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SB Touch w/upgraded power supply: good next step?

I'm enjoying my SB Touch and so far using it stock, and taking analog out into my pre. As is it performs on par with my Rotel RCD1072, but want to take another step forward.

The Soundcheck mods are enticing, but for the time being I need to continue to use wireless and the Touch's screen, which are 2 big impact areas of that toolbox, so I'm thinking of waiting there a bit.

An outboard DAC is the logical upgrade, but more expensive. Maybe a Metrum Octave.

An upgraded power supply, like a Teddy Pardo, would run at around $300 and would be doable now. But how significant should I expect that upgrade to be if using analog out and stock settings? Should I go here now or wait a few months and get Soundcheck mods and the DAC first?

FWIW, I have 2 dedicated power lines, Oyaide outlets, upgraded power cables, Lamm LL2D, McIntosh MC275, B&W 804S, Rel sub.

Thanks!
lewinskih01
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,772 posts
 
Shakey,

Thanks for the info. Might give a power supply a try someday. I think the OHM speakers I use give me an advantage in those areas compared to many and are the main reason why I am content at present. I suppose you can never get enough of a good thing though......
marcober
16 posts
 
What I meant in my original post was whether or not trading the Transporter for a different player or tuner... Can you enhance the sound quality of Internet radio from tuner to tuner? Or all pretty much alike? Or how to upgrade the power supply of Transporter?
No wall wart on Transporter!
Thanks
Mark
kennythekey
593 posts
 
IMO - The analog outs from the SBT are good enough for most streaming radio stations. There may be a couple of stations, like Linn Radio, that may warrant a dedicated DAC but not to go overboard if streaming is all you'll be doing.

My upgrade to a dedicated DAC really changed the entire listening experience when playing hi-rez audio files. This is true even though I'm using the wall-wart. I was lucky enough to have a spare dedicated circuit that was convenient to plug the SBT's wall-wart into. The outlet is also a PS Audio Soloist, so this setup may be helping the power supply situation without having to go linear or battery.
lewinskih01 OP
911 posts
 
Thanks folks for the good feedback, and sorry I wasn't replying - took 2 weeks off to the middle of nowhere, without wireless signal or electricity.

Like Kenneythekey, I have a dedicated power line where the SBT sits on its own, so maybe a linear power supply isn't going to help as much as in other people's cases. I'm hearing no clicks whatsoever now.

Rbautista, I like to buy gear and hold on to it for a good while, and I'm thinking about $1000 on a DAC. Right now the Metrum Octave looks most appealing. I wish it did 24/192 though (looking beyond SBT). Considering how much has happened in the last 12 months in terms of DAC advancement and prices dropping, who knows where will I sit in 9 months!
My router is a Linksys WRT-120N. Maybe I can add another one sitting by the Touch and set it to operate as a receiver? Sounds like my next step. Then the Soundcheck Toolbox 3.

Will get busy with this and report back. Keep the feedback coming!

Thanks all.
kennythekey
593 posts
 
Lewinskih01 -

I too hold on to gear for a long time.

I own the latest Eastern Electric DAC Plus and love it. It's just around your price point. However, I'm not familiar with the Metrum. The DAC Plus can be push-button switched from Solid State to Tube and rolled for both (tube and op amps).
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