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aphutton

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  1. Like the original poster I have been a long time Squeezebox user and currently run an AT-Tunes Squeezebox+ modified unit available here in the UK for about £1000. This has a completely new PSU and DACs to the unmodified SB3, however as this because this is based on the SB3 it only works at sampling rates up to 48kHz so I have been looking at solutions to allow 24/96 playback. The obvious solutions would be the Logitech transporter or one of the Linn streaming products such as the Magik DS, however these are pricey. I also own a BC DAC2 and have been looking at ways of utilising this with a PC server for lower cost 24/96 streaming. My original intention was to use a small footprint PC as a software based server/streamer, running Squeezecenter and either SoftSqueeze or SqueezePlay. As I use the iPod Touch running iPeng as the remote control I could also then run the PC headless and control it in the same way withough having to resort to having a keyboard and monitor in the listening room. Unfortunately, Softsqueeze does not support sampling above 48kHz and Squeezeplay seems to downsample 96k to 48 or 44.1 and in the process lowers the pitch of the music by a semitone or two. It is still under development so I dont know if there is an intention to support 96kHz natively but in any case the software is still buggy and locks up frequently. So first of all I experimented with a BC USBlink 24/96, kindly lent to me placed between the test PC and the DAC2. This solution works pretty well "out of the box" and will stream up to 24/96 using any of MediaMonkey, Winamp and Foobar 2000. Tested with 24/96 tracks downloaded from the Linn website and from HDtracks.com give good results on listening tests. I then downsampled the files to 24 bit 48kHz and played through ny SB+. I have to say that overall I preferred the 48k tracks on the SB+ to the 96k ones using the USB link and the DAC2 but this was probably personal preference and I think comes down the the differences in the DACs in each case more than anything. Following this I added an M-Audio 24/96 Audiophile PCI soundcard to the PC and connected this directly to the DAC2 and found out that the DAC2 will not work at 96kHz with this soundcard. It would however work at all speeds up to and incluidng 88.2kHz. An email to Bel Canto confirmed that the older circuitry in the DAC2 is probably not up to syncing with the relatively low signal output of such a sound card at higher frequencies. Yesterday I was struck by inspiration and went out and bought a £15 Coax-Toslink Converter from Maplin. Plugged it into the sound card, plugged the output into the Toslink input in the DAC2 and now unencumbered by electrical incompatability the system is again producing music at 24/96. I haven't had time to do extended listening tests but think I'm getting a sweet and crisp midrange There is slightly less bass than with the USBlink but what there is seems tighter and more controlled. Not bad for £65 total expenditure (soundcard + converter) against £400 for the BC USBlink So my next step is to build a dedicated server, with higher spec digital outputs which I feel may improve things further/reduce jitter and eliminate the need for the converter and also maybe experiment with different DACs. Then when I'm happy with that it will be down to my local Linn dealer to do some A/B comparisons with the Magik DS.
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