Squeezebox Touch

thanks. Seems to be a bargain at the price if you have a decent dac

It's definitely clearer, cleaner but I wouldn't call it weighty or warm overall.

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Originally posted by js:
It's definitely clearer, cleaner but I wouldn't call it weighty or warm overall.

JS

Have you tested it with the Naim Dac. If so, where does it slot into the sound quality hierarchy. Is it better than a USB stick.

I am contemplating buying one and connecting a USB hard drive. However, I suspect the electronics required for the display and wifi receiver will limit sound quality.

Sorry but no. the customer that brought it in needed to here it elsewhere and time did not permit.

Has anyone using a Naim DAC compared the new Squeezebox Touch with a Sonos Zone player as a way to bridge the gap from your computer to the Naim DAC if the computer isn't in the same room?

Thanks,

Bruce

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I am contemplating buying one and connecting a USB hard drive. However, I suspect the electronics required for the display and wifi receiver will limit sound quality.

I'd suggest you try one first if you can, if you plan to use it only with the internal server and a USB disk. It's not as responsive if you run it like that compared to running it off a separate server.

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Have you tested it with the Naim Dac. If so, where does it slot into the sound quality hierarchy. Is it better than a USB stick.

The ndac playing wav from a usb stick is up there with the very best digital replay. The Touch is a long way short, whether via ndac or analogue out. It is also way behind Pure Music via a Weiss.

Thanks to everybody for the feedback.

I was intending to simply connect it to a hard drive and the Naim Dac. I don’t really want to set up a server/network.
If it doesn’t improve on a USB stick there’s no point in buying one. I’m looking for a source to match a CDS2 and a USB stick doesn’t do that IMO.

Yesterday i did with a friend some testing.
We tested Squeezebox Duet (SD) per PowerPlug to my PC.
Squeezebox Touch (ST) connected direct with Oelbach USB-Cable to a 2,5 HD WD and Wireworld Ultraviolet, connected to
Naim Dac (N-DAC) and a friend brought in an CDX2 with no digital out..
Amp was SN and Arivas.

a) Some years ago I tested CD5i analog against SD digital in SN_DAC
Clear winner SD in SN-DAC

Yesterdays testing
b)SD versus ST analog in SN
Clear Winner ST

C) SD versus ST digital in SN
Clear Winner ST

So we sorted out the SD, no chance against the ST

Next
D) ST & SN-DAC versus ST & N-DAC & SN
Clear winner ST & N-DAC & SN

No it got interesting

E) CDX2 analog in SN versus ST & N-DAC & SN
Nearly the same quality
I liked the combo ST & N-DAC & SN better, because it was a little bit more open, had more “air”
My friend liked his CDX2 better, because he said, plays a little more on the point, straighter.

Then the highlight: testing 24/96 Flac
Yesterday I downloaded 3 albums in 24/96 Flac
Peter Frampton - Frampton Comes Alive
Robert Plant Alison Krauss - Raising Sand
The Kinks - One for the Road Live

F) CDX2 analog in SN versus ST & N-DAC & SN

The HD Light on the N_DAC began to shine and the magic could start.

Yes could start, the music starts - it sounds great – silence - rebuffering, music starts – it sounds great – silence – rebuffering so on so on so on.
This with all 3 albums.
I think the combination 24/96 Flacs and using the internal Squeeze Server is too much for the ST, with its small Ram and CPU-Power.
Things may look different (I think so) if you go over NAS etc, but I bought the ST, to use it without a NAS or PC, so I cant play this High Resolution Flacs.
For me not a big problem.

So my conclusion.

Up to “normal” Flacs the ST is on the same page as the CDX2.
Both can not play 24/96 High Resolution Flacs, so I would prefer the ST over a CD-Player in terms of better storage, navigation, playlists, Internet Radio etc.

I hope, I have helped somebody.

quote:

Originally posted by themrock:
I think the combination 24/96 Flacs and using the internal Squeeze Server is too much for the ST, with its small Ram and CPU-Power.
Things may look different (I think so) if you go over NAS etc, but I bought the ST, to use it without a NAS or PC, so I cant play this High Resolution Flacs.
For me not a big problem.

I've played plenty of 24/96 files off a USB stick using the internal server and they all played fine, so I don't think the file type is the issue. Are you using a USB drive? It seems that some cannot transfer data quickly enough.

Quesion for Them Rock.
Is it the case that the touch is miles better than the Duet? I went into my local hi fi shop today enquiring about the SB Touch and they were as helpfull/knowledgable as as a chocolate firegaurd. I have a SB3 which I assume is similar in quality to to the Duet.
I dont plan on getting the DAC and would be steaming coax into my Supernait DAC. The reviews if they are true are that it seems a no brainer to upgrade and sell to a SB Touch if it would cost circa 150/160 allowing for a sale of the SB3.

