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Help settle a streaming argument!

This is a SQ argument and is as follows-  I argue if you connect your streamer to an outboard DAC the streamer does not matter it’s just serving the music to the outboard DAC to do the work.  Therefore, buy a basic streamer.  The other is that you need to buy a top quality streamer and DAC to get great SQ. 
 

I liken it to cd players or the more pretentious cd transport argument- if the intent is to connect to outboard DAC the cd player doesn’t matter the outboard DAC DOES!
 

features and functionality aside!  Thoughts…..

polkalover
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yesiam_a_pirate's avatar
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yesiam_a_pirate
191 posts
 

https://imgur.com/a/WAjzRtA

yesiam_a_pirate's avatar
Ag insider logo xs@2x
yesiam_a_pirate
191 posts
 

https://imgur.com/a/WAjzRtA

Here is my experience as of yesterday 10/23:  

I bought a PS Audio Direct Stream DAC with the above bridge card in it. I love the DAC- way better than my other DAC experiences. The Bridge II was a disappointing experience. The music was flat and lifeless. It also dropped internet syncing which caused me to seek tech support which caused me to upgrade to an AirLens streamer. What a difference!  Night and day. 

My conclusion is this: Buy the best source you can afford- be it a streamer or any other source because...garbage in garbage out. 

mteetank's avatar
mteetank
18 posts
 

This was a great discussion!!! My perspective is that streamers vary in SQ based on the observations of members of this forum. This would indicate to me coloration of signal going into the DAC is added to the actual digital file and that the engineer who designed the stream designed that coloration into it based on the capabilities of the components used. Do some streamers sound better than others or are they just different? Ok, back to speaker cables, now there is something we can all agree on!  :>)

david_ten
5,480 posts
 

Well...  engineers: they certainly put the 'fun' in function, and now the 'color' in coloration. Wizards they are. It was a magic carpet ride watching a rainbow attached to a digital file.

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