Squeezebox Touch

toxteth ogrady · « **on:** 20 Oct 2010, 04:59 am »

I have a Squeezebox Touch on the way, thanks to my neighbor who works for Logitech.

I was wondering if anyone has tried this guys software modifications for using the Touch as a transport? http://soundcheck-audio.blogspot.com/p/squeezebox-touch-great-base-for-network.html

His software mods take about 20 minutes, are totally reversible and are reported to make a nice improvement to the sound. The more complicated hardware modifications are recommended but not mandatory. I'm going to give it a go when my unit arrives and report back what I hear.

Mariusz · « **Reply #1 on:** 20 Oct 2010, 05:28 am »

I'm interested. Report back once up & running

neyloj2 · « **Reply #2 on:** 20 Oct 2010, 05:33 am »

Let me know, Ive had mine a month now. The dac is decent.

datman · « **Reply #3 on:** 20 Oct 2010, 05:52 am »

I have made all of the software modifications to my touch and did notice quite an improvement in sound quality. Since I am only using the coax output, i shut off the analogue outputs.

I think the biggest improvement came from decoding my flac encoded music to wav format at the computer rather than at the Touch. I am connected using an ethernet over powerline setup so the increased size of the data stream doesn't present any problem. This works perfectly.

firedog · « **Reply #4 on:** 20 Oct 2010, 01:43 pm »

Noticed small improvement (quieter background). I'm using Touch in digital mode only

toxteth ogrady · « **Reply #5 on:** 20 Oct 2010, 04:33 pm »

Good to hear you guys have experienced an improvement. Are either of you using a better power supply? I'm going the full monty on my Touch, though I'll start with the software first so I have a basis for comparison.

lcrim · « **Reply #6 on:** 20 Oct 2010, 04:37 pm »

http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=82624.0

Turnandcough · « **Reply #7 on:** 20 Oct 2010, 05:14 pm »

I tried the software mods last night but gave up after repeatdly getting an error message at the Winscript stage. I'm still using the wireless connection(cable on the way) and it was late(dwindling IQ)which may be the cause of my failed attempts.

Some printscreens would be nice. In any case I'll give it another try later.

adydula · « **Reply #8 on:** 20 Oct 2010, 06:32 pm »

oh boy, I just sold my Touch, I was running all FLACS from an attached externally connected USB drive adapter to the USB port. The drive was a Solid State Hard Drive or SSD. Very fast read / write access tims compared to a normal HDD.

Loved the Touch but was always comparing its DAC sound to that of the Oppo BD83 SE upgraded analog section. I kept preferring the sound from the Oppo SE dacs. But because the Oppo doesnt natively support FLACS the TOUCH seemed to be a good interim solution and has the nice ability to search etc.

I also tried (3) different external supplies, all with not a whole lot of differences that I could honestly say I could discern.

I tried the software fixes above, turning off all the stuff not needed in the Touch TinyOS, no wireless etc...no real difference again to me.

My Touch was located close to my preamp/amp and across the room the Touch screen even with its large fonts was very hard to read...

When I discovered DLNA and Asset UpNP I tired this and sold the Touch the next day.

I can now have FLACS to the OPPO Se dacs and be happy!!. The Oppo DLNA interface still is cludgy but I can see it on my 58" plasma LCD and dont have to squint anymore.

That said the Touch is a really neat little gem and I am sure you will enjoy it!!

All the best
Alex

datman · « **Reply #9 on:** 20 Oct 2010, 06:33 pm »

I am using the Wellbourne Labs linear power supply. Does it make a difference--yes. Is it a huge difference? I don't think so. I bought it more to "complete the package" than for any other reason.

The Wellboune PS is well made and ships quickly. Apparently some of the business ethics related problems still exist at Wellbourne. They double charged my credit card. Ultimately, they reversed the double charge AFTER I complained to my credit card company. The PS is so good that I would still buy another from them and just keep a eye on my credit card after the purchase.

dvenardos · « **Reply #10 on:** 20 Oct 2010, 06:37 pm »

Too bad the Oppo doesn't have a digital input, that would have made a nice combo for you. You really need to use the squeezebox products with an external dac to get the best sound.

adydula · « **Reply #11 on:** 20 Oct 2010, 06:44 pm »

Yes digital input would have been nice!!!

