Squeezebox Touch -- Modifications

[larry crimmins]

For the time being, I have two formats of 24/96 music files, flac and the wave files created by dBpoweramp music converter.
After much listening, the waves sound slightly but definitely better. I hate it but its true. I don't want to live w/o tagging and the rest of it.

[allanjelly]

Originally Posted by mb

If you're thinking of adding brutefir to your playback chain, let me caution you that for the SBT it is a pretty manual task, as brutefirdrc has not been ported to the SBT. Measuring and getting the right settings for room correction is non-trivial, then making it send pcm to the SBT was another struggle.

I believe all that brutefir can do can be done by IngusDSP without any trouble. I made it work without any real problems.

But measuring and obtaining a set of good filters is not trivial for sure. That's what I've never accomplished :-(
Every time I get so-so results I decide it's just not worth it - I'm loosing some low level information and dynamics.

[mb]

Originally Posted by allanjelly

I believe all that brutefir can do can be done by IngusDSP without any trouble. I made it work without any real problems.

But measuring and obtaining a set of good filters is not trivial for sure. That's what I've never accomplished :-(
Every time I get so-so results I decide it's just not worth it - I'm loosing some low level information and dynamics.

From what I've read, yes, IngusDSP will do just about the same. I used brutefir because my server is (was) an old P4 Dell, and runs linux (ubuntu).

I've upgraded the server, and expect brutefir will be able to provide full drc to three rooms .

Tony Dickenson provided some great notes on the basic measurement steps. and for me the correction has most definitely increased detail and dynamics. There is at least 6dB loss of signal, which is unavoidable. In terms of perception the loss is probably 10dB, as room modes are cut back dramatically, so the volume needs to be set a lot higher.

I have tried the filter setting generated by Ingus' "normal" correction file, and find that it takes away some of the life from the music, and use a "minimal" setting for brutefirdrc. I find this more to my taste.

[allanjelly]

There is an update to soundcheck's blog.
soundcheck's - audio@vise: Squeezebox Touch -- Modifications

Soundcheck is thinking about turning his mod into commercial product.
Please write what you think about this idea.

I find it unfair for two reasons:
1). It just kills future community works. Who will share his findings on Touch's configuration if he'll know Soundcheck will grab them into his commercial package.
Soundcheck writes on his blog:
"What keeps me back posting those modifications to the community is the fear that these might be misused or copied by others for different commercial purposes."
Is it fair Soundcheck? You will be exactly the same threat to the community. Can you swear you'll never use in your product what you'll find here or somewhere else online?

2). With all regards - Soundcheck already didn't find out all the mods by himself. Look at the proof:
http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=72787&highlight=soundcheck

By the way - I don't believe there is a market for such products.
How many people will pay for that? 10? May be.

[soundcheck]

Hi there.

Just to make one thing clear.

I do not intend to go commercial with my modifications. I guess I pointed out why.

The current list of modifications is a collection of system relevant
parameter changes.
You can look up the basic idea in the "Linux Audio The Way To Go Thread" over here.
I am driving that idea for almost 4 years by now. 99% of those ideas are taken from that
journey. I can assure you that I put quite some time and energy into all that. Definitely more then those guys charging 200$ for a PS.

The link posted above has nothing to with the mods.


I currently install/provide the mods for systems run by
trustworthy persons offline and free of charge.

As I stated - I am not yet sure how to continue with this story.

Cheers

[omc]

Nice to have you back soundcheck.

I don't know how much you would have to worry about others using your work for commercial purpose. I think that people that are doing stuff like this are probably savvy enough to a quick net search to find out the truth.

I have your mods installed, except the screen and buffer which I couldn't get a hold of, with a linear power supply. I was pleasantly surprised with the performance on my system. Good work. I eagerly await your other work.

By the way, if you are ever coming out to western Canada I would be happy to give you a big scare on the mountain bike.

[allanjelly]

Originally Posted by soundcheck

I do not intend to go commercial with my modifications.

Ok. Sorry for misunderstanding.
I still think your decision to keep your mods in secret is wrong but it's your choice.
I do not deny that you've put a lot effort into that mod - all credits to you - but I believe we could all profit from joint development/testing program. There are several of us who are interested in this thread - some know more about linux, some more about pearl programming and some can only help doing testing. That's the free world spirit which would push the results further and faster.

Regards

ps. To all reading this thread - I've tested Soundcheck's mods and they really work. I've done BLIND a/b tests and I can distinguish modded vs unmodded system 10/10. Is it enough for non-believers? If you cannot hear the difference either you're deaf or your system is simply not resolving enough.
I've done blind tests to standard/linear power supply and to local/server flac decoding. I'm using SPDIF out all the time. After that i started trusting my ears more and i haven't done proper tests to wifi on/off and other minor upgrades but their cummulative influence is also positive.

[larry crimmins]

I hope that whatever is keeping Soundcheck/Klaus from updating his blog clears up soon. I am sure that the software mods that were on his blog contributed to the quality of what I'm now hearing.

[Lvtouch]

New to this site. I'm interested in Soundcheck's work and don't understand why some feel commercialization is wrong.

In fact, why not try to license the work to Logitech? Your work gets rewarded and the user gets the upgrades free.

Hope you find a solution.

[phofman]

Originally Posted by allanjelly

I've done BLIND a/b tests and I can distinguish modded vs unmodded system 10/10. Is it enough for non-believers? If you cannot hear the difference either you're deaf or your system is simply not resolving enough.
I've done blind tests to standard/linear power supply

Noone has ever disputed that replacing the noisy SMPS with a linear one will yield sonic improvements.

Originally Posted by allanjelly

and to local/server flac decoding.

Even that is explainable - lowering CPU activity = lower noise on supply lines with direct impact on SPDIF output jitter.