eisenach said:
I'm thinking of getting one. Is it reliable, and what's the quality of the digital output like? I'm interested mainly in its abilities to serve up streaming radio from the net.
I've recently bought the SB3, which is connected wirelessly. There are a few quirks with Slimserver, but once I realised that the SB must be turned on before the PC running Slimserver, all has been fine. It's good for streaming radio, although rarely of HiFi quality. I found a great plugin for BBC radio (AlienBBC), which even allows me to select BBC Listen Again programmes from the SB display. That's rather cute and a whole lot nicer than doing the same thing through the PC.
There are loads of SB users who reckon that it's better than many a high-end CD transport, sound quality wise, and I am not convinced. I have ripped my CDs onto iTunes using Apple Lossless Encoding, with error correction enabled (because I like iTunes and have no wish to use anything else). The SB3 feeds a digital input of my Lyngdorf TDA2200 amp, using a 75ohm DH Labs cable, terminated with Eichmann bullets. There is a very clear difference between the same CD played via the SB3 versus the Lyngdorf CD-1 CD player (used as a transport with sampling rate set to 44.1kHz). The Lyngdorf has air/space, a bigger soundstage, delicacy, and that "I wish to listen more" factor. The SB is not bad at all, and without comparing it directly with the CD-1, many would be happy with its sound quality. I'd say it compares well with a £200 CD or DVD player.
The SB is a really convenient way of storing and playing music, and accessing internet radio. Its good looks and these factors mean that it gets my recommendation, but against my Lyngdorf stuff, it is not even remotely in the same league in terms of sound quality or musicality.
