How do you connect your Squeezebox 3

[NeilF]

Out of interest how do you connect your SBs to your amps?

[Autopilot]

Analogue. The SB3's DAC is very good, it's more cost effective to get a decent amp and make use of the SB3's DAC IMO. I dont have money to burn, but even with the SB3's DAC, a good mid range amp/speakers and lossless files - it sounds better than many systems costing 5 times as much. If you have an external DAC, thats great. But with mid range kit it usually not worth it IMHO (many people who have forked out for expensive DAC will disagree though ).

[StevieDvd]

I have reasonable dacs with spare inputs so use them. Though I do connect the line out to the amp as well so the missus can use the system without touching the dac.

She thinks a transistor radio sounds fine so no worries for her using the SB3 dac.

[NeilF]

Out of interest, one feature that would be very nice is a means of levelling the volume of different tracks. You know, some tracks/albums are far quieter/louder than others. It would be nice (in SlimServer?) if you could bias the volume of the tracks/albums (flac/mp3) up/down a bit.

[Autopilot]

Originally Posted by NeilF

Out of interest, one feature that would be very nice is a means of levelling the volume of different tracks. You know, some tracks/albums are far quieter/louder than others. It would be nice (in SlimServer?) if you could bias the volume of the tracks/albums (flac/mp3) up/down a bit.

You can. It's called Replaygain.

[SteveAS]

I recently bought a SB3 as I was originally going to purchase a 2nd hand CD player, but that meant more boxes in the rack, plus I would need a external DAC, so opted for the SB3.

Mine's currently connected using optical cable to my amp which is a basic level amp - pioneer vsx2016.

Am I better off by using the analogue output of the SB3 opposed to the optical output then? Or does it make no difference?

[Autopilot]

The Brown Burr 24bit DAC of the SB3 is pretty good, in fact amazingly good for the price. Many CD players worth x3 as much dont sound as good. But it's all down to the rest of your kit really as to whats best.

[NeilF]

Originally Posted by SteveAS

I recently bought a SB3 as I was originally going to purchase a 2nd hand CD player, but that meant more boxes in the rack, plus I would need a external DAC, so opted for the SB3.

Mine's currently connected using optical cable to my amp which is a basic level amp - pioneer vsx2016.

Am I better off by using the analogue output of the SB3 opposed to the optical output then? Or does it make no difference?

Plug it in with the stereo leads provided with it and flick between the digital and analog on your amp... Listen and see which you prefer... Exactly what I'll be doing

[Planet__]

I was wondering how to connect (my soon to be purchased) SB3 to my amp, AX5i. I always favour coax digital over optical digital because there's less signal conversion; straight through electrical signal that coax gives rather than the electrical to light in the device, light back to electrical in the amp of the optical connection. In my head it makes sense....

Like you Neil I'll try both the coax digital and the analog to see which best suits my ears. The dac of the SB3 or the AX5i, who shall win?!

[dalar]

Originally Posted by NeilF

Plug it in with the stereo leads provided with it and flick between the digital and analog on your amp... Listen and see which you prefer... Exactly what I'll be doing

Thats exactly what im gonna try out with my SB3 - right now im using optical, its sounds absolutley crystal clear.... but I miss the 'warmth' from analogue a bit.

[badbob]

Two SB'3, both coaxial digital into av pre-amp (esp that as pre-amp converts A to D then does processing then D to A) other SB3 coaxial digital to a 2 channel DAC.