Hi TPA and others,

I am really enjoying the Buffalo DAC. Thanks for sharing your wonderful design!

Recently I bought myself a Squeezebox Receiver with the intend to tap its I2S off to the Buffalo. After setting up I noticed that even the coax out from the Squeezebox is superior to my x-fi's spdif out.

I still plan on feeding it an I2S signal. Will I benefit any from it, do you think? In order to get I2S I have to open the Squeezebox and lose my warranty.

Also for I2S to work I need to change the spdif switch on the Buffalo board. Can I do that on-the-fly or should I turn the Buffalo off first. I would like to use I2S from the Squeezebox and spdif from my computer. Perhaps I can build in a switch or something?
Isn't the Buffalo also capable of USB input? Could I use it as an alternative to my coax out from the computer and use it besides the I2S from the SB?

My last question (really ;)) is whether or not the Buffalo benefits from a better power supply section. I was advised to get this one from Audio-GD: http://www.audio-gd.com/.../pro/diy/PSU09/PSU09.htm What do you think?

Cheers and a happy new year!

Happy listening,
Nick. :)

I have the Buff 32 and I am using a SB Duet as one of my sources so I am using SPDIF through the MUX. I have also wondered about using I2S but I have read a lot in that I2S does sound different, but it is questionable that it is better. I know it is important to keep I2S lines as short as possible so the DAC needs to be in the same box as the source and that does not work for me right now. I do not think in my set up I am going to I2S unless I am completely convinced otherwise. If so I will probably build another buff32 just for the SBR and put both in one case They are mods out there to make the SPDIF signal better (again some say it will not make much of a difference but I might try it anyway). My SB probably out of warranty so I can go in and try to muck it up. I did replace the wallwart switching power supply with a 2amp linear but only felt I gained some improvement with the SB audio outs which I do not use anyway.
The big problem is that I believe the Squeezebox is limited to Red Book and with the Buff32 you can process high res. I love the SB Duet handheld in the convenience of selecting music to play but that is all out the window if I start downloading HiRes files.
As far as the power supply I doubt that you can do better than the Placid they sell here.
I am also waiting for the new Buff32 without the audio section so I can experiment with tube output. My tuner, preamp and amps are glass so I feel the need to keep the whole family happy.

Hi, Folks
I use an I2S connection out from my CD-PRO2 module (by way of Twisted Pear Metronome) to the Buffalo 32S DAC. The sound of my system, using the I2S connection, improved on every level IMO. For me, the improvement in sound was worth the effort to implement I2S. Others may disagree. Is I2S for you? It all depends upon your sonic goal. But, for me, I wouldn't want to go back to SPDIF. I2S simply gets me closer to my destination.
-harry

Hello all,

If you search in Audioasylum and DIYAudio you will find several people that are very happy with the change to I2S using the Squeezebox. They claim that it is a big improvement. Some of them I know personally and I trust their judgement. The difference, of course, depends strongly on the equipment you use, but I expect that if you have a Buffalo DAC that others parts are also high quality.

I will soon switch to I2S myself, I have the Squeezebox running here now for one week (with Toslink to the Buffalo).

Kind regards,
Eddie