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leo
16-12-2008, 03:49
Hi Guys,

Anybody own the Squeezebox Duet? any opinions ? I was thinking of getting one to use with my external dacs

If I decide to get one I'll be modifying it myself but noticed a few people having issues with them especially the controller having various connection problems

Cheers,
Leo

NRG
16-12-2008, 07:37
Hi Leo, long time no speak! Not tried one myself but I'm interested in any feedback as well. Was thinking about getting one to update my system as I'm still using my highly modded SB mk1 (!)

Audiocom AV
16-12-2008, 07:49
Hi Guys,

Anybody own the Squeezebox Duet? any opinions ? I was thinking of getting one to use with my external dacs


Cheers,
Leo

Hello Leo

The Duet product is very good, the analogue stage is mediocre so you really need to output to an external DAC to hear it at its best.

When modified, the Duet can deliver sound quality very close to a good quality CD transport.

I also suggest a higher grade power supply, there are a few now appearing on the market.

Best Wishes
Mark Bartlett

Tony Moore
16-12-2008, 08:00
Hi Leo,

I have a Duet, the Squeezebox receiver is now built into my DAC case and uses I2S to the TDA1541A. (It's the correct format without any changes) I use an ALW super-reg to power it. (< 1 amp @ 9v as opposed to 1.5amps+ at 5v as the old SB3 was)

Sound is good. As Mark says, the internal DAC is not as good as the SB3 one (IMO) but it's lack of display and other ancillary bits and bobs makes it more suitable as a low(er) noise transport. Two onboard switchers but they seem very clean.

It starts up much faster than SB3. Power up and you're ready to play music within a couple of seconds. (assuming the server's up of course!)

We'll have to have another meetup one of these days.

Cheers,
Tony
ps. No controller problems with me. It works a treat. It set itself up without problems and has worked fine ever since. I am using wired connection for the SBR and SB3s though. I think most people seem to have problems with their wifi rather than the controller. I have binned the wifi card from the SBR, it just seems _wrong_ to put a radio transmitter in an audio product that you're trying to lower the noise in! The good thing is it _will_ unplug (with some brute force) and doesn't affect the operation.

Tony Moore
16-12-2008, 09:26
A photo!

http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm168/TonyMoore300B/DACWithSBR.jpg

Oh, I forgot to mention that it's also reclocked with the Tent XO3 and the I2S signals are reclocked synchronously by the board on the right. Super-reg can be seen at the back. Hawk buffer underneath to the left and Pedja Rogic DAC board hidden underneath the SBR.

I did experiment a little with tube output but for the moment I've decided that the Hawk buffer does an _excellent_ job, good image, punchy and dynamic and just more realistic.

Cheers,
Tony

leo
16-12-2008, 13:03
Thanks a lot guys its much appreciated;)
I think I'll give one a try then, my OS is Vista Home premium

Nice work Tony! pleased to see your still using Pedja's dac.
For the SBR I'll probbaly start with psu upgrades including improving the SPDIF out.
Because I also now have the Sabre dac as well as Pedja's AYA I'll be trying optional I2S output so it can be tried direct with either dac.
The AYA uses onboard reclocking


Tony and Neal, another meet up would be great sometime , its been a long time

NRG
16-12-2008, 14:44
Agreed Leo waaay overdue for another meet....

Tony, I recall you and Nick going through the I2S stuff at Owston meet before last, have you posted up the details of what you did....very interested in trying this, I have spare SB2 and 3 available and I'm starting to wonder how much better if at all they m ay be compared to my modded MK1....

Tony Moore
16-12-2008, 15:20
Hi Neal,

We've moved on a ways since that Owston! The "problem" with the SB3 (I don't know about SB2 but I think they're very similar) is that the I2S output is left-justified format and since the TDA1541A will only accept standard I2S then we had to adjust the timing relationship between the data and the word clock boundary. We did this using a Xilinx CPLD on the X-board development kit.

http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm168/TonyMoore300B/DAC_04072008.jpg

This was the previous incarnation of my DAC that I think you saw and heard at Richard's a while ago? Between AndrewL, NickG and myself (they did most of the programming work) we sorted the data streams.

