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Suggestions on using a Roku w/external DAC?

Howdy!

I'm a big fan of my Roku boxes(non-Soundbridge versions) for streaming music. I specifically use Panadora and love the flexibility of creating new stations. I'm finding that 95% of my music listening has now transitioned over to Pandora from traditional CDs and FM. I have less time to sit down to critically listen and enjoy my collection and the Roku/Pandora combination is filling my desire for variety and discovering new artist. I've upgraded my Panadora account to Pandora One which streams at 192K bits per second(not a techie, so I don't know if that's very good or not). I'm looking to improve the sound even more since I can't imagine the internal DAC of the sub-$100 Roku is a strong feature.I figure an external DAC would really open up the music. I'm heavily eyeballing the Cambridge Audio DacMagic because of it's many features, mostly positive reviews and the low cost. Anybody using the Roku w/an external DAC care to comment on the improvements or non-improvements it made? DAC suggestions(has to be Toslink)?

Hanx!
avalon65
tgrisham
1,291 posts
 
I see no responses so far, and I may not contribute much. I recently got a DVD player that streams Pandora as well as Netflix and others. I am very impressed running the sound through my Decco DAC/Pre/Amp via Toslink. I now have moved the Roku box to my main system downstairs and will try a couple of different combinations. Since there I listen to Pandora through the MacMini now, I will compare it to the Roku box using (1) the Onkyo receiver, (2) the DacMagic, and (3) the Eastern Electric TubeDac. I'll let you know the results (when I get around to playing with them).
solarjam's avatar
solarjam
18 posts
 
Hi Guys-- I believe if you look at the Pandora web sight you will find that it says that it will not put out 192K through these internet box devices. I have a roku also and love it. I use Pandora but MOG is the one I really love. I am not an expert and I may be wrong because I am going by memory only. I use an optical cable to my dac and it sounds good.
Hope that helps?
islandman2020's avatar
islandman2020
5 posts
 
The Roku 2 XSHD has a built in 24/192 dac. See:

http://www.techrepublic.com/photos/roku-xds-teardown/499449?seq=28

Mog is the only online music streaming at 320k right now.
sturgl
24 posts
 
Years ago I ran my Roku Soundbridge into a Musical Fidelity DAC. The difference was huge. To put this in perspective, I'm talking an older DAC from the days when HDCD was "the next big thing" - not a modern high-zoot DAC. I doubt the DACs in today's Rokus are much, if any, better than that in the Soundbridge.

Try it, you'll like it! That's what I say. I don't have much for specific suggestions - but I believe you'll hear improvement even from the (relatively) inexpensive MF V-DAC, almost certainly from the Cambridge. Good luck, and have fun!
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