Streamer opinion.. Pease comment on validity.

Here is a post from a very experienced and knowledgeable DIY hobbyist who has built many servers and streamers

https://www.whatsbestforum.com/threads/taiko-audio-sgm-extreme-the-cr%C3%A8me-de-la-cr%C3%A8me.27433/page-138#post-626261

I have been heavily involved in the development of streamers / music servers for the last 5 years

Here are my takeaways
 - all streamers get the 0's and 1's right

- nearly every USB DAC gets the timing of arrival of the 0's and 1's done well

- in all digital devices the numerous clocks are significant sources of RF emissions

- the effect of RF emissions is very difficult to attenuate to levels where their effects are no longer audible

- RF emissions are sensitive to vibration and power supply

- software activity in a streamer has an immediate effect on power supply current draw and which carries a RF emission imprint

The evidence to support this chain of effects
 - streamers running different operating systems sound different
 - put any streamer on a vibration control / damping platform you will hear a difference
 - every new roon release sounds significantly better even when delivering bit perfect to the DAC
- USB cables sound different

hilde45

Has everyone who compared the different level streamers done so in a way that was randomized and blind?

Not likely. I've noted many times that most audiophiles have no use for such tests.

Perhaps you're different.
Did you use blind testing to choose your streamer? If so, please tell us about the test and the result.

“I've noted many times that most audiophiles have no use for such tests.”

+1, @cleeds 

Blind tests are for naysayers and skeptics. Trust your listening skills and you will know what sounds better in your system, regardless of the cost. 

Since my name was mentioned I will say that I did NOT test the servers blindly. I did some quick A/B comparisons on some familiar tracks. But in the end it was long term listening for pleasure that best bore out the differences. Same as it should be when testing any two components. One you will enjoy listening to more than the other.

Oz

Lalitk

Blind tests are for naysayers and skeptics. Trust your listening skills and you will know what sounds better in your system, regardless of the cost.

I agree with the statement above that you can and should trust your ears to determine what sounds best.

But respectfully, I don"t get why you would think that blind tests are for naysayers and skeptics.  Why wouldn't blind testing be another way to determine what sounds best?

From my viewpoint it would make common sense that a person comparing two different stereo units, without knowing which was which, and picking that which they liked the sound of the best is a valid test.

No need to provide the discussion that there is no such thing as a true blind test that another member here has written a thousand times.