[Brucemck]

In your opinion, which would offer best sound quality going digital out to a very high end DAC ... USB Select fed via Foobar2000 or similar, or, SB3 ... both "fully modded"?

[kfr01]

For me the interface of SB type devices is too restricting.  I like having a fully fuctional PC attached to my system.

Going digital out, the only difference should be jitter.  In my admittedly uninformed opinion, I doubt there's much of an audible difference between the digital outputs of the two devices.

[Vinnie R.]

In your opinion, which would offer best sound quality going digital out to a very high end DAC ... USB Select fed via Foobar2000 or similar, or, SB3 ... both "fully modded"?

Hi Brucemck,

Excellent question and I have to say that both have fantastic digital outputs when fully modded.  

I'd say that the fully modded SB3 wins, but they are pretty close.  

Best regards,

[BradJudy]

Vinnie,

Just out of curiosity, which way would you vote go for the analog outputs?

[Vinnie R.]

Vinnie,

Just out of curiosity, which way would you vote go for the analog outputs?

Modded SB3, hands down!  

[boead]

Can the SB3 be used as a standard windows device for multimedia and games?

What the sonic differences between RJ45 (good quality plenum CAT5) and wireless?

[boead]

Does the RWA SB3 sound better primarily because of its DA? The M-Audio Transit uses the same m-audio ‘Audiophile 2496’ DA converter they use in nearly all thier gear. The RWA SqueezeBox uses Burr Browns.

I’ve been using M-Audio PCI cards for some time now. I currently use the Delta DIO 2496 and I also have and use a M-Audio Sonicia USB device. The Delta sounds better and has a higher output voltage.

I just don’t’ love either of them compared to my primary source, an Arcam FMJ CD Player which I’m not looking to replace. I just want something closer to its sound quality from my PC.

The only onboard digital audio my computers’ motherboard has is an optical toslink via Realtek audio. It’s a quality board but in the past when I use to own a California Audio Labs tube DAC I felt the coaxial (an MIT T3 digital) from the Delta DIO sounded better then a Glass optical from the board (realtek), but not by that much – still this is Audiophile and everything effects the sound!

So if I choose to use a traditional DAC with a 75ohm cable, I’d be forced into using the coaxial digital output from the M-Audio Sonica device or the internal PCI Delta card. The M-Audio Sonica has better (nearly flawless) Windows integration while the Delta cards don’t integrate so well - not a giant deal with I‘d prefer the M-Audio Sonica device.

If I used a traditional DAC with a toslink input I can use the onboard Realtek which integrated very well with Windows, its a nice working driver much like the M-Audio Sonica USB.

Either way I’d have to use a 35 foot 75ohm coaxial wire OR a 35 foot polly optical (I can’t find anyone selling glass optical more then around 10 feet, certainly not 35 foot!)
I NEED at least 35 feet to reach the audio rack from the PC.
Both are less desirable. I’d prefer to have just ONE Windows audio device. I wouldn’t mind selling the two M-Audio devices.

[Vinnie R.]

Hi boead,

Can the SB3 be used as a standard windows device for multimedia and games?

I don't believe so.  

What the sonic differences between RJ45 (good quality plenum CAT5) and wireless?

The general opinion seems to be that if your wireless connection is good, there is no difference in sound quality.  

Does the RWA SB3 sound better primarily because of its DA? The M-Audio Transit uses the same m-audio ‘Audiophile 2496’ DA converter they use in nearly all thier gear. The RWA SqueezeBox uses Burr Browns.

This most likely has something to do with it, but it is just my opinion that the analog outputs of the RWA SB3 sound better than the analog outputs of the USB Select.  

Best,