TheLastMan;692823 Wrote: > Is the Squeezebox the only source component you are going to use? If the > answer is "yes" you could go with the power-amp plus volume control (or > attenuators) discussed here, *but try to keep it simple.* > > If the answer is no, and you might, in the future, be connecting a CD > player, DAB radio or other source *or want to keep things simple* then > get a good quality integrated amp. > > > Not initially. The Touch already has an excellent internal DAC that you > will struggle to better without paying a lot of money. If you are using > the analogue RCA plugs there is no need to disable anything. If you are > interested in music rather than hi-fi it would be better to *spend the > money on a few more CDs and keep it simple.* > > Philosophical note from somebody who in their 20s had a severe case of > "upgraditis" and was living in "tweak hell"; Go to a decent hi-fi > dealer with a proper listening room who is prepared to give you some > time (I took a day of holiday and did not regret it). Take your > speakers (if they don't have your model) and do some *blind* listening > to amplifiers. Pick the one that sounds best in your price range, buy > it, plug it in and forget it. > > Don't buy an amplifier, DAC or any other piece of equipment based only > on what I, a magazine review, or anybody else tells you *without > listening to it first - ideally compared to other amps*. > > Don't dismiss second hand or ex-demo equipment. I bought my amplifier > after a blind listening test. The dealer chucked it into the test > saying I had to hear it even though the price was less than half my > budget. I did not know what it was before I heard it. It was over 10 > years old then and, despite being half the price, it blew anything > newer I tried in the same test out of the water. It is still my main > amplifier and is now 30 years old! > > > If connected to a decent amplifier then the RCA (phono) cables will be > fine. > > If you don't get a DAC you can forget the coax output. > > *Edit: *'My story from another thread' > (http://forums.slimdevices.com/showpost.php?p=638210&postcount=66)
Some crucial points there: I would add that taking speakers into someone else's room is a no-no: it pays to think of your speakers and room as two components of the same cabinet (which it is!) There's no substitute for listening to equipment in your own room and system, for an extended period of time, not just a 'flash' audition: very often, your opinion of/acclimation to a piece of equipment changes considerably in the first week: I know that it's easy to impress a customer on a quick listen, but the keepers are sometimes those whose merits emerge gradually. Rather like people! You basically have to address three questions: 1. Is it worth it to spend on a better DAC than the one you already have? I would suggest that the entry point here is around £150. If you're not into at least that kind of spend, I'd stick with what you have. Similarly, if you're streaming MP3/Spotify or compressed formats, you're already living with a significant compromise, and would want to budget judiciously. However, the DAC is a big factor in the quality of your system, and you might be surprised by how good your Squeezebox can sound driving something exciting. 2. If you upgrade the DAC to an off-board model, do you shop for one with a volume control? If you decide on 'integrated' amplification, then no. If you decide on direct-to-power amplification, or active speakers, yes. A dedicated preamp at this price point is probably a bad idea, too: analog volume controls are expensive to build well, and sound grotty on a budget. The Endler attenuators sound good (and are cheap) but are clunky. There are several pro audio devices that are worth looking into. In terms of amplification, everything depends on your budget: there are now several integrated DAC/amplifiers that would give you a one-box solution that plays to the strengths of your Squeezebox (which isn't its analog stage!) On a budget, there's really nothing to touch the speed, value for money and transparency of Tripath amps paired with a good power supply. This is a golden age of good, cheap performance, so shop around: get home trials, and be prepared to look off the beaten track for the best deals: high street resellers are generally still peddling solutions from the 1980s from the big monolithic companies. -- item_audio ------------------------------------------------------------------------ item_audio's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=51315 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=93776
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