Music server vs. external hard drive to DAC


First posting here but 20+ years on AGon and the like. I’ve been told using a music service into a server into a DAC has a higher SQ than an external hard drive into same DAC? And there’s no need to spend big dollars on a server/DAC if a DAC is already in the chain. DAC is RME into variety of First Watt amps, QS tubes or Benchmark monos. Thanks

kckrs

Showing 1 response by goodlistening64

Streamer is not going to give you better sound if you ripped your files using Windows Media Pro or Lossless. If your files are 24/192 and you have a quality DAC, you are far better off financially with using local files for play.

A laptop with hard drive capable of multiple gigs is all you will ever need for your music and can be had for $150 to use as a dedicated jukebox.

A streamer comes at a fair cost and Quobuz is around $200 a year for as long as you use your streamer. So if your purchase of a streamer comes in at $750 and if you use it for 3 years, you have spent $1,350 to play. You can get a nice DAC, laptop and AQ USB cord for that price. 

I have a Schiit Yggy and while the rest of my system may not be top tier, I cannot hear the difference between 24/192 and lossless files. I have no experience with MQA music files. I use the remote for volume on my Rogue Preamp and while I cannot change music files, I can easily create a playlist on Windows Media Player to play what I want to hear. 

Just my two cents.