Squeezebox Touch-tips, tricks & tweaks

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Comments

  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,538
    edited December 2011
    Always run the SQB at full volume. You can lock it at "fixed" output in the LMS advanced options.
    Source: Bluesound Node 2i - Preamp/DAC: Benchmark DAC2 DX - Amp: Parasound Halo A21 - Speakers: MartinLogan Motion 60XTi - Shop Rig: Yamaha A-S501 Integrated - Shop Spkrs: Elac Debut 2.0 B5.2
  • SCompRacer
    SCompRacer Posts: 8,505
    edited December 2011
    dragon1952 wrote: »
    Anybody tried any of the hi-res downloads with a Squeezebox Touch set-up?

    Most of my hi-res are homemade vinyl rips and they have excellent SQ. Wish I had more time to rip more vinyl. I do have a couple hi-res downloads.

    Most of the time I use the volume control in the Touch's Squeeze app for the convenience of one remote. Soundchecks 3.0 Toolbox also has you set the volume to fixed.
    Salk SoundScape 8's * Audio Research Reference 3 * Bottlehead Eros Phono * Park's Audio Budgie SUT * Krell KSA-250 * Harmonic Technology Pro 9+ * Signature Series Sonore Music Server w/Deux PS * Roon * Gustard R26 DAC / Singxer SU-6 DDC * Heavy Plinth Lenco L75 Idler Drive * AA MG-1 Linear Air Bearing Arm * AT33PTG/II & Denon 103R * Richard Gray 600S * NHT B-12d subs * GIK Acoustic Treatments * Sennheiser HD650 *
  • Sherardp
    Sherardp Posts: 8,038
    edited December 2011
    So I do have a question for you guys on volume control. For those of you using this with a pre-amp do you:

    1. Keep the pre at full volume and use the volume control on the Squeezebox (so you have your volume and playlist navigation in one remote)
    2. Keep the Squeezebox at full volume and use the pre's remote/knob (requiring you to use one remote for volume, one for navigation of playlists)

    Since I run mine for outdoor use most of the time, I use option 1 for Zone 2. When using it indoors I use option 2. Now that I have a new Pio Elite and can use the Iphone/Ipad app I can gain volume control of my receiver. Just thinking about that floors me, technology is really advancing for the greater good.
    Shoot the jumper.....................BALLIN.............!!!!!

    Home Theater Pics in the Showcase :cool:

    http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showcase/view.php?userid=73580
  • PrazVT
    PrazVT Posts: 1,606
    edited December 2011
    To further Sherard's answer - I keep the volume of all my Squeezeboxes frozen at 100%, since they're all connected to receivers / amps. And like him, I use the Pio Elite app or the remote for volume and Squeezecommander for the SB.
    ALL BOXED UP for a while until I save up for a new place :(

    Home Theater:
    KEF Q900s / MIT Shotgun S3 / MIT CVT2 ICs | KEF Q600C | Polk FXi5 | BJC Wire | Signal / AQ ICs | Shunyata / Pangea PCs | Pioneer Elite SC 57 | Parasound NC2100 Pre | NAD M25 | Marantz SA8001 | Schiit Gungnir DAC | SB Touch

    2 Channel:
    Polk LSi9 (xo mods), Polk DSW MicroPro 2000 sub | NAD c375BEE | W4S DAC1 | SB Touch | Marantz SA-8001 | MIT AVt 2 | Kimber Hero / AQ / Signal ICs | Shunyata / Signal PCs
  • nspindel
    nspindel Posts: 5,343
    edited December 2011
    brgman wrote: »
    If it works like mine did Neil after a while you will get a response from them through paypal saying they contacted you and told you some part was back ordered but it will now ship in a day or two.
    Let me know if this is what happens please.

