Logitech Squeezebox sound compared to CD Player

Mapman,

I do use an external DAC. What you mean by "tried mod to disable wireless" always adds confusion on the SB forums. So we are on the same page, when I say disabling the wireless mod actually means the wireless radio is ON. When you try the mod and do a tt -s, you will know what I mean. In my setup, I have the wireless mod enabled which means the wireless radio is OFF. I have compared the the two and having the wireless radio OFF (mod enabled) made a big improvement in my system. The music was smoother, less digital hash/grain, and transparent.

Like you, I have never used the onboard DAC only with an external DAC. I agree with you that SBT+external DAC is comptetitive more expensive setups, but the mods did bring the SBT to another level in my system. (**Warning bold statement/opinion coming up**) I truly believe the SBT with the mods can compete with transports costing in the 2-3K range and SBT+mod+external dac competing with CD players in the 5K range.

Another great thing about the mods, you can tune to your liking. I compare it to having different filters on the DAC. With different combinations of mods disabled/enabled, you get a different flavor of sound. Some good, some bad depending on the combination. If you go to the SB forum under the Audiophile section, you will read about the different results and peoples settings.

Based upon your responses and reading your thread on your system setup, it seems you haven't tried the mod. You may have your reasons for not trying them which is fine. I just think you are missing out :)

PS. Not trying to be rude, but don't want to clog up the thread with us going back and forth on why wireless should or shouldn't make a difference. I'd be happy to discuss on a separate thread so we can keep this one on track.

Back to addressing, the ops original question, IMHO, the SB Touch out of the box and even more so with and external DAC is highly competitive with some of the best digital rigs I have heard out there at any cost. So I would start there.

Then if for some reason you think there is more needed, and you have the appetite to customize, you might try some of the blogged custom software tweaks referred to and see what if anything might happen from there.

SB Touch is a win/win no matter what in comparison to CD players in general as long as you are comfortable with teh basic idea of getting into computer audio and understand the potential benefits.

Otherwise, just keep things simple and stick with a CD player and be done with it.

BTW, I just added a second SB Touch to my other system in my family room today in addition to the one I have been running in my main rig for several months now and to teh SB Radio I use in my bedroom.

Thanks again for all the great responses. I am looking forward to trying the SBT as it seems like such a great value. They can be had new for about $200 now (or a little more)seems like it is worth a try. I would still keep my Universal Player & use both, why not?

TM, good luck. We'll be interested in your findings. Let me know if I can be of any help with the Touch.

Thanks Mapman (and everyone else who contributed here). I am now looking for a super deal on one. My goal is to pick up a brand new one for about $210 or so which I think is gonna be possible soon . I will let you know the results. I will start out using it totally stock (with no DAC) & get a point of reference from there. I will be streaming ripped CD's via FLAC files on Media Monkey, and WAV & AIFF files from itunes to start. Also will be streaming Radio Paradise MP3 192 Kbps internet radio. Should be fun.