[SlimDevices: Audiophiles] By-passing SB Touch DAC?

[output555]

The main reason I bought the SB Touch was to use it as a music server
for my Flac and AIFF high-res audio files. However, when I use the
digital out from the Touch and feed the signal into my headphone/DAC
unit I am underwhelmed by the audio quality. It's far below audiophile
standards. Compared to using my FiiO X5 Gen II, the Touch is about half
as good in terms of sound quality. So, my question is can I completely
by-pass the Touch's DAC and only use it's digital line out, the same as
the X5 allows. This would allow me to process a purifier signal through
my separate, and much higher quality DAC.


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[iPhone]

However, when I use the S/PDIF digital out from the Touch and feed the
signal into my headphone/DAC unit I am underwhelmed by the audio
quality. It's far below audiophile standards.....
So, my question is can I completely by-pass the Touch's DAC and only use
it's digital line out, the same as the X5 allows? This would allow me to
process a purifier signal through my separate, and much higher quality
DAC.

.
.
This post doesn't make sense, you ARE by-passing the Touch DAC when you
use the SB Touch's S/Pdif out or the Optical Out directly to an outboard
DAC. Did you mean you were using the analog RCA Right/Left out to your
headphone amp?

So if you ARE using either the S/Pdif or Optical Out on the Touch and
its doesn't sound as good as the other way you were listening, you have
to have a bad cable as the Touch DAC would completely be by-passed and
sound quality should be identical as the DAC is receiving the EXACT same
digital file from the Server and is dependent on the Outboard DAC which
is the same for both setups. So what you should have in either case is
the exact same digital file (comes from you server) and the exact same
DAC (it's being feed digitally) into the exact same Headphone amp, so it
is impossible for them to sound different unless there is a bad
interconnect because no matter what device is feeding digital files to
the DAC plays no part as the input is the same digital file which
remains unaffected while in the digital domain. Make sure you are using
an actual 75 ohm Digital S/Pdif cable and not a 50 ohm mono-RCA cable
from the Touch out to the DAC's S/Pdif input.



*iPhone*
Media Room:
ModWright Platinum Signature Transporter, VTL TL-6.5 Signature Pre-Amp,
Ayre MX-R Mono's, VeraStarr 6.4SE 6-channel Amp, Vandersteen Speakers:
Quatro Wood Mains, VCC-5 Reference Center, four VSM-1 Signatures, Video:
Runco RS 900 CineWide AutoScope 2.35:1, Vandersteen V2W Subwoofer

Living Room:
Transporter, ADCOM GTP-870HD, Cinepro 3K6SE III Gold, Vandersteen Model
3A Signature, Two 2Wq subs, VCC-2, Two VSM-1

Office: Touch with Vandersteen VSM-1s
Kitchen: Touch in-wall mount w/ Thiel Powerpoint 1.2s
Bedroom: Squeezebox BOOM
Bathroom: Squeezebox Radio
Around the House: SliMP3, SB1, SB2, SB3
Ford Thunderbird: Duet, Mac Mini
Ford Expedition: SB Touch, USB drive
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[drmatt]

Indeed.

Though also make sure the touch has not been configured to use bitrate
limiting in LMS as your music will be compressed to accommodate, and
note that the digital out would only be "bit perfect" if the SBT volume
control is set to 100%.

But assuming you are configuring the SBT to just pass unmodified bits
then the sound quality is dictated by your offload DAC.

Sent from my ONEPLUS A3003 using Tapatalk



--
Hardware: 3x Touch, 1x Radio, 2x Receivers, 1 HP Microserver NAS with
Debian+LMS 7.9.0
Music: ~1300 CDs, as 450 GB of 16/44k FLACs. No less than 3x 24/44k
albums..
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[Mnyb]

Buy a raspi using the Touch as a music server is a dead end it barely
works .

Yes OP intends to use Touch as the server to not only as player .



--------------------------------------------------------------------
Main hifi: Touch + CIA PS +MeridianG68J MeridianHD621 MeridianG98DH 2 x
MeridianDSP5200 MeridianDSP5200HC 2 xMeridianDSP3100 +Rel Stadium 3
sub.
Bedroom/Office: Boom
Kitchen: Touch + powered Fostex PM0.4
Misc use: Radio (with battery)
iPad1 with iPengHD & SqueezePad
(spares Touch, SB3, reciever ,controller )
server HP proliant micro server N36L with ClearOS Linux

http://people.xiph.org/~xiphmont/demo/neil-young.html
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[drmatt]

Yeah, I wouldn't use the SBT as a server myself. Though it does work, if
you have plenty of patience.