    Never got the reply but today the wire came, so I just canceled the paypal dispute. Guess it takes a paypal dispute for them to ship your merchandise....
    Good music, a good source, and good power can make SDA's sing. Tubes make them dance.
  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,538
    edited December 2011
    Doesn't the Touch require 3A capability? That might explain the heat probs.
    Source: Bluesound Node 2i - Preamp/DAC: Benchmark DAC2 DX - Amp: Parasound Halo A21 - Speakers: MartinLogan Motion 60XTi - Shop Rig: Yamaha A-S501 Integrated - Shop Spkrs: Elac Debut 2.0 B5.2
  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,195
    edited December 2011
    I don't think it requires it, but both the Welborne and CIA power suppy are high current units @ 3A and 4A peak respectively with a constant for the CIA @ 2.2A and around 3A for the Welborne.

    The SB3 specs at 1A so I would think the heat issue with the PE PS might not be from that, but I don't know.

    H9
    "Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Pangea AC14SE MKII | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node 3 - Tubes add soul!
  • nspindel
    nspindel Posts: 5,343
    edited December 2011
    The Touch doesn't draw that much power by itself. It carries the higher rating because it has the capability of providing power to an external USB device.
    Good music, a good source, and good power can make SDA's sing. Tubes make them dance.
  • polkatese
    polkatese Posts: 6,767
    edited December 2011
    Found an awesome hi-res Jazz station that does 320 kbps: Linn Jazz Mainstream/Standard Jazz, btw.

    you can do search on Touch to find it.
    I am sorry, I have no opinion on the matter. I am sure you do. So, don't mind me, I just want to talk audio and pie.
  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,538
    edited December 2011
    Cool! You the man.
    Source: Bluesound Node 2i - Preamp/DAC: Benchmark DAC2 DX - Amp: Parasound Halo A21 - Speakers: MartinLogan Motion 60XTi - Shop Rig: Yamaha A-S501 Integrated - Shop Spkrs: Elac Debut 2.0 B5.2
  • nspindel
    nspindel Posts: 5,343
    edited January 2012
    polkatese wrote: »
    Found an awesome hi-res Jazz station that does 320 kbps: Linn Jazz Mainstream/Standard Jazz, btw.

    you can do search on Touch to find it.

    Listening to this right now. Very impressive. Sounds awesome!
    Good music, a good source, and good power can make SDA's sing. Tubes make them dance.
  • EndersShadow
    EndersShadow Posts: 17,593
    edited January 2012
    Sherardp wrote: »
    Received my TeraDak power supply, and it is very nice. Pretty heavy and has a nice solid feel to it. Not bad for 150.00. I plan on installing it once my new Pio Elite arrives for the living room setup.

    @Sherardp: You got the TeraDak hooked up and if so what are you impressions?

    @Steve: Thoughts on wallwart v. upgraded CIA powersupply?
    "....not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted." William Bruce Cameron, Informal Sociology: A Casual Introduction to Sociological Thinking (1963)
  • falconcry72
    falconcry72 Posts: 3,580
    edited January 2012
    polkatese wrote: »
    ...hi-res Jazz station that does 320 kbps...

    Isn't that an oxymoron?
    2-Channel: PC > Schiit Eitr > Audio Research DAC-8 > Audio Research LS-26 > Pass Labs X-250.5 > Magnepan 3.7's

    Living Room: PC > Marantz AV-7703 > Emotiva XPA-5 > Sonus Faber Liuto Towers, Sonus Faber Liuto Center, Sonus Faber Liuto Bookshelves > Dual SVS PC12-Pluses

    Office: Phone/Tablet > AudioEngine B1 > McIntosh D100 > Bryston 4B-ST > Polk Audio LSiM-703's
  • nspindel
    nspindel Posts: 5,343
    edited January 2012
    320kbps is about as hi-rez as you'll find on internet radio stations.
    Good music, a good source, and good power can make SDA's sing. Tubes make them dance.
  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,195
    edited January 2012
    320kbps and hi-rez in the same sentence is a misnomer and misleading, but then one always has to read between the lines in life to see what's really going on :wink:
    "Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Pangea AC14SE MKII | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node 3 - Tubes add soul!
  • jaycam
    jaycam Posts: 100
    edited January 2012
    Hey guys! I've been using the SB Duet for a while now and am getting a Touch tomorrow! The upgraded power supply will have to wait a bit though...Thanks for the wealth of information in this thread!
  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,538
    edited January 2012
    @Steve: Thoughts on wallwart v. upgraded CIA powersupply?

