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Macbook vs Squeezebox 3

Why does my Bolder Cable modded SB3 sound sooo much better than my Macbook? They are both going into the same PS Audio Digital Link III DAC. The SB3 via coax, the Macbook via USB. The SB3 is connected to my Mac Mini via ethernet and accessing files that are stored on an external hard drive. The Macbook has the same files stored on it's internal drive.

The SB3 sounds fuller, more detailed, more extension at both ends, just better all the way around. Wondering why my Macbook sounds so bad by comparison? Seems like I should be able to get equal, if not better sound out of the Macbook.
ecruz
ecruz OP
402 posts
 
My Macbook does have optical digital output. I did a little more testing last night, using iTunes w/Pure Music in the "memory mode". Did sound a little better than the USB, but still the Macbook sounded very flat, undynamic and one dimensional compared to the Squeezebox.

I guess my next step will be to try something like a V-Link and see what that sounds like.

My ultimate goal is to replace the Squeezebox with a Mac Mini.
audioengr
3,282 posts
 
Ecruz - the Mac Mini by itself will probably never beat the SB because the jitter is too high.

If you were to use either a reclocker from the toslink output of the Mini or a USB converter from the USB output of the Mini, this would beat the Mini by itself.

The more you spend for these devices, the lower the jitter and the better the result. You MUST use good cables too. A good 1.5m cable from a reclocker to your DAC would cost over $400. Be prepared to spend some money if you want stellar results. This is more important than the DAC.

Steve N.
Empirical Audio
ecruz OP
402 posts
 
Steve,

Not disagreeing, just asking. Are you saying that I will not be able to get sound that equals or betters my Squeezebox, from my Mac, without a USB converter and an expensive digital cable? It seems like the converter is the more important piece at this point?

Before putting a lot of money into this, I am going to try the Musical Fidelity V-Link, to see if that improves things at all. It will go to the same DAC, I'll use the same digital cable that I currently use from the SB3 -> DAC. Then at least I'm eliminating some of the variables.

Do you expect that this set up would bring the Mac closer to the SB3? Again, I want to migrate from the SB3 to the Mac. This seems like a simpler solution in the long run. As long as I can get as good or better sound out of it.

Thanks
realremo
460 posts
 
The converter is where the clocks are, so it is very important.
Be sure to use the Vlink 192, not the Vlink in the black box or the Vlink MkII. The Vlink 192 has better clocks than the previous Vlink versions, and audio advisor has them on for $199. There are much better converters out there, but you'd have to spend at least an additional $250 IMHO.
Steve did not mention; the USB cable from the computer to the Vlink is also very important, as well as the digtial cable from the Vlink to the DAC. Most folks seem to think digital coax sounds better than optical, just FYI.
Why migrate away from the SB3 if it sounds so good? Because it has been obsolete'd by Logitech, i.e. no support?
ecruz OP
402 posts
 
Why migrate away from the SB3 if it sounds so good? Because it has been obsolete'd by Logitech, i.e. no support?

Exactly.

The V-Link came today. I just finished playing with it, for the last hour or so. Using optical wasn't much better than optical straight out of the Mac. However, once I switched to spdif, things came to life. Finally! Pretty darn close to the SB3, without any tweaking at all. This is on my regular Macbook, using a regular USB cable, iTunes and Pure Music. I now feel confident that I can go to a Mac Mini optimized for music, without compromising sound quality and possibly improving sound quality.
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