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In Reply to: RE: "CD Quality".................... posted by Cut-Throat on October 7, 2014 at 14:30:36
Squeezebox Touch is a great device that plays all manner of files excellently. In my case I have AIFF.
I have one NAS drive with nearly 2500 CDs of AIFF files: that it plays without a hiccup....
My MacMini in my main rig sounds better, and I've plugged the Squeezebox with the TeraDak PSU, and compared directly.
And the Mini doesn't sound quite as good as redbook CDs.
So, - in the winter, I'm going to pick up the winner of the Mind/Bryston/Sonore shoot out to replace the Mini. I'm not dumping any more $$$ into commercial computing products, or USB, which is not capable of state of the art performance.
Finally, - it's a bit unreasonable of me, - but I don't want to drop $2000 + re-doing a product that is designed for Email and Internet browsing, and then chuck down another $2000 on an USB cable and interface device in order to use the SPDIF digital input on (what I feel) is one of the best DACs ever made.
With the NAS, & Squeezebox server, I can get all my AIFF files, plus internet radio/pandora/etc in the two most important rooms where Internet radio counts. It's not the highest priority to me to get IR on the main rig. I am not going to choose the Mind (for example) because it does Internet Radio, where the Sonore (might) sound better with my NAS/AIFF and not do IR. For the main system, - I'll choose whichever device plays the AIFF files best, - (and doesn't have USB outs or have a DAC in it).
I agree with you that the Squeezebox is without equal for quality, price, and features. And all 4 of theses transports likely beat the Squeezebox for playing back AIFF/FLAC/WAV files, but they don't do Internet radio, or Internet Apps as well. I want something better than the Squeezebox for AIFF, and don't care about IR, because IR is by nature, - lower quality.
Follow Ups:
"My MacMini in my main rig sounds better, and I've plugged the Squeezebox with the TeraDak PSU, and compared directly. "
Are you using an external DAC? --- Which DAC do you have? ...... I have had numerous Audiophiles to my place and they cannot tell the diff between my SBT with power supply and External DACs and CDs. And they do not want to 'place money' differentiating between Spotify 320kbs vs. FLAC Files.
Thanks for relating your experiences and info....
I have an APL Universal player with 10 asynchronous DACs per channel and no master clock. So, - I guess I have 20 DACs.
I have a digital, SPDIF coax input on the above. This leaves me in (perhaps) a somewhat unique position of having the exact same DAC to compare CDs with (whatever) comes in through the SPDIF input. (I guess it's possible that the SPDIF input USB IF, & SPDIF cable could be somehow less than for the Mac Mini, and for the Squeezebox, - just the cable.
Differences are heard between redbook CDs, & the MacMini playing AIFF files. (There of course is debate on whether or not differences can be heard between compressed FLAC and AppleLossless vs WAV and AIFF).
In any case, yes, - we consistently hear (negative) differences (again slight) ranked from CDs, MacMini, Squeezebox. Most notably, the bass is a bit deeper, less smooth sounding, and lingers longer with the Mini & more-so with the Squeezebox. The differences are not dramatic, - but are noticeable.
I don't play with Spotify because of their connection to Facebook. I am not sure if I've streamed 320kps live streaming before.
Reviewers have claimed that the Sim Audio Mind sounds better than the Squeezebox, but (from what I've read), it was unclear if they were using an upgraded PSU for the SBT. Also, - Sprezza has the Mind, SBT, and Bryston transports.
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