I have both the Squeezebox SB3 and Mac Mini. Both running into Bel Canto DAC3.
Mac Mini is a better source via a USB cable into DAC than is the SB3 via coax or optical cable into DAC3.
I had a Transporter on loan and I am pretty sure Mac Mini would beat that as well, when used as transport. I found the Transporter to be noisy in the background and lacking overall naturalness and musicality. It was easily distinguished when compared to my then cd player, Audio Research CD3MkII, in a matter of seconds. I used same balanced interconnects to compare - Acoustic Zen Silver Ref MkII. Not even close. Bel Canto DAC3 improved things for the Transporter and brought it closer to the ARC player, but still it was not that great.
I am pretty sure that after Esoteric player, Transporter would not cut it. Forget SB3 if you are serious.
IMO, the solution that comes close to a good CD player is a music server + a decent DAC. I am pretty happy with Mac Mini running into DAC3 via USB cable.
Mac Mini is affordable, external HDs are now cheap so storage should not be an issue. I have two 1TB drives - 1 main and 1 backup, rip music in AIFF format and there is still plenty of space left. Also, I am controlling Mac Mini via wi-fi from my Dell laptop or from my iPhone when just listening. It is super cool, convenient and easy to use, aside from the fact that the sound is just great.
FWIW, I am using the SB3 only to listen to internet radio now. Not using it to play music off the HD at all.
Also, we had compared Mac Mini with a dedicated hi-end CD transport. There was 3 of us taking turns listening, evaluating, commenting and taking notes and none of us could tell the cd transport via a $700 digital balanced interconnect apart from Mac Mini via USB cable.
Mac Mini is a better source via a USB cable into DAC than is the SB3 via coax or optical cable into DAC3.
I had a Transporter on loan and I am pretty sure Mac Mini would beat that as well, when used as transport. I found the Transporter to be noisy in the background and lacking overall naturalness and musicality. It was easily distinguished when compared to my then cd player, Audio Research CD3MkII, in a matter of seconds. I used same balanced interconnects to compare - Acoustic Zen Silver Ref MkII. Not even close. Bel Canto DAC3 improved things for the Transporter and brought it closer to the ARC player, but still it was not that great.
I am pretty sure that after Esoteric player, Transporter would not cut it. Forget SB3 if you are serious.
IMO, the solution that comes close to a good CD player is a music server + a decent DAC. I am pretty happy with Mac Mini running into DAC3 via USB cable.
Mac Mini is affordable, external HDs are now cheap so storage should not be an issue. I have two 1TB drives - 1 main and 1 backup, rip music in AIFF format and there is still plenty of space left. Also, I am controlling Mac Mini via wi-fi from my Dell laptop or from my iPhone when just listening. It is super cool, convenient and easy to use, aside from the fact that the sound is just great.
FWIW, I am using the SB3 only to listen to internet radio now. Not using it to play music off the HD at all.
Also, we had compared Mac Mini with a dedicated hi-end CD transport. There was 3 of us taking turns listening, evaluating, commenting and taking notes and none of us could tell the cd transport via a $700 digital balanced interconnect apart from Mac Mini via USB cable.