Sorry, typo: use an airport express to link wifi to the dac
Best WiFi Music Streamer Does it exist?
I have been looking for months and I can not find anything that will fulfill my needs.
I need the following:
Music Streamer or Server, internal DAC not wanted or needed, that can accept WiFi. I know the quality is allegedly better with an ethernet cord, but I do not have one available at the location of my system.
Accepts Tidal, MQA, Roon. MQA not mandatory but highly desired.
If it needs a smart phone, it must accept android. Apple products are not available and will never be.
I do have a Dell Windows 10 Computer nearby. It gets music from a hard drive and WiFi.
a) How would the Music server sound with a USB connection from the computer?
b) Should I get a special sound card or software for the computer and ignore getting a separate Music Server?
c) How will the music quality from the Computer to the DAC compare to a separate Music Server used in between the computer and the DAC?
d) How will the music quality from the Computer to the DAC compare to a separate WiFi Music Server to the DAC?
Quality is more important than price.
It will be hooked to good equipment;
Denafrips Terminator,
PS Audio BHK Signature Preamplifier
Pass Labs x260.8 monoblocks
Martin Logan Expression ESL 13a electrostatic speakers
If there is an audible difference, I will be able to hear it (within reason).
I need the following:
Music Streamer or Server, internal DAC not wanted or needed, that can accept WiFi. I know the quality is allegedly better with an ethernet cord, but I do not have one available at the location of my system.
Accepts Tidal, MQA, Roon. MQA not mandatory but highly desired.
If it needs a smart phone, it must accept android. Apple products are not available and will never be.
I do have a Dell Windows 10 Computer nearby. It gets music from a hard drive and WiFi.
a) How would the Music server sound with a USB connection from the computer?
b) Should I get a special sound card or software for the computer and ignore getting a separate Music Server?
c) How will the music quality from the Computer to the DAC compare to a separate Music Server used in between the computer and the DAC?
d) How will the music quality from the Computer to the DAC compare to a separate WiFi Music Server to the DAC?
Quality is more important than price.
It will be hooked to good equipment;
Denafrips Terminator,
PS Audio BHK Signature Preamplifier
Pass Labs x260.8 monoblocks
Martin Logan Expression ESL 13a electrostatic speakers
If there is an audible difference, I will be able to hear it (within reason).
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- 25 posts total
HQPlayer is a high quality Player (as per website) with processing features. That is a Player / App Plus much more. " Higher quality oversampling and delta-sigma modulation can be done by utilizing vast amount of processing power available in modern PCs " Audirvana is another example of a Player / App (Audio Player) that can be installed on PC. This player does support MQA and is dependent upon specific gear. " Audirvana integrates a decoder for MQA files (Master Quality Authenticated), a PCM format able to reproduce HD quality in a file small enough to be streamed or downloaded." " A “MQA Decoder” DAC takes care of all the decoding process. If your DAC is an “MQA Renderer”, decoding is shared between Audirvana and your DAC. Both options grant you an optimal quality. " " Even if your DAC isn’t MQA compatible, you can still read the files with Audirvana’s integrated decoder and benefit from their high resolution, including the unfolding of the upper half hires signal. " Using HQPlayer would be more of a Basis for how your system works. From Signalist description: " Asynchronous FIFO provides maximum isolation between processing and audio reproduction." But the Terminator DAC also uses a FIFO Buffer for isolation. The exaSound Sigma Streamer supports WiFi (with network interface) : https://exasound.com/Products/SigmaStreamer.aspx Check into the Sigma Streamer for compatibility with Terminator DAC. HQPlayer would typically be used for a Custom Audio PC and is enbedded in many streaming Products. My Integrated Amp (also WiFi capable) does Streaming and DSP noise shaping and more making playback notably good all at once. My component Headphone Gear - two Amps / one DAC sound good but I know that my DAC can be much better. Maybe I'll have a chance to use HQPlayer sometime soon.
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rego HQPlayer, Audirvana, and Sigma Streamer are all new to me and I will do some serious research into their capabilities. My Denafrips Terminator is not MQA compatible. " Even if your DAC isn’t MQA compatible, you can still read the files with Audirvana’s integrated decoder and benefit from their high resolution, including the unfolding of the upper half hires signal. " Is this a higher resolution than Tidal has on non MQA music files? Thank you for your wonderful ideas |
@firstonetallguy, you are welcome! ... Audirvana Player does ' unfold the upper half High Rez Signal ' as per statement on the web page. The Audirvana Player decodes MQA to a point giving some benefit of a HI Rez file. ( independent of DAC ) Not a higher resolution although MQA and 96 / 192 / 24 Lossless Files will give the user comparable results. A Stereophile Article " Inside MQA " for reference here: https://www.stereophile.com/content/inside-mqa The first two-three paragraphs contain an outline of MQA. Do a little homework and contact the product developers directly with specific questions. Please feel free to inquire further and tap a pool of knowledge / experience here on the forum. |
- 25 posts total