Which Squeezebox?

[anbj99]

Hi,

I have no squeezebox device yet, which device should you buy to get the best sound when i connect it to my amplifier? I want to use my iPad controlling the device.

Anders

[toby10]

SqueezeBox Touch

[Squeezed_Rotel]

A used Transporter or a new Transporter SE

[dasmueller]

I second the Touch. Have 2 and love them.

[ralphpnj]

Hi,

I have no squeezebox device yet, which device should you buy to get the best sound when i connect it to my amplifier? I want to use my iPad controlling the device.

Anders

SqueezeBox Touch

A used Transporter or a new Transporter SE

Without knowing what exactly equipment you will connecting the Squeezebox device to it is difficult to give a reasonable recommendation. If you have some very expensive high end audio equipment then the Transporter might be the way to go, however if you somewhat less expensive equipment than the Touch would be the way to go.

At present the main difference in audio quality between the Transporter and the Touch is the better DAC and balanced outputs of the Transporter. If you will not be using the built in DAC, i.e. connecting the Squeezebox device to an external DAC or a home theater receiver with a DAC, then by all means get the Touch and save yourself quite a bit of money.

I have a Transporter and a Touch and can say that the sound quality differences between the two pretty much come down to the balanced analog outputs of the Transporter being slightly better than the RCA analog outputs of the Touch. And even then the differences are not that great. Yes the Touch is that good.

[Recoveryone]

I agree with ralph, but also look at where you want to be in the future.

[ralphpnj]

I agree with ralph, but also look at where you want to be in the future.

If future proofing one's purchase is a major concern then the Touch is the better choice because using the digital outputs one can then upgrade to almost any external DAC, even one with balanced analog outputs, or upgrade to almost any home theater receiver. Mind you, I'm not knocking the Transporter, it's just that the Touch is a more "future proof" device.

[guidof]

If future proofing one's purchase is a major concern then the Touch is the better choice because using the digital outputs one can then upgrade to almost any external DAC, even one with balanced analog outputs, or upgrade to almost any home theater receiver. Mind you, I'm not knocking the Transporter, it's just that the Touch is a more "future proof" device.

+1!

As a player into an external DAC the Touch is an excellent platform, capable of delivering superb sound.

Even when used with its own internal DAC, it ain't chopped liver, by any means.

And for the money, it's a bargain to boot.

Guido F.

[ralphpnj]

As a player into an external DAC the Touch is an excellent platform, capable of delivering superb sound.

Even when used with its own internal DAC, it ain't chopped liver, by any means.

And for the money, it's a bargain to boot.

Guido F.

All true but since this is the Audiophile section of the forum we must mention all the things that are not "high end" about the Touch.

1) It is made of plastic rather than machined from one solid piece of aircraft grade aluminum.

2) It has a simple wall wart power supply instead of a super duper, machined from one solid piece of aircraft grade aluminum, linear power supply.

3) While it has a USB input it does not have a USB output (neither asynchronous or synchronous), which is rapidly making the Touch a non-starter for most of the high end audio press.

4) It features bit perfect playback of digital audio files in almost all common formats (mp3, wav, flac, etc.) with bit depths and sampling rates up to and including 24 bit and 88.2/96 kHz. It does not support playback of 32bit / 176.4, 352.8, 192 or 384 kHz files without down-sampling to 24/88.2 or 96 kHz - thus making the Touch a non-starter for most of the high end audio press.

5) The Touch can stream almost all internet radio and other audio streams which means that one can listen to the Touch in the background while writing and editing one's review a music streaming device from an established high end audio manufacturer which is machined from one solid piece of aircraft grade aluminum and features a super duper, machined from one solid piece of aircraft grade aluminum, linear power supply, an asynchronous USB output and full support for playback of 32bit / 176.4, 352.8, 192 or 384 kHz files without down-sampling.

6) The Touch also features very easy setup which does not require that the CEO of Logitech come to your home to assist you with the setup. Again just one more thing that makes the Touch a non-starter for most of the high end audio press.

Otherwise the Touch is a really good little audio device

[TheOctavist]

the touch!

it performs excellently and measures superbly taboot.

the choice is clear