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Do I Need a Dedicated Streamer?

Hello everyone,

As the title states, I am still unsure of if I need a dedicated streamer and if it would increase the fidelity of my music compared to how I am listening at the moment. Which is using AirPlay 2 from my iPhone to my Hegel H590 Integrated amp.

 

I know that the DAC in the Hegel H590 is considered quite good and it was one of the reasons that I bought the amplifier to begin with. However, would I get a better input using a dedicated streamer for around $1000 (such as the Cambridge CXNV2 for example) or would I be better off leaving things as is?

I am just not sure if airplaying music to the Hegel is degrading the signal in comparison to a streamer that would pull its own data and send it directly to the amplifier? Also, would improving my router placement and wifi signal make any difference to the sound since my Hegel is hardwired using a mesh wifi system?

 

I am open to switching streaming platforms if I can gain something out of it such as resolution but I’m not sure if apple music is the issue in any of this.

 

If the answer to the title is a no. I am curious what I would need to take the quality of my listening experience to the next level or where money would be better spent to achieve that. I do have acoustic panels in my room and have done my fair share of research on speaker placement already.

 

The only thing that I have been considering in the near-future would have to be the isoacoustics gaia 1 feet.

 

My equipment:

Hegel H590 Integrated

KEF Reference 5 Meta

Metra Velox Speaker Cables

 

Thanks for reading.

danb99
audioman58's avatar
audioman58
4,137 posts
 

100% yes but starting with your router buy a quality LPS power supply 

Linear Tube Audio makes a great one ,and good quality Ethernet cables  ,Innuos Pulsar excellent SSHD and streamer . See Anthony at Perrotta Consultants. 
very competitive pricing and great service ,and decent power cords  also.

jsalerno277
164 posts
 

Streamers will improve SQ significantly by reducing digital noise and improving detail, dynamics, imaging, staging, and timbre.  Go with one of the three respected brands - Aurender, Lumin, or Innous - with a model in your price range.  Each brand has its own SQ signature, so audition.  I think you will be surprised in the improvement.  

p05129
501 posts
 

Never go wifi over a wired connection. 
Also, have you looked at the specs of AirPlay 2? You are limited to 16/44 which is terrible. Wired there is no audio limits.

I would use airplay 2 for background music only, thru a HomePod. Any better playback system, get off your iPhone, use your personal computer, get Roon or audirvana. 
BTW: the dac in the Hegel is not that good. Their standalone dac is far superior. I used an external dac when I had my hegel

mapman's avatar
mapman
22,198 posts
 

Next step would be to give Roon a try and go from there. Cambridge mxn10 is a very good and high value Roon ready streamer if needed. 

ghdprentice
6,967 posts
 

@jsalerno

 

+1

You can use a WiFi extender plugged in next to your system. Bandwidth requirements are minuscule and a good or outstanding streamer will remove noise and supply superb sound quality. I recommend Aurender.

 

I have owned PCs, MACs, cheap streamers at levels from $3K to $23K.

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