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SB Touch w/upgraded power supply: good next step?

I'm enjoying my SB Touch and so far using it stock, and taking analog out into my pre. As is it performs on par with my Rotel RCD1072, but want to take another step forward.

The Soundcheck mods are enticing, but for the time being I need to continue to use wireless and the Touch's screen, which are 2 big impact areas of that toolbox, so I'm thinking of waiting there a bit.

An outboard DAC is the logical upgrade, but more expensive. Maybe a Metrum Octave.

An upgraded power supply, like a Teddy Pardo, would run at around $300 and would be doable now. But how significant should I expect that upgrade to be if using analog out and stock settings? Should I go here now or wait a few months and get Soundcheck mods and the DAC first?

FWIW, I have 2 dedicated power lines, Oyaide outlets, upgraded power cables, Lamm LL2D, McIntosh MC275, B&W 804S, Rel sub.

Thanks!
lewinskih01

Showing 3 responses by lewinskih01

lewinskih01 OP
911 posts
 
OK, got it: the DAC is the next best step. But for that I'll have to wait about 9 months.

So on to alternatives.

Rbautista, I had forgotten about a wifi bridge. Good point! What is the difference between the Netgear piece you suggest and a simple wireless router set to receive (connected to the Touch through ethernet)?

I guess power supply will be delayed until after the bridge + Soundcheck mods.

Any other opinions?

Thanks!
lewinskih01 OP
911 posts
 
Thanks folks for the good feedback, and sorry I wasn't replying - took 2 weeks off to the middle of nowhere, without wireless signal or electricity.

Like Kenneythekey, I have a dedicated power line where the SBT sits on its own, so maybe a linear power supply isn't going to help as much as in other people's cases. I'm hearing no clicks whatsoever now.

Rbautista, I like to buy gear and hold on to it for a good while, and I'm thinking about $1000 on a DAC. Right now the Metrum Octave looks most appealing. I wish it did 24/192 though (looking beyond SBT). Considering how much has happened in the last 12 months in terms of DAC advancement and prices dropping, who knows where will I sit in 9 months!
My router is a Linksys WRT-120N. Maybe I can add another one sitting by the Touch and set it to operate as a receiver? Sounds like my next step. Then the Soundcheck Toolbox 3.

Will get busy with this and report back. Keep the feedback coming!

Thanks all.
lewinskih01 OP
911 posts
 
Kenny,

The MiniMax Plus has me interested as well. Some people love it. The fact that it doesn't have the volume control as its predecessor is a plus, as I intend to keep my pre.
Many consider it's tubed option as a plus. However I have a tube pre and a tube amp and wonder if a tubed DAC is really convenient for me. What's your experience with it? What was your reference for sound prior to the EE Plus?

Thanks!
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