other ways. Nonetheless, on the other hand they perhaps could add something new to the discussion.

Please answer both questions by indicating a number between 1 and 10. 10 is the top-reference defined by the TP. 1 is some guesstimated lower/average-end level representing the big mass of consumer level electronics. Other comments are of course also appreciated.

1. In pure technical terms (i.e. design, quality of components, implementation, measurements, etc), how does the (output of the) coaxial digital output of the Touch compare to the Transporter.

2. Assuming use of good quality cable, connectors, and external DAC. How does the coaxial output of the Touch compare to the Transporter in terms of end sound quality. This is obviously much more subjective than 1, and rather than digging deep into each answer, I'd rather get many answers to gather some mass of opinions.

Thanks in advance.

Regards Bjørn

[michael123]

Once you got the Transporter, you shall better use AES3 than S/PDIF, but note that you need DAC in 5000$ range to beat the Transporter (which is still, questionable)

[Robin Bowes]

On 25/05/10 07:35, michael123 wrote:
>
> Once you got the Transporter, you shall better use AES3 than S/PDIF

Not necessarily. See previous posts on this subject (AES/EBU vs. S/PDIF)

R.

[bhaagensen]

Once you got the Transporter, you shall better use AES3 than S/PDIF, but note that you need DAC in 5000$ range to beat the Transporter (which is still, questionable)

+1 on Robin's comment. In this specific case I can add that I plan to use coax over BNC and that the DAC in question, while not in that price range, has a distinctive sound that is a better match for my taste as well as the rest of my equipment.

[mswlogo]

Don't get me wrong I love my Transporter.

But it's had the "over voltage" problem since I bought it (couple years now) and it's a simple firmware bug that has not been fixed.

I would not buy one today unless this bug was fixed.

It does not happen often, but would you buy a car that just quits on you in the middle of highway once a month. Even though it runs fine the rest of the time and starts right back up. What would your passengers think.

Absolute sin.

Just buy a touch. It will be supported for a while.

As far as digital differences I doubt you'll hear any difference. I didn't hear ANY difference going from SqueezeBox 3 to Transporter using an external DAC.

[michael123]

mswlogo

I was asked this week for some comments via bugzilla for this specific bug, there is a hope it will be fixed (for 7.6?)

btw, I did hear the difference between SB3 and Transporter...
Flat sound of SB3 was the reason it migrated to the bedroom and I got Transporter..

[michael123]

+1 on Robin's comment. In this specific case I can add that I plan to use coax over BNC and that the DAC in question, while not in that price range, has a distinctive sound that is a better match for my taste as well as the rest of my equipment.

"coax over BNC" is BNC in my language :-)
It is a better connection (and different parts inside the Transporter last time I've seen it). It has transformer and 50 Ohm impedance.

[mswlogo]

mswlogo

I was asked this week for some comments via bugzilla for this specific bug, there is a hope it will be fixed (for 7.6?)

btw, I did hear the difference between SB3 and Transporter...
Flat sound of SB3 was the reason it migrated to the bedroom and I got Transporter..

They are both absolutely 100% bit perfect (TosLink and Coax, Wifi and Wired). I've recorded the SPDIF on both and neither will miss a bit. Only difference may be jitter. But as dicussed elsewhere a good DAC will take care of that.

[michael123]

They are both absolutely 100% bit perfect (TosLink and Coax, Wifi and Wired). I've recorded the SPDIF on both and neither will miss a bit. Only difference may be jitter. But as dicussed elsewhere a good DAC will take care of that.

With my audiolab 8000AP it did not sound well.. anyway, there are huge differences in construction of SB3, Touch and Transporter.

[mswlogo]

With my audiolab 8000AP it did not sound well.. anyway, there are huge differences in construction of SB3, Touch and Transporter.

Yes construction is different. most of Transporter's construction is for beefing up it's analog section.