    To be honest, it's difficult to tell. It's certainly doing no harm, and I like NOT having that switching power supply upstream of all my other equipment.
    Source: Bluesound Node 2i - Preamp/DAC: Benchmark DAC2 DX - Amp: Parasound Halo A21 - Speakers: MartinLogan Motion 60XTi - Shop Rig: Yamaha A-S501 Integrated - Shop Spkrs: Elac Debut 2.0 B5.2
  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,538
    edited January 2012
    jaycam wrote: »
    Hey guys! I've been using the SB Duet for a while now and am getting a Touch tomorrow! The upgraded power supply will have to wait a bit though...Thanks for the wealth of information in this thread!

    Good deal Jay, let us know when she arrives.

    (In order of signifigance)

    #1 priority-feed it lossless music
    #2 priority-Connect to a "good" external DAC
    #3 Priority-linear power supply
    #4 Priority-other tweaks
    Source: Bluesound Node 2i - Preamp/DAC: Benchmark DAC2 DX - Amp: Parasound Halo A21 - Speakers: MartinLogan Motion 60XTi - Shop Rig: Yamaha A-S501 Integrated - Shop Spkrs: Elac Debut 2.0 B5.2
  • falconcry72
    falconcry72 Posts: 3,580
    edited January 2012
    steveinaz wrote: »
    #1 priority-feed it lossless music
    #2 priority-Connect to a "good" external DAC
    #3 Priority-linear power supply
    #4 Priority-other tweaks

    I am pretty ****'ish about lossless files (see my above post about 320kbps mp3's:wink:), and my collection is 99.9% lossless; however, I have found that a well-encoded mp3 file being output to a quality DAC will sound better than a lossless file being output by a **** DAC, such as an ipod or computer's internal DAC.

    Now the SQB's DAC's aren't half bad, so I've been told, so I don't know which would be better here.... but, Steve, I betcha 5 bucks that a well-encoded mp3 going out of your SQB digitally to your Benchmark would sound better than a lossless version of the same track being output through the SQB's analog outputs.


    edit:

    Just to be clear: I am in no way shape or form trying to condone the use of mp3's in a hifi setting! Friends don't let friends compress lossy!!!:smile:
    2-Channel: PC > Schiit Eitr > Audio Research DAC-8 > Audio Research LS-26 > Pass Labs X-250.5 > Magnepan 3.7's

    Living Room: PC > Marantz AV-7703 > Emotiva XPA-5 > Sonus Faber Liuto Towers, Sonus Faber Liuto Center, Sonus Faber Liuto Bookshelves > Dual SVS PC12-Pluses

    Office: Phone/Tablet > AudioEngine B1 > McIntosh D100 > Bryston 4B-ST > Polk Audio LSiM-703's
  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,195
    edited January 2012
    I dunno, I have yet to hear an excellent sounding mp3 through a top notch dac. So I'd probably have to disagree. If anything the better dac will expose even more flaws where as a cheaper dac will have a tendancy to mask the flaws when it comes to an mp3.

    So I'm going to disagree. I occasionally listen to some HQ mp3's I have and I can always detect a slight loss in quality.

    H9
    "Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Pangea AC14SE MKII | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node 3 - Tubes add soul!
  • falconcry72
    falconcry72 Posts: 3,580
    edited January 2012
    heiney9 wrote: »
    I dunno, I have yet to hear an excellent sounding mp3 through a top notch dac. So I'd probably have to disagree. If anything the better dac will expose even more flaws where as a cheaper dac will have a tendancy to mask the flaws when it comes to an mp3.

    So I'm going to disagree. I occasionally listen to some HQ mp3's I have and I can always detect a slight loss in quality.

    H9

    In my experience, the increased dynamics and clarity of a good DAC make up for the more exposed flaws of the mp3.

