Logitech Squeezebox vs. Sonos

I'd recommend coax over optical

Hey John. I am in the FW area and have a Squeezebox Duet setup in two systems if you'd like to take a look and listen. It doesn't do hi res but you can hear how good it sounds with ripped rebook CDs. I may go touch for my main rig so I can do hi res. PM me if you want.

Sonos ZP90 doesn't support 24/96? I was going to try Sonos w/ DAC (SPDIF COAX). I only play Red Book CD's ripped in Apple Lossless.

Hi John,

Over the course of the last couple of weeks I've spent a lot of time trying to understand PC audio and how one can make it sound good.

A few points to consider:

Most people spend a lot of time trying to figure out the hardware end of it without realizing the software end of things. iTunes as I've just discovered isn't the best solution for good digital playback. iTunes uses a filtering process that doesn't ensure you get bit perfect audio through any transmission to your DAC (Toslink, Coaxial, USB or otherwise). If you're on a PC look for third software to rip, organize and most important to play back your music. J Rivers Media is a good place to start. For MAC users I'd suggest Amarra, PureMusic or AudioNirvana (free too boot).

There is debate about Optical and Coaxial. Most hardware engineers still suggest Coaxial as Optical will introduce more jitter (and with PC audio jitter is introduced more frequently because of all the processes involved in transmission). 1.5 meter Coaxial or if you must use Optical a glass fiber based solution from the likes of Wireworld or Van Den Hul.

Lastly, from everything I've gathered the Squeezebox units output the least jitter and have the ability to use digital coaxial, which is the best possible 'wireless' streaming out there however I've used the Squeezebox units and wasn't overly impressed with it's interface. Having said that I didn't use an iTouch for control.

From all I've read the best possible computer solution seems to be a Mac Book Pro (or Mac Mini if you care to settle) running Pure Music or Amarra using a glass toslink adapter with all files ripped in AIFF connected to an established low jitter DAC. This setup would allow for iPhone/iTouch control and the Mac Mini is small enough that wireless transmission is all but un-needed.

For more information I'd recommend visiting Computer Audiophile.com as there is a great deal of stuff going on there and people are really trying out new ideas and reporting successes and failures.

I can only say that I use the Logitech Squeeze Box Touch with router and Tosiba laptop with external drive. No issues with dropouts and I am using the Squeezebox Touches
internal DAC. It sounds better than my 5000$ McIntosh CD player. Get the Touch---Value plus