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AN AUDIOPHILE ANGLE
As told by Wing Hing Ng
to Edward Ng
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Editor's Note: It was Edward Ng who opened my eyes to the Squeezebox. He and his father, Mr. Wing Hing Ng, have experimented extensively with the Squeezebox 2 in the context of a more up-to-date, "higher-end" audio system using a top quality external D/A converter. I asked them for their thoughts and observations.
- Mike Chin
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Preface by Edward Ng: The descriptions here come from my father, an experienced high fidelity system builder and
listener of nearly 30 years. He actually had an article published for the October 1987 issue of the Chinese-language Hong
Kong hi-fi magazine, Audiophile. The Squeezebox is is in his system, which he is intimately familiar with in a way that I am not. I've written up my dadÂ’s comments as he told it to me; his English isnÂ’t quite up to the
task. Squeezebox 2 is functionally identical to the 3, by the way.
My father's current setup:
- EAC-ripped CD files in FLAC format on my media PC in my room.
- SqueezeBox 2 accessing the above through a 54 Mbps wireless network, feeding a...
- Benchmark Media DAC1 digital-to-analog converter. The output of the DAC1 goes directly to a....
- PS Audio HCA-2 power
amplifer, which powers a pair of...
- Magnepan MG1.6/QR planar loud
speakers.
- All speaker,
balanced XLR and digital coax cables are hand-assembled pure silver pieces
from Audioparts Inc.
The speaker and equipment placement was
kept consistent throughout testing.
Mr. Wing Hing Ng's audio system.
Rega Planet 2000 CD player w/Audio Research SP16L preamplifier
The Rega + Audio Research SP16L preamp was my original source + control setup before Edward
introduced me to the SqueezeBox, which he recommended as an
easier solution than building me a PC and teaching me the process of
ripping CDs to it. Compared to my current setup, the overall sound quality was not as good; imaging was not as
focused, bass was muddier and not as deep.
High frequencies were also less clear.
The system was unable to take full advantage of the transparency of the
Magnepan speakers. There was less
distinction between instruments and less musicality than all other setups that
in this discussion.
Rega Planet 2000 w/Benchmark Media DAC1 external D/A converter & Audio Research SP16L
By inserting the DAC1 (a professional-use
digital-to-analog conversion unit now becoming popular with
audiophiles for its remarkable bang-for-the-buck) between the Planet and SP16L, the imaging (both width and depth) was dramatically improved (as if
sitting in the middle row back from the stage). The textures of the instruments and vocals came out more
clearly. Individual instruments were
also more distinct because of the improved textures. There was a clear and dramatic increase in musicality over the setup
without the DAC1.
At this point, we decided to hook up
EdwardÂ’s computer directly to the DAC1 to compare against the
the Rega Planet CD player as well as the SqueezeBox. As it turns out, the sound quality from EdwardÂ’s computer was
indistinguishable in an A/B comparison against the SqueezeBox. However, his computer is far more expensive than a SqueezeBox, not nearly
as convenient or ergonomic to use, and its physical presence in the room had an
effect on the overall sound. I have to admit that at
least his computer was completely inaudible. Configuring his computer to sound like it
does is also quite complex, and I am glad to leave him the task of ripping my
music to the server.
SqueezeBox w/Benchmark DAC1
I was very skeptical about doing away with
the SP16L (preamp) in the beginning, because I knew that I would be losing the
signature sound of Audio ResearchÂ’s tube preamps, a sound that I have
became very fond of, with its airy highs and the way it puts you into the
music. After swapping out the SP16L and
going directly to the power amp from the DAC1 (using the SqueezeBoxÂ’s volume
control), I was quite surprised to find that the sound was just as musical, but
with a different overall tone. It is
more coherent (a flatter, more natural total response across the frequency
range) and image is razor sharp and expanded fully in depth,
width and even height—no blind spots, and range limited only by the speaker. Relative to the previous setup, you’re now
sitting front row center. Detail is
improved across the range, but more so at low frequencies, which is controlled
better than previously. The one thing I
ended up missing about not having the SP16L is that there is now less
airiness—overall, a very worthy compromise: Improved musicality, improved
imaging, improved detail, improved bass response, all for a mere loss of some
air.
* * *
Edward's Final Words: The above comments are presented only as one case to consider,
and by no means an absolute prediction about how the SqueezeBox with
a separate, high-grade digital-to-analogue converter will work in your
system. There are far too many things that come into play, including room layout and materials, system components, etc; it is simply his experience with his
system.
I went to a lot of trouble to ensure the audio data is not resampled before going
out from my PC: Foobar2000 kernel streaming output of FLAC, WAVE and
MonkeyÂ’s Audio data files to an Echo Audio Mia MIDI adapter with sample rate locked
to 44.1 kHz. Without the ability to bypass the Windows Kmixer, the audio data would get resampled, and some say that this affects
the final sound quality. This is why my PC sounded identical to the Squeezebox in the second comparison described above; they were, in essence, outputting the same data.
The
Benchmark Media DAC1 my Dad and I both use has become popular with hi-fi listeners because it happens to work
well, particularly for the price. DACs that perform as well as this in
subjective comparisons typically cost three, four even five times the $975 asking
price of the DAC1. One of its
advantages is the adjustable output level — this
function allowed us to bypass his preamp, and thereby avoid the ill effects
of a volume attenuator. This is
part of the reason his system sound improved so much, but at
the same time, it has nothing to do with the SqueezeBox in particular, other than
the fact they go so well together.
* * *
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