I see I will have to be very careful with the precise wording of my posts!
My understanding is that the work done in the 808 is better than available in the speakers. This is what I had always been told by M, (and experienced for myself)
This is why 808.3 is going to be better again than 808.2 even better FIFO buffering from faster clocks etc. If the FIFO and apodising in the speakers was as good as the CD players then I agree, there should be no improvement in going via an 808, but as Bill confirms there is, so it must be!
Its not the fact that the Control is connected via SPDIF or speakerlink, its the fact that its connected via the 808 at all.
Obviously with the advent of the ID40 in the 808.3 the SPDIF vs Speakerlink (even if it were available on 808.2) connection from Control:10 disappears anyway.
Rick

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