How to improve Touch sound?

[Dazed and Confused]

Just set up Touch for the first time. FLAC files are being fed via a wired connection from a Synology DS212+ NAS, then into amp (analogue) using the supplied leads and thenspeakers. The sound is very digital, ie bright and and I want to know ways of making it less digital. I have read that power supplies can help and also feeding into a stand alone DAC then into the AMP.

[aubuti]

Welcome to the forums. It's hard to know what to suggest without knowing more about the rest of your system, and also bright compared to what (a CD player, something else). The Touch's DAC is quite good, but there are better external DACs out there. Certainly give the Touch a few days' listening before doing anything drastic.

[guidof]

Just set up Touch for the first time. FLAC files are being fed via a wired connection from a Synology DS212+ NAS, then into amp (analogue) using the supplied leads and thenspeakers. The sound is very digital, ie bright and and I want to know ways of making it less digital. I have read that power supplies can help and also feeding into a stand alone DAC then into the AMP.

In my experience and with my systems (see sig below) the sound of the Touch, either through the digital or the analog out, is not particularly bright or 'digital'. Aubuti's advice is good: listen for a while before spending money on new equipment. But if after a few weeks you still find the sound objectionable, then you may want to focus on that which may actually make a significant difference in sound: primarily speakers, speaker and listening chair placement, and room. Amps, preamps (if any) and DACs can have an effect on sound, but their contribution is generally far less evident than that of speakers and room.

Hope this helps, but feel free to tell us more about your equipment, room, listening habits, etc., if you would like further advice.

Regards,

Guido F.

[Dazed and Confused]

Thanks for your advice so far.

The rest of my system (amp & speakers) is as follows: Luxman L-505u Integrated Amplifier & Audiosmile Kensai speakers.

I suppose all electronics need a 'burn in' time so I'll leave it playing for a while and see if the digital glare diminishes.

I do keep reading that the power supply is best ditched and replaced by something 'better', but the most of these replacements seem to exceed the price of the Touch itself!

[dood]

Thanks for your advice so far.

The rest of my system (amp & speakers) is as follows: Luxman L-505u Integrated Amplifier & Audiosmile Kensai speakers.

I suppose all electronics need a 'burn in' time so I'll leave it playing for a while and see if the digital glare diminishes.

I do keep reading that the power supply is best ditched and replaced by something 'better', but the most of these replacements seem to exceed the price of the Touch itself!

If you are happy with the sound of your set up with a different source, eg CD player, then the problem is not your amp or speakers. In that case an external DAC will make the most difference, certainly more than power suppiles, cables etc.

[guidof]

If you are happy with the sound of your set up with a different source, eg CD player, then the problem is not your amp or speakers. In that case an external DAC will make the most difference, certainly more than power suppiles, cables etc.

Possibly. However, I have three Touches. One outputs to an external DAC. Two use the Touch internal DAC. If anything, the internal DAC tends to tame both frequency extremes. Since the OP complains of sound that is too bright and 'digital', it is unlikely that an external DAC will help. it's also quite doubtful that a different power supply will help, for the same reason.

But we all listen for different clues and to different kinds of music, so it's certainly worth a try if the OP can borrow a good DAC. Nothing like listening with one's own ears!

Guido F.

[guidof]

Thanks for your advice so far.

The rest of my system (amp & speakers) is as follows: Luxman L-505u Integrated Amplifier & Audiosmile Kensai speakers.

I suppose all electronics need a 'burn in' time so I'll leave it playing for a while and see if the digital glare diminishes.

I do keep reading that the power supply is best ditched and replaced by something 'better', but the most of these replacements seem to exceed the price of the Touch itself!

Your Luxman is very probably not the culprit. I'm not familiar with your speakers, but you may try playing with their placement and different toe-in angles. There is nothing that needs burn-in time in the Touch. But it's still a good idea to listen to a variety of music over a few weeks so that you may fully familiarize yourself with the sound and decide whether or not it meets your expectations.

Happy listening!

Guido F.

[aubuti]

There is nothing that needs burn-in time in the Touch. But it's still a good idea to listen to a variety of music over a few weeks so that you may fully familiarize yourself with the sound and decide whether or not it meets your expectations.

Agreed. My earlier suggestion about giving the Touch a few days' listening was entirely about giving the device a "fair hearing" and not at all about burn-in.

[bencat]

I would echo the advice of the others but would also suggest that you consider doing one or both of the following. One load the Triode EDO App this does seem to help the SBT and adds some naturalness to the output (I am talking about digital only as that is all I use ) . Two take the time and load the Toolbox 3.0. If you can live with the whole package (no screen , no remote , no wi fi ) then you will hear a good level of improvement in the sound quality which makes the SBT sound more natural and increases the sound stage . Lastly if youy wish (and I would strongly advise a sale or return trial) buy and improved Linear power supply there are a number out there .
http://markgrantcables.co.uk/ do one that I think is good and is not too expensive . This last is not agreed with by many and they view it as not worth doing. I found it made a small but significant difference and would describe it a the icing on the cake , nice to have but not essential.

The above can make quite a large difference to the SBT for just a bit of your time . With Toolbox you can control and turn on and off those features that you do and do not need . Each one you add takes a little away from the best possible sound but again it is not that much and if you need the screen to navigate (lots of users have Andorid Phones and Iphones as controllers , I use a duet Controller because it was on sale in the uk cheap) and infr red remote then you have to keep them on.

[SuperQ]

Just set up Touch for the first time. FLAC files are being fed via a wired connection from a Synology DS212+ NAS, then into amp (analogue) using the supplied leads and thenspeakers. The sound is very digital, ie bright and and I want to know ways of making it less digital. I have read that power supplies can help and also feeding into a stand alone DAC then into the AMP.

My solution: http://beeradvocate.com/