Apple TV Streaming Sound Quality vs Streamer?
Kahlenz: I agree with your assessment. Both, the AEX and ATV, can sound excellent when using a nice DAC processor. I also enjoy and prefer spinning vinyl sometimes. It’s a great time to be a music listener! You have a wonderful system, I bet your Harbeth speakers sounds amazing. They are one of my favorites. |
I tried the Apple TV for the first time for music streaming from Tidal in my bedroom system and I think my Chromecast Audio ($35) is a better option as a budget streamer. I think it sounds a little better through the same DAC, is more compact, is cheaper, and is just a bit easier to select on the phone/tablet. Of course its audio only. It does need a mini-optical to optical cable which may not be as useful in other systems. |
Ditch the Apple TV for Tidal and use an older Mac mini. HDMI out to the TV for the video, USB DAC of your choice. Set the correct output device via the MIDI settings. I'd keep the ATV for the video content just route the TVs digital output to a proper DAC. Could even use the same DAC you have for Tidal if it has switchable inputs. ***buy an old Mac mini off ebay or wherever. You do not need a new one. I have a 2012 model with a busted ethernet card so I know you can easily stream MQA masters via wi-fi. |
puffbojie: I have not been able to get streamed hi-res files to sound anywhere near as good as my CDs and LPs. I really wish that wasn't the case. I have a great MF dac, and a good asynchronous MF V-link to get the files to the dac from my computer. But the hi-res sounds flat and very little sound-stage. Whereas the CDs sound almost as good as my vinyl. Different, but almost as good. Very large. accurate. sound-stage. Great vocals etc. Dave |
Steve from Empirical: If it's PCM, the answer is yes. If it's Dolby Pro-logic or Dolby Digital, you need the iFi SPDIF iPurifier. Does the Synchro-Mesh improve the optical out of the Apple AirPort Express (sadly becoming legacy)? Absolutely. You would go optical into the SM and coax out to the DAC. Do you know of a high quality AirPlay streamer (source only) that can take the place of, or improve upon, the AirPort Express? To get a higher quality streamer, you will need to change to DLNA/UPnP renderer like the Empirical Audio Interchange or the Sonos Connect with Synchro-Mesh. The Interchange will play up to 24/192 The Sonos Connect will play only 44.1 Interchange will deliver 10-12 psec of jitter at all supported sample-rates from these outputs: S/PDIF coax, AES/EBU, I2S SE, differential I2S on HDMI connector. https://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=156409.0 Steve N. Empirical Audio |
