USB alternative to Squeezebox

lcrim · « **on:** 29 Dec 2005, 06:52 pm »

I can see that the Squeeze Box has become very popular on this board. I have been using one in my bedroom system for some time now and have only added a linear power supply that I stumbled upon at work and am awaiting a new SN dac to use with it.
I have a laptop in my kitchen with a USB connected hard drive as my music server. I run Slimserver on it and except for when one of my neighbors starts up their wireless router, connectivity is sturdy. This PC setup is around the corner and over a passthrough to my livingroom system. When I started into PC audio I began with an M-Audio Transit connected to the laptop via a USB cable and then via a fiber cable to my livingroom DAC. I have since replaced the Transit with a Creative Audigy 2 NX, another USB device that I use merely as a pass-through to a coax digital cable and again to the DAC. I use Foobar as the player for this route and have finally sorted things out to the point where very few minor pops occur. Well, so why am I bringing this up? The Audigy is powered and uses USB 2.0 and uses coax which all serve to push the performance forward. I replaced the stock switch mode power supply w/ a linear PS and while I still haven't received my SN dacs, the playback quality is really special as in good. I just wanted to point out that there other architectures for doing PC audio. The SB is a nice piece yes, but I have a suspicion that USB methods might ultimately yield superior playback.

Marbles · « **Reply #1 on:** 29 Dec 2005, 07:01 pm »

I think you might be right.

I have an Empirical modded I2S Turbo Off Ramp waiting for me when I get home tonight.

This is one of Steve's first original products, as apposed to modifing an existing product. It will be PC>Turbo Off Ramp>EA modded PT P3a DAC>pre-amp>amp>speakers

Steve thinks this is the best source, that is the Turbo I2S Off Ramp to EA modded PT P3a, he's ever heard.

Kind of makes me sorry I agreed to have a few drinks after work tonight

woodsyi · « **Reply #2 on:** 29 Dec 2005, 07:22 pm »

I peppered Steve with some questions about this I2S offramp since I am sold on this transfer mode -- I have it between my transtport and DAC. It came down to convinience issue since Steve doesn't offer wireless. If he can incorporate wireless I would be the first to jump on it. Marbles, please let us know how yours sound. Do you have a squeezebox with modded digital out to compare?

Marbles · « **Reply #3 on:** 29 Dec 2005, 07:48 pm »

Quote from: woodsyi

I peppered Steve with some questions about this I2S offramp since I am sold on this transfer mode -- I have it between my transtport and DAC. It came down to convinience issue since Steve doesn't offer wireless. If he can incorporate wireless I would be the first to jump on it. Marbles, please let us know how yours sound. Do you have a squeezebox with modded digital out to compare?

I will let you know. I do not have a SB of any kind to compare. In fact I have been using my Pioneer 59AVi DVD Player as a transport to the EA modded P3a the last few months, while waiting for this unit, so it might not even be a valid comparison.

Marbles · « **Reply #4 on:** 30 Dec 2005, 02:22 pm »

Woodysi, right now I'm using F2K upsampled to 24/96 using waveout..not ASIO because I can't get ASIO to play right.

The sound I'm getting is as you would expect: a much deeper, wider soundstage with better layering and more precise imaging. The one word that came to mind was "PURE" . In fact this is one heck of a lot closer to "Perfect Sound Forever" then my system has ever been.

matix · « **Reply #5 on:** 30 Dec 2005, 03:44 pm »

Quote from: Marbles

I think you might be right.

I have an Empirical modded I2S Turbo Off Ramp waiting for me when I get home tonight.

This is one of Steve's first original products, as apposed to modifing an existing product. It will be PC>Turbo Off Ramp>EA modded PT P3a DAC>pre-amp>amp>speakers

Steve thinks this is the best source, that is the Turbo I2S Off Ramp to EA modded PT P3a, he's ever heard.

Kind of makes me sorry I agreed to have a few drinks after work tonight

Hi Marbles

What do you think of the eAR MasterOne from Acoustic Reality? The chain will be simpler, isn't it? PC > eAR MasterOne > Power Amp to Speakers...Only thing this is IEE1394 instead of USB. http://www.acoustic-reality.com/onlinedoc/earmasterone.pdf

Marbles · « **Reply #6 on:** 30 Dec 2005, 03:52 pm »

Quote from: matix

Hi Marbles

What do you think of the eAR MasterOne from Acoustic Reality? The chain will be simpler, isn't it? PC > eAR MasterOne > Power Amp to Speakers...Only thing this is IEE1394 instead of USB. http://www.acoustic-reality.com/onlinedoc/earmasterone.pdf

I've never heard it, so I can't say on it's sound quality. I do know Peter Thompson of AV Reality, and he can be a brilliant designer.

I see no reason not to give it a try. Why not get one and tell us what you think?

matix · « **Reply #7 on:** 30 Dec 2005, 03:59 pm »

Thinking of doing just that, but I am not computer sauvy..so trying to learn more first. I am trying to understand how one can play a DVD in a PC and send DTS and DD to the eAR Master.. so will lurk around for a while more. It seems very convenient....can get rid of the AV amp, DVD player and CD player! Very high WAF for me..

studley · « **Reply #8 on:** 30 Dec 2005, 05:57 pm »

Quote from: Marbles

I have an Empirical modded I2S Turbo Off Ramp waiting for me when I get home tonight.

