Squeezebox / Roku / USB DAC ?

[MIB]

Thinking of getting a Squeezebox 3 or Roku Soundbridge to replace my Denon 2900 for music - have read a lot of threads but would appreciate any opinions from people moving from similar disc spinners to a computer based solution. Sound quality is most important factor with £200 budget.

Current setup is Denon 2900 into Denon 3803 - the DAC's in both are Brown Burr 24bit and have very similar SQ. Will the 24bit Brown Burr DAC in the Squeezebox be much of an upgrade as it is a newer model?

I have a mac mini located next to the hifi but it only has a mini-jack audio out and the sound quality even with apple lossless is poor compared to CD - so I assume the DAC in a mac mini is poor. I don't really need the streamer wifi side of things so I don't know if its a waste to get a squeezebox as I could use itunes and screen to control and just spend £200 on a USB DAC?

Really interested in peoples opinions on:

Any USB DAC's at £200 or under
Squeezebox DAC vs Denon DAC SQ
Roku DAC SQ
Use Roku (cheaper at £100) to obtain a digital out to feed the Denon 3803 DAC?

[s3marc]

can you not get a tos output from a mac mini and feed this into your denon amp and let it do the conversion?

[MIB]

Originally Posted by s3marc

can you not get a tos output from a mac mini and feed this into your denon amp and let it do the conversion?

Thanks for the suggestion but I have an original mac mini and it appears that optical out from the 3.5mm socket was added to later models otherwise this would have been the easy option

Now thinking of getting a new mac mini with the digital out. Anyone compared the digital out of a mini against the squeezebox for sound quality?

[Falp]

I'm using a Roku Soundbridge M1000 to my Marantz SR5600 DACs and love it.

Just the Wi-Fi could be better...

[Uridium]

Generally speaking there is a larger fanbase for the SB3 here than the Roku altohugh I've found all the roku's owners have no regrets on there choice

[MIB]

Thanks for the replies.

Think I've narrowed it down to a straight choice between a Squeezebox 3 or a new Mac Mini with digital out.

Anyone compared sound quality of these 2 options?



What would be the most user freindly interface:
Squeezebox with remote
or
Frontrow with Apple remote?