Squeezebox Players

[KeithMoon]

I currently have a LogiTech Touch hooked up to an Onkyo A-5VL amplifier with an optical connection.  Per instructions somewhere on this site, I understand that if I set the Touch's volume control to 100%, I am using the DAC on the Onkyo, whereas if I set the Touch's volume to anything other than 100%, I am using the Touch's DAC.

Assuming I replace the Touch with a Transporter SE, will the same rule apply?  Since my understanding is that I'm probably going to like the Transporter's DAC better than the Onkyo's, should I assume that as long as the Transporter's volume level is less than 100%, the Transporter's DAC is the "active" DAC"?  Please forgive me if I'm not making sense here.

Thanks!

[squeezeit · Accepted solution]

Volume has nothing to do with which DAC is being used.  It is correct that best practice is to use a high volume setting (or 100% volume) for better audio out, regardless of whether the signal is digital or analog.  But any source device using it's digital outs is not using it's DAC, any source device using it's analog outs is using it's DAC.  So to use the Onkyo's DAC simply use the Touch's digital outs.

Also, be careful of how your Onkyo handles all incoming audio signals.  Most digital receivers will always use it's DAC regardless of which type of input is being used.  So a setup like Touch > analog > Onkyo may well be using both DAC's in each unit.  Some digital receivers allow you to turn off all audio processing as a special "pure" type setting.

[KeithMoon]

Thank you for your detailed response.  You cleared up the issue for me in an easy to read manner!

[garymc]

agree with squeezeit's recommendations.  I have a transporter (analog out to my preamp, using balanced analog outs) and for critical listening I use the digital volume set to 100%, then adjust with preamp volume. For normal listening, have the preamp/amp set so that at 100% volume, the audio is as loud as I would ever want it, but I then roll it back to about 80% or so for normal listening.  Then I can go up or down a bit and be in the plus 75% digital volume range.

The idea is to not drop the digital volume below about 75%.  The digital volume in the Squeezebox system is quite good. It uses full 24bits, so the volume adjustments are being made with the "extra bits".   Of course for morning "internet radio news" listening, the volume level is not important (so if it is at 40%, that's fine).

[KeithMoon]

I see that you are a good person to ask a follow up question.  If I have a $1,000 budget, should I get a Transporter SE or a Benchmark Dac1?  Looks like you have both.  As noted, I already have the Touch and an Onkyo A-5VL.

[garymc]

Not a clear cut answer.

1. First and foremost, you must insure that your receiver/amp allows you to feed ANALOG into it without it then running it through its INTERNAL DAC.  As squeezeit mentioned, some receivers even run ANALOG in through their own DACs.  So if this is true, either the transporter or the benchmark is a waste, as you are taking the output of those DACS into Analog, then converting it back to DAC within the receiver and then using the Receiver's DAC to convert back to Analog:

DAC > Analog > Digital > RECEIVER DAC > Analog

If you can't "turn off" the DAC in your reciever, the best answer is to use the TOUCH and then use either TOSLINK (Optical) or S/PDIF (coax) to feed digital out from Touch into Digital in of your receiver. I do this with a TOUCH I have connected to my processor in the home theater setup. The DAC in the processor is a quite good.

2. I really like the DAC in the transporter and the benchmark. I also like the fact that both have "balanced analog out" connections (as my preamp and amp have balanced analog inputs).  I liked the Transporter DAC so much that I took my Benchmark out of the chain and moved it to my weekend place connected to a TOUCH (where it is overkill).

If I had had a TOUCH first, I might have simply used with my Benchmark and not purchased the Transporter. That said, I really like the Transporter and would not sell it.

But do keep in mind that the Transporter and Transporter SE (exact same without the center control knob) are "old technology".  The Transporter can't natively handle AAC files and certain other files. Things like Spotify, etc. won't work with the Transporter (unless using Triode's 3rd party software).  Some new things only work on TOUCH or RADIO (because they run the modern interface).

Again, hard decision. If I got a great deal on a transporter, I'd consider it. But otherwise, I might go with a TOUCH with Benchmark. And with that setup, I'd likely go straight into a Benchmark DAC with builtin preamp.  that is, this one:

http://www.benchmarkmedia.com/dac/dac1-hdr

Bottom line, you can't go wrong either way.

[KeithMoon]

First, if I'm reading the block diagram for the Onkyo correctly (see page 19 at http://filedepot.onkyousa.com/Files/own_manuals/web_29400048_A-5VL_En_090522.pdf?CFID=2014672&CFTOKE... )

then the analog inputs are NOT routed through the DAC.

Second, both options are good (as you describe).  The Benchmark DAC HDR is a bit too pricey for me (particularly since I like the A-5VL), but I think I'll go the DAC1 route since (1) the Touch is an awesome tool all on it's own, and (2) I like the idea of having a standalone DAC as an option going forward.

Thank you for your great feedback!

[garymc]

probably the decision I'd make too, as I like my existing preamp.  Enjoy!