Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Analog sound Xbox 360 vs SB3?
i know this is not the appropriate location for this question, but since i have the thread going I will ask it here. I will be most likely buying the SB3 very soon and already downloaded the squeezecenter software last night to try out. It found all my music etc just fine. I thought I had read somewhere that it will find Windows media player 11 playlists? I have spent a lot of time organizing this playlist with album art, tags, etc. Is it possible to use this exsistng playlist for the SB or do I need to create a new compatible one. I know it recognizes Itunes playlists, but I only have playlists on the ipod itself not on the pc. Thanks again guys, Brandon -- bigbwb bigbwb's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=17407 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=47401 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Analog sound Xbox 360 vs SB3?
pablolie, I do plan on auditioning a deperate DAC in mysystem some time down the road. For now, I am really just looking to get the best analog performance from a streamer that i can for my price point. The xbox 360 just sounds to dull and lifeless in comparison to the same tracks from a CD. I am hoping to snag a SB3 to try out and see what improvements i can gain in that regard. I also don't have to turn the darn Tv on just to start media center pick a playlist:) For the money convenience the SB3 looks to be the best choice so far. Brandon -- bigbwb bigbwb's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=17407 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=47401 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Analog sound Xbox 360 vs SB3?
bigbwb;300554 Wrote: What is the difference between the classic new SB? The site only shows the classic now anyway with burr brown DACS as you mentioned. Has the newer unit took a step down in any way? I may try to score a deal on a used one to save a few bucks too:) Thanks! Brandon Though the DACs are different in the SB3 and Receiver, the boxes have been designed to sound pretty similar - ie very good. The Receiver is really just a different form factor for people who don't need a display on the box and want the the functions provided by the controller. So, no, the newer box is in no way a step down. I would suggest you base your choice on your needs - unless your system and your ears are ultra sensitive, IMO you wouldn't hear a different between SB3 and SBR. [Others in the Audiophile forum may beg to differ :o)] Cheers, Bob -- morris_minor Living Room: SB3/SBC Sonifex RB DAC1 Musical Fidelity X10v3 Sudgen Headmaster Sennheiser HD 595 Kitchen: SBR Sony Minisystem [via Homeplug ethernet] Michell Gyrodec SE DC [Tecnoarm, Goldring 1042] Graham Slee Era V Gold Pioneer DV565 universal player, Yamaha DSPAX750SE, Kef Cresta 30 (fronts), Tannoy Profile 633 (rears) Mac Mini [1.83GHz, 2Gb], Iomega Minimax 500Gb, LaCie Ethernet BigDisk 1TB, D-Link DSL604+, M-Audio Transit USB, Audiolab 8000A, Monitor Audio M2s morris_minor's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=13950 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=47401 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Analog sound Xbox 360 vs SB3?
Bob, Thanks for the clarification between the 2 units. So are the audiophiles saying the SB3 is better than the SBR or vice versa? As for the oppo 980, I love it so far. I came from owning the 970 also. I have used it for both SACD, DVD-A, and CD's. The osund is very good and the DAC's do a great job considering its price point. I will be using it for Multi ch music via HDMI to my yamaha 2600 receiver and its analog outs into my 2 ch pre-amp. I think the differences between these oppos and higher end CD players would be very small and difficult to hear. You have to pay alot in order to get that last few percent of sonic bliss, probably:) Later, Brandon -- bigbwb bigbwb's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=17407 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=47401 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Analog sound Xbox 360 vs SB3?
as far as audiophile music delivery goes, i'd recommend using an external high quality DAC anyhow. many high end CD players will allow you to feed in digitally into the DAC, and i have always applauded Slim Devices for that design decision. excellent as it is for the price, i think expecting the built-in DACs in SB3 or SBR to perform up to the level of equipment that costs over 10X more optimistic - albeit possible, it all depends on one's preferences. i have just bought a new SB3 and the Duo, and shall compare them - but i always feed them via optical IF into my Accuphase CD's DAC, either because it is better or simply because i got used to its sound over the years - in any case, i prefer it, and i very much doubt the SB3 or SBR will sound any different given that. why do i prefer optical? clean separation, no grounding issues to ever look into. -- pablolie pablolie's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=3816 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=47401 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Analog sound Xbox 360 vs SB3?
I am thinking based on the design of the Squeezebox, it should exceed the 360 in terms of audio performance. In general, how does streaming lossless files across the SB3 using its analog outs compare to playing the same tracks on a CD using something comparable to my oppo? I truly feel the xbox is to blame in my current setup. The CD sounds so much fuller crip in comparison. I am very intersted in the SB3 and will probably pick one up very soon. Also, I have read many people mod the different units for improved SQ, would it make more sense to mod the SB or buy a sepearte DAC and run its digital output into that instead? Thanks again, Brandon -- bigbwb bigbwb's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=17407 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=47401 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Analog sound Xbox 360 vs SB3?
Most computer-style soundcards that resample from 44.1 to 48khz do it badly, and you can hear it the most in the treble. It sounds like someone threw a towel over the speakers. Some are particularly bad; the USB Audigy 2NX, for example, is just appalling. If you can hear a clear difference between a CD and WMA lossless, then it's the XBox's resampling that's almost certainly the issue. The Squeezebox Classics have an excellent DAC; I don't know about the new ones. If you play a lossless file through one, you should get sound that's at _least_ as good as your CD, and very possibly better. There's no resampling going on, and the DAC is a nice Burr-Brown part. It's an older, cheaper DAC, but it's still excellent. You should solve your problem very nicely with a Squeezebox. If you can tell a difference between the two, you'll probably prefer the Squeezebox. -- Malor Malor's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=1961 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=47401 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Analog sound Xbox 360 vs SB3?
Malor, Thanks for the help. I figured that the conversion from 44.1 to 48khz was the downfall for the xbox. Its funny you mention that it sounds like someone through a towel over the speakers because thats how i felt when I compared the 360 to my CD player. I had mentioned the sound was dull in my first post and you also feel the same way. What is the difference between the classic new SB? The site only shows the classic now anyway with burr brown DACS as you mentioned. Has the newer unit took a step down in any way? I may try to score a deal on a used one to save a few bucks too:) Thanks! Brandon -- bigbwb bigbwb's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=17407 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=47401 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
[SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Analog sound Xbox 360 vs SB3?
Hello, I am new to this forum and have a question for you seasoned squeezebox users out there:) I am putting togther a 2 ch system in my home consisting of ascend sierra speakers, proceed amp3, proceed pre-amp, an oppo 980 DVD player currently my xbox 360 for streaming. The music I listen to varies from mediocre quality MP3's to WMA lossless files. I really enjoy very accurate clean sounding gear and last night I begain A/Bing my oppo with a CD versus the Xbox playing the same track in WMA lossless form. What I noticed was that the xbox sounded very dull in comparison, not as much clarity or punch, and less bass. I beleive the 360 re-samples all muisc from 44.1 to 48khz. I imagine this and the quality of the 360's DAC's are the culprit. I am looking for thoughts on how much of an improvement replacing the 360 with a SB3 will add? I do require using the analog outs of the SB3 because its going directly into the proceed 2 ch pre-amp(no seperate DAC). Thanks in advance! Take care, Brandon -- bigbwb bigbwb's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=17407 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=47401 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
