I'd like to hear your thoughts on why you would not just buy the Cambridge Audio NP30 streamer or the Squeezebox offerings?
I cannot understand how anyone would spend more then the Squeezebox - what do the other offerings offer that the SB does not?
I'm talking about a streamer connected to an external DAC - so forget the internal DAC quality.
MDAC attenuates Jitter to such a large extent - I would have a hard time recommending spending anymore on a streamer then the cost of the SB... So I'd be interested to hear your opinions.
Where does the Squeezebox fail? (it has a great screen, User Interface etc)?
John
Hi John, thanks for the info on the transport. Honest, no illicit surveillance methods going on here!
Your recommendation on the Squeezebox Touch makes me wonder about my own plans for streaming. If you feel the MDAC's jitter attenuation is so good it doesn't matter what device is employed as a streamer, that's great news once the MDAC is out.
My system is CDQ based, and I'm still working out what the best to stream to it is. Thanks to your characteristic generosity I have the transformer upgrade, the obvious benefits of which I had less than a day to explore before the new improved CDQ was packed off on a slow boat to South Africa.
Before it disappeared I had been using an old XP laptop running foobar to stream to the CDQ - a set up that markedly improved once a USB isolator was added to the system. I also bought a Squeezebox to experiment with once the CDQ arrived in Africa and as an interim solution while I wait for it. (You don't even want to know what the SB is currently streaming FLACs to via its RCA outs. Save to say it's impossible to judge the quality of its internal DAC...)
Once the CDQ gets here I'll try the USB-isolated PC against the Squeezebox over optical and see which performs best. If the PC wins, the SB can serve as a streamer/DAC for a second system in the house.
My doubts about the Squeezebox's sound quality come from reading online. Most reviews and reports suggest it has limitations as a streamer even into a high quality DAC like the CDQ. Those have led to a well-used series of suggested modifications to improve the output available here
http://soundcheck-audio.blogspot.com/2011/01/soundchecks-squeezebox-touch-toolbox-20.html
The most promising solution appears to be to modify the Squeezebox to output over USB and then take advantage of the CDQ's asynchronous USB connection (plus a USB isolator). Despite a lot of effort, though, no one seems to have worked out how to get the SB to USB stream to a CDQ without drop outs...
That's a shame because in most respects the SB solution would be ideal. The interface is great, the integration of internet radio good, it handles 24/96 without problems, and there are some great ancillary programs such as Spicefly Sugarcube which are just a great way to explore a big music library. You can also use the fantastic Squeezepad iPad app as a remote control that does everything I want and more.
I'm extremely interested to hear what your conclusions and recommendations are for both the MDAC and the CDQ. I find it very hard to know what the important characteristics of a good streaming solution are, and bemused by the prices of offerings from the likes of NAIM, Cyrus and Linn.
I've really enjoyed exploring the different ways to listen to music that come with a NAS drive full of lossless music files and, thanks to your good self, I know have a DAC that sounds sublime. It's just the transport from NAS to DAC that remains a conundrum... Be great if you can solve that one too!
Best, Duncan