Greetings to all. By now I have read hundreds of pages - in web forums, webzines, reviews - about the Logitech Squeezebox Touch hoping to understand how to proper set it up. So first of all I have to thank for the generosity of all the people who have shared their knowledge and experiences with the SBT and all the associate gear.
This text pretends report my personal experiences and help all of you in the early stages of the SBT set-up, but especially those users who like me only want to use the SBT as a digital transport using mainly a external HDD. Currently I have instaled both the LMS v7.7.2 r33983 and the Enhanced Digital Output v8.0 (EDO). The later, like most of you know, is an essencial 3rd party app generously provided by Triode which allows the SBT to be used as a high quality transport connected to a Digital to Analogue Converter. More info about the EDO on: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?94512-Announce-Enhanced-Digital-Output-app-USB-Dac-and-192k-Digital-Ouput There are several settings included in this app which will allow the user to tune some parameters Im using the following, installed by the same order: - Kernel Idle Option > Avoid Low Power During Playback - Buffer tunning > Large + Randomize CPU - Display Off > Installed v0.1 Other excellent setting is this: - Settings > Audio > Volume Adjustment > No volume ajustment Im experiencing good SQ results with these settins but Im trying all the possible combinations between them - although I suspect the results will be very much system dependent (music-amp-speakers-room). I didnt install the Soundcheck-Audio TT 3.0 mods because Im using only the Tiny LMS and dont want to connect the SBT to a computer or a NAS device. Bellow I resume my set-up and proceedings hopping that this irformation will be of use. A The system: Logitech Squeezebox Touch Power supply: S-Booster swich mode + Power Supply Hard Drive: Western Digital Elements Portable usb 3.0 1Tb HDD (w/ stock cable) Digital Cable: Audioquest Vídeo Z Rca-Rca 1m Rca Bnc adapter: Viablue Rca Bnc gold (*) Impedance adapter: Neutrik NADITBNC-MX (*) Dac: Musical Fidelity M1-DAC (latest version) Interconnects: Acoustic Zen Matrix Reference II 1m Xlr-Xlr Mains cable: Furutech G-320Ag-18-E (for Dac) Modem: Tp-Link TL-WR841ND 300Mbps Wireless Wifi Extender: Tp-Link TL-WA850RE (w/ stock LAN cable) Tablet: Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 8Gb App: Logitech Squeezebox controller Android 4.0 - App v1.1.4 (*) Both items only needed if you want to use the XLR digital input on your Dac. The Rca coaxial digital input on the M1-DAC was already taken by a Rega Apollo cd player. B General proceedings for the music files: 1 - I always convert cds or existing files to FLAC (compression level 0) using the DBpoweramp Cd Ripper. 2 Each record is separated in one individual folder, containing nothing but the tracks (numbered and named) and a JPEG image of the cover art (maximum 500x500 px). There are many sources for the cover art but normally I use the allmusic.com website 3 - If needed I use CUE Tools to separate the tracks from a single áudio file. 4 The MP3Tag is a universal tag editor, which allows to clean all the extra information contained in the FLAC files and embebed art on them. 5 Remember the HDD must be formated in FAT32 before you fill it with your finalized files. There are many online free tools to do this. Observations: - The Booster PSU made a real improvement. - The same is true for the digital interconnect. A good audiophile cable is IMO essencial. - A fast modern 2,5 HDD with will perform much better than something made more than 3 years ago. I have excellent experiences with WD and Toshiba HDD. The WD is powered thru the usb with no problem. - The importance of the files re-Tagging and embebed art work is obvious: my HDD contains 600Gb of music (645 albums - 6500 tracks) but only takes less than 3 minutes to do a complete scan. - I have the main modem (wireless) in another floor and when I choose to use the SBT on wireless mode I can play all files on my HDD without any problems, except ocasionally a few dropouts occur when playing 24/192 files. - A good 16/44 recording has better SQ than a poorly remastered 24/192. Some 24/96 do offer some improvement on quality, especially on more modern digital made recordings. So dont expect 24/192 will be the ticket to a great sound. - The japanese SHM-CD are usually on the thin sound side. - On some recordings the Rega Apollo cd player (used only as a transport and connected to the same Dac) have a more extended sound, more fluid and relaxed with better bass response too. - Finally, I have no problems whatsoever with the SBT. I listen for several hours each day and it is a very stable performer. The only thing that Im hopping for is for someone to develop a way (thru a 3rd party app) that allow cutting the power (and reconnecting when needed) of the usb output. When ejected from the SBT - using the proper menu the HDD keeps working (although at a much lower speed) and the led keeps flasing! So this would avoid the physical disconnecting of the usb. Cheers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ naka9's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=58656 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=98082
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