Squeezebox Touch + XDA-1

[igufi]

I'm considering to update my Squeezebox 3 to a more up-to-date media streamer that would be capable of handling high-res files. One of the cheapest options would be to simply upgrade to SB Touch. Now, since my initial budget was around 2000€, that would mean that I could also invest for a external DAC for further sound quality improvements.

Would a XDA-1 bring significant SQ improvements over the existing DAC in SB Touch, assuming other components stay the same? What other DACs should I consider (the XDA is on the list mainly since I'll be doing other purchases with Emotiva in the near future..)?

[badronald]

For $200 more then the Touch you could get the Oppo BDP-93 which will stream music and play any disc you throw at it with a pretty good dac, and you don't have to keep a computer on 24/7 like the touch as you can stream from a NAS or local USB HD.

[flyhigh]

As a Touch user, let me state that the Touch does not require any PC to be running when it is streaming from the net. ie: Rhapsody, Pandora, or any of the thousands of other music/news/etc sources available.

The only time a PC/NAS needs to be running is when streaming local files from your hard drive.

Alternatively, "TinySBS" allows the Touch to play files either from SD card, or an attached USB device. The only limitation is that is won't play a CD. That's not the purpose of a network music player.

The Touch DAC is quite capable on it's own, and handles files up to 24/96khz natively. If you choose, TOSlink and Coaxial connections are provided to use an external DAC.

The Touch is really an amazing piece of kit! Highly recommended.

[igufi]

The new Oppo Blu-ray players are also under consideration (along with NAIM DAC and Linn Sneaky DS) - the main problem is the loss of easy UI. I don't own a TV, only a projector and I'd prefer not to use the projector when playing music and navigating my music collection. If the Oppo can be easily manipulated via a local web-interface or via a iOS-based DLNA/UPnP player (i.e. iPod touch on the coffee table), I'll consider it as an alternative.

My music source is a mac mini that hosts all the FLAC files and the SqueezeCenter software.

I'm still interested in hearing from people that own both the SB Touch and XDA-1 (or other DACs) on the potential sound quality improvements. I assume that SB Touch will not pass through 24/192 signal via SPDIF?

[hemster]

Apr 17, 2011 10:05:52 GMT -5 igufi said:

The new Oppo Blu-ray players are also under consideration (along with NAIM DAC and Linn Sneaky DS) - the main problem is the loss of easy UI. I don't own a TV, only a projector and I'd prefer not to use the projector when playing music and navigating my music collection. If the Oppo can be easily manipulated via a local web-interface or via a iOS-based DLNA/UPnP player (i.e. iPod touch on the coffee table), I'll consider it as an alternative.

My music source is a mac mini that hosts all the FLAC files and the SqueezeCenter software.

I'm still interested in hearing from people that own both the SB Touch and XDA-1 (or other DACs) on the potential sound quality improvements. I assume that SB Touch will not pass through 24/192 signal via SPDIF?

I'm in the same dilemma. Don't want to have to turn on the projector and have no other way to navigate the music, see album art etc. Would love a solution with a touch-phone or iTouch/iPad/notepad whereby I can control as well as see the stuff. I saw the Sonos remote and was impressed until I saw the price tag!

[strindl]

I've used the Squeezebox products for several years and love them. I currently have three Duets and two Touches. The DAC in the touch is not bad ..better than the one in the duet receivers. I use the digital outs in all of them into my pre amp processors though.

Like you, I don't want to have to turn on my TV monitor to listen to music and the Duets and Touches allow for that. My main computer runs 24/7 anyway for a variety of reasons, so that is not an issue for me.

The Touch sounds wonderful and is capable of using high res music files. The Duet receiver sounds just as good using the digital outs..the only limitation with that is it cannot pass through the hi res files that the touch is capable of.

The Touch looks really cool too...it can do this:

[strindl]

Apr 17, 2011 17:33:36 GMT -5 hemster said:

I'm in the same dilemma. Don't want to have to turn on the projector and have no other way to navigate the music, see album art etc. Would love a solution with a touch-phone or iTouch/iPad/notepad whereby I can control as well as see the stuff. I saw the Sonos remote and was impressed until I saw the price tag!

There are several a Iphone apps that remotely control your squeezebox devices that do what you are looking for.

[flyhigh]

Logitech just released a Free App for Android phones. Lets your 'Droid act as a remote. Album art, etc. Pretty cool App.

[igufi]

So, coming back to the original question: has anyone compared their "vanilla" SB Touch to a SB Touch+DXA-1 combination (or some other external DAC under 1700€)? What was the outcome in terms of sonic differences (if any)?

[buck]

I had my Touch for six months before the XDA arrived. While I was impressed with the quality of the Touch DAC, I heard a slight improvement when listening to my music files and much more noticeable improvement when listening to good quality internet radio(Radio Paradise). I have not tried 25/96 files yet.

[Rodney Gold]

I have compared the Emotiva DAC to both the Touch and the much more expensive transporter inbuilt dacs and it slays both.
Here is a mini review I posted a while ago and subsequent to that I got a emotiva DAC and use it in my main system as well as one in my headphone system. (main is Canton Ergo 120dc's , Bryston 4b-ST , X-DA1 and fed by EAS or SPDIF from a logitech transporter - AES sounds best to me)
The Touch/XDA-1 , imho , is a killer combo at its price point.
Read this thread
www.avforums.co.za/index.php/topic,8076.0.html
and this one
www.avforums.co.za/index.php/topic,9115.0.html