Squeezebox Touch -- Modifications

[Kuja]

Originally Posted by warpeon

Yes. Things changes, at least from my experience:
1) FLAC decoded @ NAS --> More laid back, but slightly less defined
2) FLAC decoded @ SQT --> More forward, a lot more definition and clarity

Interesting!

I got very similar result comparing FLAC decoded to PCM on the PC side,
to FLAC playback from SD card using SBT's internal server:

Originally Posted by Kuja

When I compare the sound of modded Touch / Naim DAC combination with the sound of Naim DAC alone (playing PCM wav directly from the USB memory stick),
Touch/Naim combination sounds somewhat duller.

Naim DAC alone, in memory stick mode, has greater dynamics, transients are sharper, there is more attack, bass has greater slam and kick, mids and highs are more detailed, treble is more extended, there is more air around instruments. Imaging is wider and deeper. Everything is more vivid.

Difference is not (it never is ) night and day, but it is very obvious.

Enough for me to worry about it, since I'm not using the full potential of this excellent DAC.

BUT...!!!
When I did put a SD card with the same music in the Touch, I was very surprised!

The sound became much closer to the real sound of Naim DAC.
Something I could live with.

In this scenario all the mods are still present, but the internal Tiny SBS is running and FLAC decoding is done inside the Touch.

.

[Kuja]

Originally Posted by warpeon

1) is SQT better with a TOSLINK out or Coax?

Stereovox XV2 cable was better than VdH Optocoupler II on Naim DAC.

.

[Kuja]

Originally Posted by warpeon

I am still experimenting digital cables. Any experience you could share?

After trying several coax digital cables, I chose Stereovox XV2.

It gives me the least colored sound, closest to the Naim DAC's USB stick playback,
which I believe is the real sound of the DAC, not dependent on transport characteristics.

XV2 is no frills true 75 Ohm cable with proper BNC termination. It has BNC to RCA adaptors included if you need them (I'm using one on the Touch side).

.

[Kuja]

Originally Posted by soundcheck

I do hope that the NAIM comes with transformers on the input.

Yes, Naim DAC has transformers on its inputs.





.

[evdplancke]

Just wanna share an idea for who would be willing to test this with 2 SBT (I have unfortunately only one):

I am currently using the SBT screen with remote as main GUI and can therefore not benefit from the screen off mod. Since SBT internal server can stream to several devices, my idea would be to stream from one SBT with external HDD connected to USB to another SBT with all mods applied. Different connectivity scenarios are possible: with a hub in between or without, using direct Ethernet connection instead.

This would be a temporary solution before Logitech will release a product that splits Server/GUI and transport (wishful thinking?). This leaves maybe also some more room for server side tweaking.

Anyone in the community who wants to try this and share the results?

Cheers,

Emmanuel

[Tom186]

Hello,

I am fiddling around with my SPDIF connection and wanted to try out one of the pulse transformers which keep being mentioned. Any recommendations on which part to get (preferably available in Germany)?

Thanks, Thomas

[soundcheck]

Originally Posted by Tom186

Hello,

I am fiddling around with my SPDIF connection and wanted to try out one of the pulse transformers which keep being mentioned. Any recommendations on which part to get (preferably available in Germany)?

Thanks, Thomas

Newava S22083
or
Newava S22160

Usually available at Digikey.

[Kuja]

1.5 Output tuning and selection


With this modification you will disable either the analog or the digital output.
And you'll turn of the Alsa "plugin" output mode - which is the 2nd best choice in terms of SQ.. With this mod we go straight to the "hardware=hw".
By default they all outputs run in parallel.
You'll also be able to define a single output for a 24bit USB DAC.

NOTE: There are radio stations sampled with less than 44.1khz. Those radio
stations will cause the so called "Chipmunk" effect.
At this point you need to set your priorities!!! If those radio stations are
important to you, you need to skip this modification.

Can this be made in two separate mods?

I would like to have only spdif output active,
but I would also like to be able to listen to some of my favorite internet radio stations, which are now suffering from the chipmunk effect.

Why the Alsa plugin output mode tweak, had to go together with activating/deactivating spdif/analog outputs and USB?

Can this be separated please?

.

[soundcheck]

Hi folks.

I installed an Ubuntu Server 10.10. on a USB stick. I never tried Ubuntu server before. Very nice and slim. Commandline only.

I also digged deeper into the TCP/IP parametrization.
It was really bugging me all the time that W7 performs better then Linux.

I think I caught up with an TCP/IP optimized W7 platform again.
Some more tests have to be done to come to a final conclusion.


Cheers

[Shutdown98]

There is a lot of talk about lineair power supplies. I have one for the Touch and it works well.
Is something like this helpfull at all?
APC Smart-UPS 1000VA USB & Serial 230V