[pianoguy]

I am curious about your opinions on this one.

I am currently using a Squeezebox Duet, running the receiver's digital output into the digital coaxial input on the B100 SST DA.  I think it sounds pretty good.  However, I've been recently reading about modifications to the Squeezebox (SB).  Apparently, this is done by a company in the US (Bolder Cables) and another in Great Britain (Audiocom).  These companies will modify the digital and/or analogue circuits in the Squeezebox.  I can understand how modifying the analogue path could have dramatic effects.  But if the digital signal is already going into a high quality DAC such as the one in the B100, would modifying the digital signal upstream of the DAC make any real difference?

Looking at the American site, the digital improvements to the SB involve changing the internal power supply reservoir capacitors to higher quality ones. The mods also remove everything in the digital signal path so that a 75 ohm coax runs directly to a WBT NextGen RCA.  There are also upgrades to the internal clock power supply as well as adding a separate internal regulator for the clock/buffer circuit.  The claims are that this results in a more natural sound with greater dynamics and extension of both the low and high end.  Also mentioned are Bybee Qunatum Purifiers...apparently, these remove quantum noise energy due to electron interaction with the conductive materials in the circuit.  Hmmm....this sounds a little..."hocus-pocus" to me...but who knows?

Anyway, the other key recommendation that both sites endorse is changing the power supply from the stock wall wart (switching) to a non-switching linear power supply.

I know there is a lot of electrical expertise on this site, so I have to ask, do you think there are possible benefits to doing this or is it just smoke and mirrors?  After all, these modifications do not come cheap.

[Napalm]

I vote for "smoke & mirrors".

 

[mcgsxr]

I don't have any Bybee's in my Bolder modded SB3.  I do have both analog and digital mods.  I do use a linear power supply, also from Bolder.

Have not changed anything on it for closing on 4 years now.  Very happy with the unit.

I cannot speak to synergy with Bryston product though, don't own any.

Try PM'ing member kas - he owns Bryston product, and a Bolder modded SB3.  He auditioned mine in his system, and subsequently made the Bolder purchase.

[pianoguy]

Thanks for your comments, Mark.  Glad to hear you are happy with the mods.  I live just down the road in London.  Are you using the analog or digital output primarily with the modded SB3?  Do you hear a significant difference?

Thanks, too, for the suggestion re member kas.  I have sent him a PM and hope to hear from him.  I'm interested in the synergy with the Bryston DAC.

[quietdragon]

Also mentioned are Bybee Qunatum Purifiers...apparently, these remove quantum noise energy due to electron interaction with the conductive materials in the circuit.  Hmmm....this sounds a little..."hocus-pocus" to me...but who knows?

 

Presumably you are using the S/PDIF connector: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S/PDIF

Sources of timing error are covered at the end of the Wikipedia article under the heading of Limitations. I suppose there may be scope for improvement in the SB in this area.

Swapping out the switching PS for a linear PS is widely discussed at the SB community site.  I suspect you'll get more replies regarding SB modifications at http://forums.slimdevices.com/forumdisplay.php?f=7

[pianoguy]

Thanks for the references, quietdragon.  I've actually read quite a bit from the SB community site.  There seems to be an equal number arguing for and against the merits of the mods.
 
I posted here because I wanted some other points of view from an engineering standpoint...mostly about the logic of modifying the SB's digital stream if it's going to end up going through the Bryston DAC anyway.  The DAC already improves the sound of the stock SB so much.  Can altering the digital input really improve things significantly more?  Keep in mind the digital mods run between $425 and $550 US.  The cost of a SB receiver is about $200.

As for the linear power supply, the consensus seems to be that 99% of people won't hear a difference.  I think a lot depends on your ability to hear subtle differences, and the overall quality of your system.  The claim is that the switching power supply that comes with the SB produces noise in three directions. It creates noise forward into the DC of the SB. It produces noise backward into the AC of your house thus affecting your entire system. and it generates RFI into the air so bad that you cannot operate an AM radio around it. Note that some of these power supplies run $500 or more.  Again, a hefty price tag when compared to the original $200 receiver.