Now I have a notebook pc with HDMI to the 58" plasma and an ethernet cable from the notebook to the Oppo (my digital input so to speak), and the Asset code running as a service on the notebook transcodes the FLAC to LPCM and the Oppo is happy.

I could always take the digital out from the Oppo to an external DAC someday as well.

Alex

Phil A · « **Reply #12 on:** 20 Oct 2010, 08:47 pm »

Quote from: datman on 20 Oct 2010, 06:33 pm

I am using the Wellbourne Labs linear power supply. Does it make a difference--yes. Is it a huge difference? I don't think so. I bought it more to "complete the package" than for any other reason.

The Wellboune PS is well made and ships quickly. Apparently some of the business ethics related problems still exist at Wellbourne. They double charged my credit card. Ultimately, they reversed the double charge AFTER I complained to my credit card company. The PS is so good that I would still buy another from them and just keep a eye on my credit card after the purchase.

They did the exact same thing to me and I sent a couple of E-Mails which were not answered as to why there a double charge. I filed a complaint with the credit card company and faxed the receipt. About a week (or a bit more) later I received acknowledgment that they were reversing the charge which was already done by the credit card company. Very interesting that it happened to someone else. Yes, the power supply is excellent for money.

MarkM · « **Reply #13 on:** 22 Oct 2010, 02:14 am »

Quote from: datman on 20 Oct 2010, 06:33 pm

I am using the Wellbourne Labs linear power supply. Does it make a difference--yes. Is it a huge difference? I don't think so. I bought it more to "complete the package" than for any other reason.

The Wellboune PS is well made and ships quickly. Apparently some of the business ethics related problems still exist at Wellbourne. They double charged my credit card. Ultimately, they reversed the double charge AFTER I complained to my credit card company. The PS is so good that I would still buy another from them and just keep a eye on my credit card after the purchase.

I installed a Felix power conditioner with my Welborne labs power supply, very nice combo and worthwhile upgrade. The Felix conditioner was a nice improvement to the digital chain.(I built one for each component)

Unfortunately, I had a similar experience with Welborne labs, not to get this thread off topic.

Phil A · « **Reply #14 on:** 22 Oct 2010, 02:24 am »

I have my Wellbourne Labs power supply going into a Torus Power Conditioner and it sounds really good. While i like the product, it's not particularly making me feel good about considering another product reading the stories. I am also able to use the power supply with my HDMI audio de-emedder (which is used with my modded Oppo) to extract 88.2kHz PCM from SACD and put it into my DAC where it gets upsampled to 176.4kHz

Vincent Kars · « **Reply #15 on:** 22 Oct 2010, 08:39 am »

A bit more about Welborne: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=47252

Phil A · « **Reply #16 on:** 22 Oct 2010, 04:16 pm »

Quote from: dvenardos on 20 Oct 2010, 06:37 pm

Too bad the Oppo doesn't have a digital input, that would have made a nice combo for you. You really need to use the squeezebox products with an external dac to get the best sound.

I believe over at the Modwright Circle, Dan Wright just indicated he would offer a mod with a digital input

BobC · « **Reply #17 on:** 23 Nov 2010, 03:51 pm »

Anyone know where to find an online coupon for a Touch? I seem to remember there were some offers circulating several months ago.

I'd like to put one of these on the Christmas list

but only if I can get a sweet deal (perhaps this belongs in the Sweet Deal circle?).

Also, the Logitech site shows these as out of stock, but Amazon has them. What's up?

Bob

Wayne1 · « **Reply #18 on:** 23 Nov 2010, 04:07 pm »

For now, the best price looks to be o E-bay for about $240.00. Coupons from Logitech are only offered every so often.

It all depends on when the shipment comes in from China and who has the most inventory at the time.

jtwrace · « **Reply #19 on:** 23 Nov 2010, 04:12 pm »

This site helps me out a lot usually.

http://www.retailmenot.com/search/?query=logitech