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Squeezebox Touch simple 24/192 output mod

A call to all owners of the Squeezebox Touch. You can now install a simple third party app ("Enhanced Digital Output") developed by Triode that allows your Touch to output true 24/192 to your DAC via USB or Coax SPDIF. You need the latest updated Media Server 7.2 installed first. It installs a linux kernal that enables the high res digital output and disables the analog outputs (which you don't need if using a DAC anyway). I installed in a few minutes and can attest that it does improve the overall sound quality. My Bel Canto DAC3 is an earlier model that is capable up to 24/176.4 input and I successfully passed a file of that size and it sounds great. Many others who have 24/192 capability have successfully passed files of that quality as well as long as their processors can handle that input. Logitech is not officially supporting this app, but it really lets your Touch shine and handle the high res files. Apparently the Touch has had this capability all along but has not been unleashed yet. Please share your experiences and get the word out. The Touch will be an even better value than it is now. Enjoy!

For more info go to http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?94512-Announce-Enhanced-Digital-Output-app-USB-Dac-and-192k-Digital-Ouput
swanny76109

Showing 4 responses by tonyangel

tonyangel
309 posts
 
I did NOT configure SBT to stream any service at a higher bit rate. That is the point that I'm trying to make. The highest bit rate that I am aware of is 16 bit at 320kbps at best from any streaming service.

I can't begin to guess why your DAC is showing a 44.1khz incoming stream from Spotify. The best that Spotify does is 320kbps.

What you essentially said in your above post is that you are getting a CD quality stream from Spotify. Unless I am mistaken, this cannot be.
tonyangel
309 posts
 
Are you saying that Spotify streams at 24/192? Back when I tried it, it was very limited. I don't remember exactly what it was, but I do know that I stuck with MOG, which had the best sound quality for me. MOG streams at 320kbps, which is high for a streaming service, or so I thought.

Unless I'm wrong, your question is moot.

I was, however, able to stream 24/192 files to my Squeezebox from my server. The mod does work, but be aware that it also changes the characteristics of the music. These "mods" do alter the stock configuration of interrupt priorities for a lot of the processes being handled by the Squeezebox while it's playing music.

Try it and see if you like it. If you have either a bunch of 24/192 files that you want to play or you want to be able to use the USB connection, then the mod may be just what you're looking for.
tonyangel
309 posts
 
I'm not trying to be argumentative, but I just went and checked Spotify out again, after reading your post. I don't see anything that would indicate that you can download 24/192 files from Spotify. If I am wrong, please let us know. Getting hi res music for less than ~$25 an album would be a blessing. All I'm seeing is that Spotify will stream at 320kbps for its Premium members.

I any case, I've had no problems streaming anything through my SBT, whether it was MOG, Spotify or any other service that I tried.

I don't think that anyone is going to abandon the idea of streaming music because the touch was discontinued.
tonyangel
309 posts
 
Sorry, I think that I what I said above may have been unclear. What I'm trying to say, in short, is that if you are putting yourself through all of this, modding your SBT and such, with the intention of streaming high res from a streaming service, you are wasting your time.

The only way that you are going to realize the benefits of the mod to the SBT is if you have hi res files of greater than 16 bit words lengths and greater than a 96khz sampling rates. The only convenient way that I know of to come by these files is to buy them from a service such as HDTracks at a cost of ~$18 per album.

Of course, if you know something that I don't and there is a streaming service that streams 26/96 and greater files, please share. My wallet will thank you.
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