--
Hardware: 3x Touch, 1x Radio, 2x Receivers, 1 HP Microserver NAS with
Debian+LMS 7.9.0
Music: ~1300 CDs, as 450 GB of 16/44k FLACs. No less than 3x 24/44k
albums..
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[Julf]

Post by output555
The main reason I bought the SB Touch was to use it as a music server
for my Flac and AIFF high-res audio files.

As others have pointed out, the Touch was never intended as a server -
the server functionality was an afterthought and a crude extra. It is a
great streamer, so use it as such, and use any old PC, laptop, NAS or
raspberry pi as a server.



"To try to judge the real from the false will always be hard. In this
fast-growing art of 'high fidelity' the quackery will bear a solid gilt
edge that will fool many people" - Paul W Klipsch, 1953
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[Mnyb]

AIFF hires migth need some transcoding that the onboard server on Touch
can't handle .

Native aiff and alac above 16/44.1 had some bugs in the past ? , better
let a real LMS server turn those to hirez flac with its transcoding



--------------------------------------------------------------------
Main hifi: Touch + CIA PS +MeridianG68J MeridianHD621 MeridianG98DH 2 x
MeridianDSP5200 MeridianDSP5200HC 2 xMeridianDSP3100 +Rel Stadium 3
sub.
Bedroom/Office: Boom
Kitchen: Touch + powered Fostex PM0.4
Misc use: Radio (with battery)
iPad1 with iPengHD & SqueezePad
(spares Touch, SB3, reciever ,controller )
server HP proliant micro server N36L with ClearOS Linux

http://people.xiph.org/~xiphmont/demo/neil-young.html
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[iPhone]

Post by output555
The main reason I bought the SB Touch was to use it as a music server
for my Flac and AIFF high-res audio files.

.
.
Quick note on a simple Server Idea. First there is the R-Pi (Raspberry
Pi) option and second one can use Vortexbox 2.3 ( www.vortexbox.org )
with just about any old laptop, PC, or NAS that has a motherboard or
Vortexbox 2.4 with newer 64 bit machines or leftovers. Vortexbox 2.4
with only run on 64 bit machines. I have an Intel NUC (4 by 4 by 2 inch
NUC with a 2TB drive running Vortexbox 2.4) that works great. Low power
consumption very small footprint.



*iPhone*
Media Room:
ModWright Platinum Signature Transporter, VTL TL-6.5 Signature Pre-Amp,
Ayre MX-R Mono's, VeraStarr 6.4SE 6-channel Amp, Vandersteen Speakers:
Quatro Wood Mains, VCC-5 Reference Center, four VSM-1 Signatures, Video:
Runco RS 900 CineWide AutoScope 2.35:1, Vandersteen V2W Subwoofer

Living Room:
Transporter, ADCOM GTP-870HD, Cinepro 3K6SE III Gold, Vandersteen Model
3A Signature, Two 2Wq subs, VCC-2, Two VSM-1

Office: Touch with Vandersteen VSM-1s
Kitchen: Touch in-wall mount w/ Thiel Powerpoint 1.2s
Bedroom: Squeezebox BOOM
Bathroom: Squeezebox Radio
Around the House: SliMP3, SB1, SB2, SB3
Ford Thunderbird: Duet, Mac Mini
Ford Expedition: SB Touch, USB drive
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[drmatt]

OP is absent. Was this a UDP question?

Sent from my ONEPLUS A3003 using Tapatalk



--
Hardware: 3x Touch, 1x Radio, 2x Receivers, 1 HP Microserver NAS with
Debian+LMS 7.9.0
Music: ~1300 CDs, as 450 GB of 16/44k FLACs. No less than 3x 24/44k
albums..
------------------------------------------------------------------------
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[iPhone]

Post by drmatt
OP is absent. Was this a UDP question?
Sent from my ONEPLUS A3003 using Tapatalk

.
.
I should have looked at the OP first before posting for I didn't notice
it was his first post. Hope I (we) didn't run him off as we are actually
here to help!