    H9, get a y-cable (1/8" headphone jack > male RCA's), and do a comparison in your PC-based setup with the Musiland.

    Headphone jack straight to pre vs. usb > musiland > pre.

    I know I'm right on this one when dealing with a **** DAC, as I said above, like an ipod or computer. I've heard it a million times. I'm not sure with the SQB, though, because the SQB has much better DAC's than an ipod or stock PC sound card.

    This test is you and Steve's homework for the weekend.

    Extra credit to the first one who turns it in.:biggrin:
    2-Channel: PC > Schiit Eitr > Audio Research DAC-8 > Audio Research LS-26 > Pass Labs X-250.5 > Magnepan 3.7's

    Living Room: PC > Marantz AV-7703 > Emotiva XPA-5 > Sonus Faber Liuto Towers, Sonus Faber Liuto Center, Sonus Faber Liuto Bookshelves > Dual SVS PC12-Pluses

    Office: Phone/Tablet > AudioEngine B1 > McIntosh D100 > Bryston 4B-ST > Polk Audio LSiM-703's
  • EndersShadow
    EndersShadow Posts: 17,593
    edited January 2012
    steveinaz wrote: »
    (In order of signifigance)

    #1 priority-feed it lossless music
    #2 priority-Connect to a "good" external DAC
    #3 Priority-linear power supply
    #4 Priority-other tweaks
    steveinaz wrote: »
    To be honest, it's difficult to tell. It's certainly doing no harm, and I like NOT having that switching power supply upstream of all my other equipment.

    Using your list above makes me wonder if I should get something like the benchmark for this given your #2. I have an older Integra (DTR 5.9) which supposedly has decent 192K/24 Bit DACs's (cant find lots of info on make/model though) and the plan was to purchase the Touch & upgraded PS. Then A/B the Integra's DAC's v. Touch's.

    BUT if I DONT get the upgraded PS I might have enough (~500) to get a decent DAC to put between the Touch and the Integra, but not enough to really do both......

    Choices choices........
    "....not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted." William Bruce Cameron, Informal Sociology: A Casual Introduction to Sociological Thinking (1963)
  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,195
    edited January 2012
    Ok, I guess we have different idea's of **** dac's. Your implication as I read it was the SQB Touch internal dac's are ****. They aren't ****, they are actually pretty good for what they are. So I disagree about playing a flac file through the SQB dac vs. a 320kbps encoded mp3 through a good dac. The mp3 will still sound worse comparatively. You can't magically add dynamic range and clarity to something that has had it stripped away. Everytime I play the same mp3 through a better and better dac, it sounds worse and worse.

    Sorry, I dont use a headphone jack or a straight PC for any listening. To much degredation in those two area's.

    Here's your homework

    rip a flac and an mp3 of your favorite demo track. Then using the same delivery method and rig feed the SQB the flac using the internal dac and then feed the SQB the mp3 using your external dac. If you prefer the mp3, then perhaps we have different criteria for evaluating what sounds good.

    H9
    "Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Pangea AC14SE MKII | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node 3 - Tubes add soul!
  • jaycam
    jaycam Posts: 100
    edited January 2012
    steveinaz wrote: »
    Good deal Jay, let us know when she arrives.

    (In order of signifigance)

    #1 priority-feed it lossless music
    #2 priority-Connect to a "good" external DAC
    #3 Priority-linear power supply
    #4 Priority-other tweaks

    Well, 98% of my music in FLAC (ripped from cd) and I'm slowly getting some hi-rez stuff from HDTracks. I'm going to have to rely on the Touch's DAC for a while longer. The next upgrade on my list is my receiver. So, I'm getting there...just gonna take a while :-)
  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,195
    edited January 2012
    falcon, I agree with the iPod and computer statement as regards to being **** even for FLAC files. But that isn't how I read your initial post on the subject.

    H9
    "Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Pangea AC14SE MKII | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node 3 - Tubes add soul!
  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,538
    edited January 2012
    Without trying to sound like a snob-**** dick-head, I would say that if a receiver is going to be used, I wouldn't see much advantage to a high priced external DAC. I'm just sayin I don't want you to waste money in that direction.