The SqueezeBox receiver on the other hand uses standard I2S and so I could get rid of the X-board and go straight into the DAC (via my reclocker).

I still have the X-board all programmed up so if you wanted to experiment you could certainly borrow it to save you having to go about trying to get one. They are relatively cheap $40ish but the postage/customs swindle from the US doubles the cost. :steam:

Nick has used his to split the I2S into two differential streams to feed two TDA1541As which I'd also like to try at some point but at the moment I seem to have way too little time for experimenting.

Cheers,
Tony

Labarum
16-12-2008, 18:33
I have a Squeezebox Classic 3 whose sonic performance is supposed to be much the same as the Duet. I love it. The internal DAC is not good enough for me, but with a Beresford DAC the sound is excellent.

Gazjam
16-12-2008, 23:01
wot he says +1

I've an SB3 which I use through a seperate DAC and I've never played a CD since I got it.
Sound AA+ would be even better once modded I imagine? Closer to the SB+ or the Transporter.

Why a Duet though?
Is it just because of the controller?

You can use any Wifi device to control the SB3, particularly the Ipod touch.

The SB3 (with its display which doesn't affect the sound quality) used with an ipod touch is, to me, the best of both worlds.

See HERE:

http://penguinlovesmusic.de/?page_id=27



sorry to complicate it a bit :)

leo
17-12-2008, 01:50
Interesting article about the ipod touch ta:smoking:

Main reason I would prefer a Duet

The reciever is easier to mod than the SB3, theres more room in the case, it offers easier direct I2S compared to the SB3's left-justified I2S (I2S is better than SPDIF if used over a short distance) , its a lighter current load than the SB3 giving a wider range of PSU options.

Main thing that was putting me off with the Duet was quite a few negative posts regarding controller drop outs and lock ups

leo
24-12-2008, 16:11
Well the Duet arrived today, shame I can't play with it until tomorrow

I'll resist the temptation of taking a screwdriver and soldering to it for a couple of weeks:lol:

Tony Moore
24-12-2008, 20:36
Ha! I'll believe that when I see it! :lolsign:

Merry Christmas!

Happy tweaking!

leo
24-12-2008, 22:17
Ha! I'll believe that when I see it! :lolsign:

Merry Christmas!

Happy tweaking!


Thanks Tony,

I did say a couple of weeks:eyebrows:

Just looking to see if theres been many problems using 7.3.1

Merry Christmas to you too!

leo
27-12-2008, 01:26
Some initial impressions SC 7.2.1

I've been using it with three different external dacs, loaned Beresford, my diy Sabre and AYA

The highs are a little soft and splashy compared to what I'm used too, bass is warm, slightly round
I'll give it a good running in before listening to it again, so far its had about 24hours

I knocked up a linear regulated supply set to 9v which I'll try instead of the supplied smps
Some internal fettling should sort it out:eyebrows: I'm determined not to touch it yet though

Sorry but those who claim they can't hear a difference with the source feeding their external dac must be cloth eared:confused:

leo
02-01-2009, 11:38
Got a question for you Tony, when you removed the wireless card from your Duet was you able to stop the flashing purple light which indicates a hardware fault?

I'll be starting a modding thread on the diy section soon as I can get my head around the innards
BTW, that wireless card was a swine to remove:steam: those sticky pads welded the bloody thing on

Tony Moore
02-01-2009, 13:59
Hi Leo,

Nope, I couldn't see any way to stop the "fault" light flashing. I've got used to it now! :smoking: I was intending to just cover it up or burn it off. :eyebrows:

Yes, that wifi card is stuck down way too hard. I nearly lost finger nails trying to lever it off. :steam: The one in the SB3 was a LOT easier to remove.

I'm looking forward to your post on modding the SBR!!! Have you managed to replace the two switching supplies?

Cheers,
Tony