*iPhone*
Media Room:
ModWright Platinum Signature Transporter, VTL TL-6.5 Signature Pre-Amp,
Ayre MX-R Mono's, VeraStarr 6.4SE 6-channel Amp, Vandersteen Speakers:
Quatro Wood Mains, VCC-5 Reference Center, four VSM-1 Signatures, Video:
Runco RS 900 CineWide AutoScope 2.35:1, Vandersteen V2W Subwoofer

Living Room:
Transporter, ADCOM GTP-870HD, Cinepro 3K6SE III Gold, Vandersteen Model
3A Signature, Two 2Wq subs, VCC-2, Two VSM-1

Office: Touch with Vandersteen VSM-1s
Kitchen: Touch in-wall mount w/ Thiel Powerpoint 1.2s
Bedroom: Squeezebox BOOM
Bathroom: Squeezebox Radio
Around the House: SliMP3, SB1, SB2, SB3
Ford Thunderbird: Duet, Mac Mini
Ford Expedition: SB Touch, USB drive
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[ralphpnj]

My guess is that the OP is/was a troll trying to cast doubt on the sound
quality of the SB Touch while building up the wonders of the "great"
FiiO X5 Gen II

Just saying.



Living Rm: Transporter-SimAudio pre/power amps-Vandersteen 3A Sign. &
sub
Home Theater: Touch-Marantz HTR-Energy Veritas 2.1 & Linn sub
Computer Rm: Touch-Headroom Desktop w/DAC-Aragon amp-Energy Veritas 2.1
& Energy sub
Bedroom: Touch-HR Desktop w/DAC-Audio Refinement amp-Energy Veritas 2.0
Guest Rm: Duet-Sony soundbar
Garage: SB3-JVC compact system
Controls: iPeng; SB Controller; Moose & Muso
Server: LMS 7.9 on dedicated windows 10 computer w/2 Drobos
'Last.fm' (http://www.last.fm/user/jazzfann/)
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[Julf]

Post by ralphpnj
My guess is that the OP is/was a troll trying to cast doubt on the sound
quality of the SB Touch while building up the wonders of the "great"
FiiO X5 Gen II
Just saying.

Considering it was his only posting, I think you are right.



"To try to judge the real from the false will always be hard. In this
fast-growing art of 'high fidelity' the quackery will bear a solid gilt
edge that will fool many people" - Paul W Klipsch, 1953
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[iPhone]

Post by Julf
Considering it was his only posting, I think you are right.

.
.
I even sent the OP a PM to let him know not to read any tone into my
post and that I didn't notice it was his first post yet because his
first post was in the Audiophile section, that wasn't a good place to
start. I offered different things for him to check and try.

Mainly to run an LMS Server not mini-server on the Touch and make sure
the the volume is at 100% on the Touch so there is not bit reduction.



*iPhone*
Media Room:
ModWright Platinum Signature Transporter, VTL TL-6.5 Signature Pre-Amp,
Ayre MX-R Mono's, VeraStarr 6.4SE 6-channel Amp, Vandersteen Speakers:
Quatro Wood Mains, VCC-5 Reference Center, four VSM-1 Signatures, Video:
Runco RS 900 CineWide AutoScope 2.35:1, Vandersteen V2W Subwoofer

Living Room:
Transporter, ADCOM GTP-870HD, Cinepro 3K6SE III Gold, Vandersteen Model
3A Signature, Two 2Wq subs, VCC-2, Two VSM-1

Office: Touch with Vandersteen VSM-1s
Kitchen: Touch in-wall mount w/ Thiel Powerpoint 1.2s
Bedroom: Squeezebox BOOM
Bathroom: Squeezebox Radio
Around the House: SliMP3, SB1, SB2, SB3
Ford Thunderbird: Duet, Mac Mini
Ford Expedition: SB Touch, USB drive
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[drmatt]

I have to say it's a crap marketing tactic to go slagging off a much
loved obsolete music streamer to attempt to plug your portable music
*player*. It's not even got a common function to talk about, it's just,
different.