    I would just do a comparo between the DACs in the Touch vs the DAC's in your receiver---whichever sounds better, wins.
    Source: Bluesound Node 2i - Preamp/DAC: Benchmark DAC2 DX - Amp: Parasound Halo A21 - Speakers: MartinLogan Motion 60XTi - Shop Rig: Yamaha A-S501 Integrated - Shop Spkrs: Elac Debut 2.0 B5.2
  • falconcry72
    falconcry72 Posts: 3,580
    edited January 2012
    heiney9 wrote: »
    Sorry, I dont use a headphone jack or a straight PC for any listening. To much degredation in those two area's.

    So what's your Musiland rig based on?
    2-Channel: PC > Schiit Eitr > Audio Research DAC-8 > Audio Research LS-26 > Pass Labs X-250.5 > Magnepan 3.7's

    Living Room: PC > Marantz AV-7703 > Emotiva XPA-5 > Sonus Faber Liuto Towers, Sonus Faber Liuto Center, Sonus Faber Liuto Bookshelves > Dual SVS PC12-Pluses

    Office: Phone/Tablet > AudioEngine B1 > McIntosh D100 > Bryston 4B-ST > Polk Audio LSiM-703's
  • falconcry72
    falconcry72 Posts: 3,580
    edited January 2012
    heiney9 wrote: »
    falcon, I agree with the iPod and computer statement as regards to being **** even for FLAC files. But that isn't how I read your initial post on the subject.

    H9
    a well-encoded mp3 file being output to a quality DAC will sound better than a lossless file being output by a **** DAC, such as an ipod or computer's internal DAC.

    Now the SQB's DAC's aren't half bad, so I've been told, so I don't know which would be better here.

    Wasn't calling the SQB's DAC's **** at all.
    2-Channel: PC > Schiit Eitr > Audio Research DAC-8 > Audio Research LS-26 > Pass Labs X-250.5 > Magnepan 3.7's

    Living Room: PC > Marantz AV-7703 > Emotiva XPA-5 > Sonus Faber Liuto Towers, Sonus Faber Liuto Center, Sonus Faber Liuto Bookshelves > Dual SVS PC12-Pluses

    Office: Phone/Tablet > AudioEngine B1 > McIntosh D100 > Bryston 4B-ST > Polk Audio LSiM-703's
  • EndersShadow
    EndersShadow Posts: 17,593
    edited January 2012
    steveinaz wrote: »
    Without trying to sound like a snob-**** dick-head, I would say that if a receiver is going to be used, I wouldn't see much advantage to a high priced external DAC. I'm just sayin I don't want you to waste money in that direction.

    Geez, you dick-head :twisted:. Just Kidding. Right now I am in a HT/2 channel combined setup since my LSi's are downstairs and I normally listen to music down there. The plan was:

    Squeezebox to Integra (either via SPDIF or MIT EXp1's)
    Integra set to stereo (so it adds in the sub) or Direct (no sub)
    Integra to Sunfire 200x5 via MIT EXp1
    Sunfire 200x5 to (moddded) LSi 15's via Audioquest CV-4 38v dbs speaker cable

    My hope was that the DAC's in the Integra are better than the Touch's but without putting my ears on em I guess I wont know.
    "....not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted." William Bruce Cameron, Informal Sociology: A Casual Introduction to Sociological Thinking (1963)
  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,538
    edited January 2012
    Oh--so is your Integra used as a preamp? If so, that's a little different. I'd try it both ways--but listen to each set of DAC's for at least 2 weeks at a time (don't A/B switch). I've found that DAC's are a little easier to judge over a long term listening session. That's just my 2 centavos.
    Source: Bluesound Node 2i - Preamp/DAC: Benchmark DAC2 DX - Amp: Parasound Halo A21 - Speakers: MartinLogan Motion 60XTi - Shop Rig: Yamaha A-S501 Integrated - Shop Spkrs: Elac Debut 2.0 B5.2