The Squeezebox Transporter is the top line network music
player from Logitech. It is more than just a bigger, better version of the SB3,
a serious attempt has been made here to aim this box at the high-end user. Much
of what you pay for with the Transporter is in the analogue power supplies and
analogue stage, the likes of discrete regulators, AKM DAC’s all go to clock up
the costs to £1400.00. Compared to the current crop of CD players at this
price, the Transporter as a complete package puts is a good fight but is not
enough to make you pack your CD’s away in boxes!
Having
read the manufacturers blurb that this box of tricks would equal a £3K CD
transport we had to give it a serious listen, and we are so glad we did so. For
it is when the Transporter is partnered with high-end DAC that it truly shines.
We were surprised and excited as to how close the Transporter got to a £3K CD
transport hooked up to a high-end DAC, certainly too close to be ignored. This
was all the prompting we needed to set the task to elevate the sound, we knew
it was capable of more and the results exceeded our expectations.
After
extended listening we felt that the Transporter lacked the refinement, poise,
solidity of a similarly priced optical CD transport. Music through the
Transporter also carried a higher noise floor, and was prone to digititis
depending on the recorded material. However, is showed strengths in other
areas, and it became clear that this player could be transformed to world class
with some innovative upgrades. With 1-2 months of researching upgrades behind
us the optimum paths were decided, with primary focus on reducing AC noise,
improving the speed and lowering the noise of digital supplies, removing clock
jitter, improving noise filtering, improving the quality of digital signal.
For those
using the Transporter with a separate DAC we have the digital only level-1
upgrade. Prices start at £541.00 (ex VAT) which ticks all the boxes in getting
the fundamentals done right, low noise wideband supplies, ultra-low jitter and
direct improvements to digital signal and connections. The digital level-2
upgrade is the tour de fort and will convert even the hardiest CD spinners to
‘lossless’ with a sublime sound and flexibility from your music collection like
you’ve never experienced.
Full
player upgrades available to optimise the player for Left/Right analogue
outputs for both RCA and XLR. Please contact us for details.
