werd -
First, thanks for your participation in this discussion. We all need to re-examine our beliefs from time to time and may find them lacking under greater scrutiny. So I am glad you are here to challenge my thinking.
But I would really like an answer to this question: What can an inexpensive player or un-modded Squeezebox do to ruin sound quality if you are only using it to pass a bitstream to an outboard DAC? Provided the bitstream is accurate (and in almost all cases it will be) and jitter is at least reasonable, what other source factors might influence performance?
Keep in mind that it is the DAC that creates the analog signal you are listening to (from the supplied bitstream).
- Jim
Hello
I guess you are under the impression i don't like the squeezebox. Which i do. Its pretty good source. But as far as
a poor quality cd player or even a dvd player. I find the output is wimped out. It come across with zero authority
in bass, most likely the result of a lousy power supply and coax out. They also are very tinny and produce a very high digital glare.
Here timing sucks and basically is junk when compared to a decent transport like my Modded sony. Its so noticeable its not even funny
My laptop unplugged is decent and give lots of prat but with usb it just doesnt drive the dac with good output. I suppose this is why we
see products like the offramp from Empirical Audio that basically become the transport for a harddrive. These devices address all shortcomings of
a lousy transport and take over the role.