This is one of Steve's first original products, as apposed to modifing an existing product. It will be PC>Turbo Off Ramp>EA modded PT P3a DAC>pre-amp>amp>speakers

Steve thinks this is the best source, that is the Turbo I2S Off Ramp to EA modded PT P3a, he's ever heard.

Marbles

I've seen Steve refer to this elswhere but I think I'm right in saying its not mentioned on his website yet. I'm surprised you say its not a mod - I thought it was just going to be like his existing off-ramp turbo (based on a Transit) but with 12S output??

Also, can you tell us how much it cost and a bit more about your impressions of its performance?

thanks

Ian

Marbles · « **Reply #9 on:** 30 Dec 2005, 06:15 pm »

Studley, here is the post:

http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=24138

The old prices and the new prices are about the same, I think he bumped them slightly. I got a slight break because he hand built a case and cut the RJ45 hole a bit too big.

The machine made cases should be perfect, but not ready until near the end of january.

So far it is the best digital I've ever had in my system.

I would not say that it is the best digital I've ever heard because it's hard to tell in peoples systems I'm not familiar with, but I'd be VERY surprised if it wasn't the best I've ever heard....

It does not sound like a CD, it's much better. It does not sound like LP's either, as the backround is too quiet for that.

It's pretty interesting, I'm listening to albums where in the past I would skip a lot of songs, now I'm so engrossed that I listen to a lot of songs I would just skip over and not even realize until after the CD is over that that has happened.

Most of the increase in fidelity manifests itself in the soundstage and layering improvements.

Jon L · « **Reply #10 on:** 30 Dec 2005, 06:44 pm »

Quote from: Marbles

Woodysi, right now I'm using F2K upsampled to 24/96 using waveout..not ASIO because I can't get ASIO to play right.

The sound I'm getting is as you would expect: a much deeper, wider soundstage with better layering and more precise imaging. The one word that came to mind was "PURE" . In fact this is one heck of a lot closer to "Perfect Sound Forever" then my system has ever been.

Hmm. Too bad ASIO isn't working; is it skipping and stuttering? Have you tried: 1) In Transit Menu window, set "Latency" to Highest (increases buffer) and 2) Bring up Windows task manager (cont-alt-del) and choose Foobar and make it "highest priority." When you use 96kHz upsampling, ASIO requires Tons of buffering to prevent skipping.

Marbles, did you ever have Steve's non-I2S offramp or had chance to compare to I2S version? I would be interested in specific differences.

Oh, I hope you got the battery PS option. I suspect the battery makes at least as big an impact as the I2S portion:)

Finally, congratulations on your I2S Offramp/P3a. I can't pull the trigger yet, mainly b/c I want to listen to some more DAC's first before getting the DAC I2S modded, including the new Lavry Black.

Marbles · « **Reply #11 on:** 30 Dec 2005, 07:59 pm »

Quote from: Jon L

Hmm. Too bad ASIO isn't working; is it skipping and stuttering? Have you tried: 1) In Transit Menu window, set "Latency" to Highest (increases buffer) and 2) Bring up Windows task manager (cont-alt-del) and choose Foobar and make it "highest priority." When you use 96kHz upsampling, ASIO requires Tons of buffering to prevent skipping.

Marbles, did you ever have Steve's non-I2S offramp or had chance to compare to I2S version? I would be interested in specific differences.

Oh, I hope you got the battery PS option. I suspect the battery makes at least as big an impact as the I2S portion:)

Finally, congratulations on your I2S Offramp/P3a. I can't pull the trigger yet, mainly b/c I want to listen to some more DAC's first before getting the DAC I2S modded, including the new Lavry Black. ...

I have not tried them yet, but I will after I post this

I tried Steve's non I2S Turbo Off ramp back in August. It's been too long for my aurel memory to compare though, sorry.

I have both the Off Ramp and Dac plugged into my PS Audio PP600. As you probably know, that takes an AC signal, cinverts it to DC, then converts that back to AC again. I also use the Multiwave feature it has.

Anyway, this should get me VERY close to the battery option.

Thanks for the ASIO tips.

Marbles · « **Reply #12 on:** 30 Dec 2005, 08:03 pm »

Those 2 settings WORKED!!!

Thanks, ASIO is now up and running

lcrim · « **Reply #13 on:** 31 Dec 2005, 12:37 am »

I had a big leap in sound quality when I finally figured out how to "unmap" the devices in windows. Then ASIO becomes a necessity because windows no longer has any control over things.
There's a very helpful site in Hong Kong http://www.odysseyaudiohk.com/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl?board=digital_gen;action=display;num=1118506128
which pointed me in the right direction. Guy sent me email detailing his experiments w/ the Audigy card I've been using. Drivers can be a big problem w/ USB devices, luckily the Transit drivers are quite stable for the devices derived from it that Steve markets.