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Squeezebox upgrade options for $500-600

I've just purchased a Squeezebox Duet system and am having it shipped to my house. I plan on upgrading the squeezebox as soon as it arrives. My budget for my upgrade is about $600 and I am considering two options:
1) Send the unit to Boulder Cable company and get the Enthusiest's Analog upgrade ($425) along with an upgraded power supply ($75 for the power supply and $100 for the upgrade). Total cost = approximately $600
2) Buy the new DacMagic d/a from Cambridge audio ($350) and get the squeezebox d/a converter upgrade ($250). Total cost is the same $600.
Lastly, my amplifier has balanced inputs and only the DacMagic option can make use of this.
I do not plan to use a preamplifier. My other equipment includes an Aragon 8008BB amplifier and B&W 802 series 80(F) Special speakers.
hififanatic

Showing 1 response by unclejeff

unclejeff
1,313 posts
 
I agree with Drubin.

Keep the squeezebox 'as is' and get yourself a really nice DAC. I own both the Squeezebox and the Transporter. The Transporter has a marvelous DAC which is a bit too analytic for me so at first I piped it into my Audio Aero Capitole's DAC for a certain warm musicality. Now I am using the DAC in my Anthem D2. Both the Squeezebox and the Transporter are great ways to stream music over the web and they interface really nice with my G5 Computer's iTunes. While both the Capitole and D2 are more expensive than you are wanting to spend, there are many really good DAC units for a whole lot less money.
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