Experience with Metrum Octave DAC

Lewinskih, my latest news regarding using the Squeezebox Touch. First I should point out that my lack of computer speak and a general inability to describe what I'm trying to do has been frustrating to some responders elsewhere on the net. Others have been very helpful. I was assuming the SBT had a USB output! See what I mean, I'm a real Moe.

So far the best reading about the Octave has been on the Computer Audiophile and Audio Circle. I'm now very certain the Metrum Octave was the smartest DAC purchase, implementing it to utilize its full potential is the rub. Currently, using a Mac Mini>any cheapo USB cable>Empirical Audio's Offramp>Quality SPDIF cable> Octave may be the best implementation to date.

Empirical Audio's Chief engineer Steve Nugent has been great. They had a product called the Pace Car that was somewhat designed to put between products like Sonos and SBT. Using it with the SBT required a mod to the SBT. Anyway, the Pace Car is out of production but a new devise that should be called the Syncro is a reclocker that would go between the SBT and a DAC without any mods to the SBT.

The one caveat is that the reclocking may not be bit perfect and of course limited to the SBT's 24 bit-96kHz. Keep in mind this devise is under going some beta testing, the enclosure for the board is not ready. It may be about for weeks away from release and the price is an estimated $500.