Can SB Touch owners comment thanks

quote:

Originally posted by themrock:
I hope, I have helped somebody.

Yes, thanks, very helpful.

Have you compaired the ST to USB stick. Have you tried the high res from the hard drive in WAV.

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Are you using a USB drive

I use a Western Digital WDME3200TE 320GB (2,5 Zoll) externe Festplatte

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It seems that some cannot transfer data quickly enough

It is one of the quicker ones

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Is it the case that the touch is miles better than the Duet

If teh Touch is miles better, is a matter of defination.
For me the Touch sounds much better in the SN-DAC than my Duett, for me its a no brainer.
And you dont have to run a PC/NAS.

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Have you compaired the ST to USB stick

No i did not.

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Have you tried the high res from the hard drive in WAV

No, as i downloaded them in HR Flac.

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Originally posted by themrock:

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Have you tried the high res from the hard drive in WAV

No, as i downloaded them in HR Flac.

I have had troubles with hires flac downloads once.

I hade to convert it to wav and convert it back into flac again to have it play properly.

-
aleg

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I hade to convert it to wav and convert it back into flac again to have it play properly

Are they after all the converting stuff still HR-Flacs or "Normal-Flacs)

I just tried it with 1 track, there is for me no chance with dbpoweramp to convert it back from wav to HR-Flacs only to Normal-Flacs.
What do you use.

Re-encode the HDTracks files as FLAC level 0 and setup SqueezeServer to stream PCM rather than FLAC.

I expect then that you will be able to enjoy the 24/96 files on your Touch.

quote:

Originally posted by themrock:
I just tried it with 1 track, there is for me no chance with dbpoweramp to convert it back from wav to HR-Flacs only to Normal-Flacs.
What do you use.

They will stay HiRes flac.

If you don't add any settings which change bitdepth or sample rate dBPoweramp will not change those by itself.
Therefore a HighRes flac will become a HighRes wav and will again become a HighRes flac.

Just study the settings first but if no dsp-plugins are added, all remains HighRes.

-
aleg

[LIST]

Hi GlenW,

What is the thinking behind streaming PCM as oppose to FLAC? I stream FLAC with no problems. I have read before using your method, and was unsure why people do this?

Well, the theory is:

The Touch can struggle in terms of the CPU and Wireless overhead when decoding hi-res FLAC files.

I can only speak for my experience and there certainly does seem to be some variability between different setups amongst Touch users.

Interestingly HDTracks songs seem to often be involved...

In my case streaming 24/96 files was intermittently breaking up and stuttering. This has been resolved completely by converting to FLAC level 0 (just slightly less compression rate - no impact on quality as lossless is lossless) and streaming PCM means that the PC server is doing the CPU grunt work to decode the FLAC file rather than the little CPU in the Touch.

This works flawlessly for me with a wireless setup.

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streaming PCM means that the PC server is doing the CPU grunt work to decode the FLAC file

Okay but in my case no help,because i dont want to stream it via PC/NAS.
I will use the attached HD, as said its not a problem for me,because the sound quality of the normalFlacs are great for me.

But more interesting is for me,that the combo Touch and N-DAC plays on the same level as the much more expensive CDX2.
And dont forget the CDX2 was well run in and the Touch and NDAC came cold out of the box.

@ themrock:

Did you compare CDX2-2 into Naim DAC to Squeezebox Touch into Naim DAC? I am seriously interested in trying the Touch into my Naim DAC in order to replace my CDX2-2 as a source, but only if the Touch is as good as the CDX2-2 or better. Otherwise I will keep my CDX2-2 as a source. To me a HDX or UnitiServe is a little too expensive only to be used delivering ones and zeros - although they will surely do a great job at this.

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Did you compare CDX2-2 into Naim DAC to Squeezebox Touch into Naim DAC?

No it was an older CDX2.
I compared CDX2 direct analog in the SN, against
Touch>N-DAC>SN

themrock,

cooler Test!!!!

Should I buy the Touch too...still not decided...

quote:

Should I buy the Touch too...still not decided...

I would.
Using your N-DAc and the Touch, you are on CDX2 Level.
Its not so expensive 300€ + an ext. HD, if you dont like it, send it back, but you wouldnt do it.
And you have all the benefits like Playlists, Random Play (you will hear Music, that you have not heard since years)and all the Internet Radio.
Last FM is great, there you can hear Music, which has the style you like and you will explore many new groups.