Sent from my ONEPLUS A3003 using Tapatalk



--
Hardware: 3x Touch, 1x Radio, 2x Receivers, 1 HP Microserver NAS with
Debian+LMS 7.9.0
Music: ~1300 CDs, as 450 GB of 16/44k FLACs. No less than 3x 24/44k
albums..
------------------------------------------------------------------------
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[Golden Earring]

I have to say it's a crap marketing tactic.

I'm of the opinion that all marketing *-tactics -*are crap...

Dave :)

BTW, I'm preferring the prospect of the UK's incipient "Coalition of
Chaos" to the politicking on the left-hand side of the pond :cool: !


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[arnyk]

Post by drmatt
I have to say it's a crap marketing tactic to go slagging off a much
loved obsolete music streamer to attempt to plug your portable music
*player*. It's not even got a common function to talk about, it's just,
different.

The OP was no doubt rooted in perceptions based on sighted evaluations.


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[Wombat]

Didn't we have something similar lately with a Brokkoly DAC?



Transporter (modded) -> RG142 -> Avantgarde Acoustic based 500VA
monoblocks -> Sommer SPK240 -> self-made speakers
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[Recoveryone]

my first clue about his status was his remark about the Hi Rez files not
sounding Audiophile quality. How many years have this board and many
others had this debate on audiophile quality, when we all know or should
know it all starts at the master recording. Just because a file is in
FLAC of some other Hi Rez format does not mean it automatically can pass
as audiophile. That just my 2 cents



1st Touch in main HT rig hardwired to router connected

2nd Touch Wirelessly connected (Master Bedroom)

3rd Touch Wirelessly connected (bedroom)

4th Touch wirelessly connected (bedroom)

5th Touch 2 Wirelessly connected (livingroom)

6th Touch 4 Wirelessly connected (downstairs bedroom)

Server (In garage)
running on Duo Core P4 3.0 GHz 4 gig ram
Windows 7 64 bit
350 Xternal gigHD
1TB backup
Verizon Fios wireless router w/HG antana
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[Julf]

Post by Recoveryone
my first clue about his status was his remark about the Hi Rez files not
sounding Audiophile quality. How many years have this board and many
others had this debate on audiophile quality, when we all know or should
know it all starts at the master recording. Just because a file is in
FLAC of some other Hi Rez format does not mean it automatically can pass
as audiophile. That just my 2 cents

Good points - and your 2 cents are probably equivalent of quite a bit
more in the audiophile universe.



"To try to judge the real from the false will always be hard. In this
fast-growing art of 'high fidelity' the quackery will bear a solid gilt
edge that will fool many people" - Paul W Klipsch, 1953
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[Mnyb]

Post by Recoveryone
my first clue about his status was his remark about the Hi Rez files not
sounding Audiophile quality. How many years have this board and many
others had this debate on audiophile quality, when we all know or should
know it all starts at the master recording. Just because a file is in
FLAC of some other Hi Rez format does not mean it automatically can pass
as audiophile. That just my 2 cents

It's a very good piont that many audiophiles wants to forget :)

That probably 99.9% of all recordings ever done has less fidelity than
16/44.1 redbook ....

So the question about how good the latest hirez format is , is not even
relevant ?



--------------------------------------------------------------------
Main hifi: Touch + CIA PS +MeridianG68J MeridianHD621 MeridianG98DH 2 x
MeridianDSP5200 MeridianDSP5200HC 2 xMeridianDSP3100 +Rel Stadium 3
sub.
Bedroom/Office: Boom
Kitchen: Touch + powered Fostex PM0.4
Misc use: Radio (with battery)
iPad1 with iPengHD & SqueezePad
(spares Touch, SB3, reciever ,controller )
server HP proliant micro server N36L with ClearOS Linux

http://people.xiph.org/~xiphmont/demo/neil-young.html
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[Julf]

Post by Wombat
Didn't we have something similar lately with a Brokkoly DAC?

I guess the placebophile snake oil pushers are getting more desperate...



"To try to judge the real from the false will always be hard. In this
fast-growing art of 'high fidelity' the quackery will bear a solid gilt
edge that will fool many people" - Paul W Klipsch, 1953
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[Golden Earring]

Post by Wombat
Didn't we have something similar lately with a Brokkoly DAC?

Fair call!

But then I'm still enjoying the suspension of disbelief, as indeed you
may well be with your modded Transporter...

Dave :cool:


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