Is the Transporter

Transporter owner here,

I am a bit biased I guess but I think this thing is the next best thing to sliced bread. I have zero regrets with purchasing mine despite a few quirks here and there. This is of course assuming that its being used as a, well, Transport.

IMO, I don't think using it as a Premp to feed an amp directly is a viable option despite it having all the connections and volume control to do so. Reason being, unless you have the volume fixed to 100% you aren't getting full output from the device and will suffer from reduced dynamic range.

I think the device shines when used in the two scenarios listed below:

Use it as a Transport that feeds another DAC/PRE (ie..Benchmark,BelCanto.. Etc)

Use it as a Transport/DAC feeding a standard Preamp

Enia,

I know its been out for a few years but I find it curious that Logitech is doing away with a product that seems to be ahead of it's time and unique. Either they have something newer and perhaps better coming or the bean-counters are saying that high-end niche products do not help the stock price.

If I cant use it as a preamp then I would just use it as a Transport/DAC as you suggest. But now I'm back to wondering if I should'nt just put a DAC on my Sonos unit.

Buy the Squeezebox Touch and use a quality Dac.

As Ozzy says, is the Transporter any better than a Squeezebox Touch with, say, a Wyred4Sound DAC? Any thoughts on comparisions? I'm currently using the W4S with a SB3.

Good question Ncarv. My original post question was supposed to be: Is the Transporter old news?

Can I get better sound than the Transport with a $1500 budget by purchasing a newer DAC like the W4S and connect to my Sonos? Is the squeezebox a better wifi head end than my Sonos? AND..is there a solution that would eliminate my pre amp? that would allow my budget to increase as well.

A lot of questions I know! HELP!