Home | Blog | Links | Contact | FAQ

External digital/analog converters

Squeezebox has an internal digital/analog converter or DAC. This is enough for domestically environments. To achieve high end, this can only be done while using an external DAC. This DAC can be connected through coax (recommended) or fiber to the Squeezebox.

Because all (not most, all) of the achieved sound quality depends solely on the quality of the DAC, every investement in a DAC is justified. For an explanation why DAC is the most important component in the 3A streaming chain, see the high end section. This fact is actually tested by us, see: Squeezebox tested with Entech (blog).

If your amplifier has a digital in channel (fibre or coax), you can use that just as easy.

Some interesting DAC's

For 3A, we've picked some DAC's with a relatively high price quality ratio:

• Entech Number Cruncher 205.2
• Job DA48

DAC Tests by 3A

• The Entech DAC was tested along with the Squeezebox.
• Both DAC's we're tested in a face-to-face dual test.

Advanced Audio Architecture