Hello This is my first post on this forum, but I have used info from here for years. I have been using a squeezebox touch for 10 years now and I just keep finding ways of getting better sound out of it. When I first got my SBT I just used the on-board DAC connected to an Audiolab three box amp (pre and two power amps) and a pair of EB Acoustics stand mount speakers. I eventually got a NAS to work with it and tried an old Arcam DAC with it. Nothing special, but it was convenient. Then four years ago, my wife indulged me a massive upgrade and I bought a pair of ATC SMC 40 speakers, and I got and second hand ATC P150 (so 150watts) power amp and a CDA2 pre with built in CD and DAC. I also gave up on the NAS box and went for having a dedicated PC for my music. This was a truly stunning upgrade, but I found myself moving to vinyl to get the best sound out of the speakers. Going back to the SBT, I set up the EDO applet and tried the optical V digital connects and didn't notice much difference. Then this year I got a second hand DAC - a Chord 2Qute. The was a very fine upgrade and started giving my vinyl a run for its money. I bought (second hand because I am tight) separate power supplies for both the SBT and the 2Qute - small but noticeable differences. Then one day while reading this forum I noticed someone writing that the EDO applet could make the USB socket into a USB output from the SBT to the DAC. I had assumed this was a bad idea, but was curious enough to get a USB cord from my printer and give it a go. So switched everything off, connected it up, switched on the SBT went to the EDO applet and selected USB source, and it said connect to 2Qute - that seemed too good to be true. Well it wasn't! Listening to music was now a revelation - I was absolutely blown away. I have since put in a 15cm silver USB cable (and it makes a difference) from the SBT to the 2Qute. I can hear the difference if I don't use the separate power supplies on the SBT or the 2Qute, if I change cables and especially if I have hi res material V just a CD rip. I seriously have no noise floor. I can't see the point in vinyl anymore as it simply isn't near as good as going from the SBT to the 2Qute via USB. I use a dedicated PC for my music files. It is backed up every night and is quite fast. I only use WIFI to the SBT and have no drop outs. Of course there are better systems out there, but we are stunned every day we listen to this. Curiously last year before we get the 2Qute, I made a Raspberry pi digi only box (using Hiberry), and it was such a downgrade that I would never consider it again. So, yes a SBT can be at the centre of a high end transparent system. I simply can't see any point in changing it, as it is so obviously not a weak spot (yet!). If you have speakers that are totally revealing, you can go a very long way with the SBS and Hi Res audio is the way to go.
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