I could not hear any tangible difference between the analog outputs of the SB3 and running coaxial cable into the digital input on my Proton (privately labeled as "Dynaco") 5.1 home theater integrated amp. It wasn't a terribly expensive amplifier - I bought it on Ebay at a closeout price over 3 years ago.
Two weeks ago, I was fortunate enough to upgrade to a McIntosh MX-132 preamp/tuner. I've A/B'd the same source material numerous times, using the McIntosh decoders and the SB3s analog output. My conclusions? The SB3 sounds good. The McIntosh DAC sounds decidedly different, and in my opinion, better. Using the Mac's DAC, there's more "space" around instruments, a sense of ambience, is the best I can describe it. It's easy to hear - an opening of the sound stage. Also, strings and piano music sound less strained, sweeter and less harsh. Everything sounds more musical. Even on 128 kbps internet radio streams. I made sure that loudness, and tone controls were defeated for the test, so that I was making an equal comparison. I was pleasantly surprised - I honestly thought I wouldn't hear any difference and went into the comparison very skeptical. -- Cleve Two-channel system; McIntosh MC2205 amplifier McIntosh MAC4100 receiver Klipsch CF-4 speakers Denon DR-M3 Cassette Deck ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Cleve's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=2048 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=17948 _______________________________________________ audiophiles mailing list [email protected] http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