[mcgsxr]

I am using the analog outputs of the SB3, as I run it directly into my active Xover, and don't use a preamp at all anymore - my sole source is the SB3.

Scott Faller, Scott F here on AC, wrote a great article about the SB3 stock, modded via analog, modded via digital, and with and without the upgraded PS.

http://www.enjoythemusic.com/magazine/equipment/1205/slimdevices_squeezebox.htm

There are linear PS you can source for well under $100 that folks swear by too, though I do use a Bolder unit myself.

I agree the thought of spending 300-500% of the purchase price to mod the device can be daunting, and I doubt all would be satisfied in the end - I was able to sell off a tubed pre, Monarchy SuperDIP, cd transport, and a highly modded DAC - I actually came out ahead, selling all that kit on the used market, when I bought the modded SB3.

The X factor is the ability to access all my music (close to 1TB) via a remote, an any time...

[konut]

I have a Red Wine Audio modded SB3 running to a Bryston BDA-1. The mods include

1) Replace the stock Burr-Brown PCM1748 DAC (16-SSOP SMD) with the upgraded PCM1748KE, which has 6dB improved Dynamic Range and SNR, as well as improved THD and channel separation.   
 
2) Replace the stock surface mount opamp (NJM 2041) with a high-end  LM6172(custom just for me)
 
3) Replace all analog signal coupling caps with Black Gate NX-Hi-Q non-polarized caps. 
 
4) Replace the DAC’s critical Vcc, Vdd, and Vcom decoupling caps with Gate NX-Hi-Q non-polarized caps.   
 
5) Replace the stock RCA jacks with upgraded pair of high-quality, gold-plated jacks with Teflon inner insulator.   

6) Replace stock RCA digital out with 75 ohm BNC.

7) Run on SLA battery

I ran the modded SB3 for 3 years before getting the BDA-1. The DAC upgrade was significant. I resisted getting an inexpensive DAC until I could afford a BDA-1. I'm not sorry I waited, it was worth every penney. It is my impression, from reading reviews, that the most significant improvement the BDA-1 brings to the table is the Class A analog output stage. 
 

[niels]

I followed the discussions on Squeezebox forum regarding the PSU upgrade, but lost interest when a respected member posted he couldnt hear a difference between the very expensive upgrade and a stock SB3.
I too run an SB3 into the B100 dac, but I have to admit, for some reason, I think the digital out from my Macbook Pro into the dac sounds a lot better.....it has to do with gain I think.

[sfraser]

I am curious about your opinions on this one.

I am currently using a Squeezebox Duet, running the receiver's digital output into the digital coaxial input on the B100 SST DA.  I think it sounds pretty good.  However, I've been recently reading about modifications to the Squeezebox (SB).  Apparently, this is done by a company in the US (Bolder Cables) and another in Great Britain (Audiocom).  These companies will modify the digital and/or analogue circuits in the Squeezebox.  I can understand how modifying the analogue path could have dramatic effects.  But if the digital signal is already going into a high quality DAC such as the one in the B100, would modifying the digital signal upstream of the DAC make any real difference?

Looking at the American site, the digital improvements to the SB involve changing the internal power supply reservoir capacitors to higher quality ones. The mods also remove everything in the digital signal path so that a 75 ohm coax runs directly to a WBT NextGen RCA.  There are also upgrades to the internal clock power supply as well as adding a separate internal regulator for the clock/buffer circuit.  The claims are that this results in a more natural sound with greater dynamics and extension of both the low and high end.  Also mentioned are Bybee Qunatum Purifiers...apparently, these remove quantum noise energy due to electron interaction with the conductive materials in the circuit.  Hmmm....this sounds a little..."hocus-pocus" to me...but who knows?

Anyway, the other key recommendation that both sites endorse is changing the power supply from the stock wall wart (switching) to a non-switching linear power supply.

I know there is a lot of electrical expertise on this site, so I have to ask, do you think there are possible benefits to doing this or is it just smoke and mirrors?  After all, these modifications do not come cheap.

Have you tried plugging the analog outputs of the stock SB into analog input on your pre and switching back and forth between the SB onboard DAC and the Bryston? (make sure you match the gain).