Improving sound quality of streaming setup

With a reclocker like Synchro-Mesh, you could use a stock Sonos, squeezebox or AppleTV. The Sonos ZP-90 is very popular and fun to use. I like it better than Apple iTunes, and it does not change the stream to apple losseless first. The reclocker will lower the jitter to improve audio quality over the Zardoz. The best thing is to eliminate the AirPort Express and replace with a good stock WiFi device and the reclocker. The AE is a bad device. Even extensive mods and reclocking dont make it great.

Once you have a good device and reclocker, the system can be further improved by upgrading the reclocker power supply and your S/PDIF cable. These can elevate the quality to world-class, beating all transports and music servers.

Steve N.
Empirical Audio

Zardoz only does what the AE does, but with a better clock. Still not god enough IMO. I used to have a product similar to Zardoz. I discontinued it.

As for USB , be prepared to do some work. Upgrading the computer (DRAM and SSD), computer power supply, playback software and other OS tweaks. All of this is needed to match the performance of a Sonos or SB with reclocker and good power supply for the reclocker. A lot more expense and time consuming. The advantage of USB is native up to 192 playback.

Steve N.
Empirical Audio

Mapman - I agree that SB Touch is probably the best stock network source, but it can be improved with mods, power upgrades or reclocking. I have had them here and both modded and reclocked them. I use a Sonos myself, but I also have a SB3. Both SB and Sonos provide one with a clean digital signal compared to Apple. Once you have this, there is no drawback to the source except jitter which can be improved several ways. Its an excellent starting point.

Steve N.
Empirical Audio

Agear - I also made the AE sound pretty good, but there limitations of the chip being used in there, namely the PCM270X. Crummy chip. There is also the fact that Apple encodes the stream to ALAC.

I have had the Zardoz from another customer here, so I know it.

Steve N.
Empirical Audio

"Steve, you promote the use of multiple wifi transmitters in conjunction with your Synchromesh device (Apple TV, Express, Sonos, etc). Why does it matter which device is used if it is reclocked?"

It doesn't matter, except for Apple WiFi, which encodes ALAC. Still a lot of customers use it with Apple TV.

Steve N.

I think DSD DACs are a good development. Im not sure it is a critical element for a new DAC however. The tracks are limited and if one has to make any sonic sacrifice to get DSD, its probably not worth it.

I recently heard an Off-Ramp 5 driving a Wyred 4 Sound DAC2 using I2S. Definitely World-Class. This indicates that the Sabre chip has potential. Its not jitter-proof as advertied, but the digital filtering is better than most.

Steve N.
Empirical Audio