+! for rareace
Streamer vs renderer vs music server...help
I have been reading a lot of the forum posts to try understand my best path forward for my digital frontend. Within the posts on streaming all these terms seem to come up with recommended brands but I am now somewhat confused as to what I need to get the best source sound quality to my DAC. I don't know if I need a streamer, a dedicated music server, a renderer, a bridge, a roon endpoint, a combination of, or something else. Looking for some education so I can then zero in on some options.
I mostly stream tidal so I don't necessarily need to pay extra for CD ripping or file storage capabilities, however I won't discount these options if they come with the component that has great sound quality. Basically, how best do I get the Tidal stream to my DAC, preferably using Roon as the controller (open to other options if SQ is improved with different components).
I have a Leben CS600x, Devore 0/96s, and currently an Auralic Vega G2 but I am looking to change to the Holo Audio May KTE or a TotalDac. The Vega has the built in streamer and lighting controller but I also use the Vega as a Roon endpoint with the Roon controller (I think that's how it works?) The Roon core is currently on my iMAC.
Sorry for starting another post! I tried to piece it together from other posts but there were too many types of components mentioned in the chain before the DAC that I didn't fully understand.
- ...
- 32 posts total
I am a little late to this thread, but some questions/observations for the OP 1) I think you are having anxiety about all the terminology. I agree that it can be confusing. It is also a moving target. My advice is take a deep breath and relax. The goal is to get great sounding music with a minimum of fuss. 2) After reading the thread I haven’t figured out why you dislike your current set up. If you like the way it sounds and is easy to operate then you ought to be done. If not, why not? 3) Budget? |
@mahler123 I originally started the thread because I am debating trying a different DAC without a built in streamer and all the terminologies were somewhat confusing as I started to read on streamer recommendations... this thread has helped me make sense of the different pieces and what I potentially need given my requirements. It has also highlighted areas where my current setup could be improved upon. As to why I want to make changes, that's a great question! I have been toying with trying an R2R DAC for a while so all the posts from the group have helped me understand the digital chain a little better. That and I have been isolating for the past week so I may have gone mad. :) |
i think your main decision is whether you are happy using tidal (and thus tidal connect) to handle all your music streaming needs... if so, you don’t need roon... roon’s value is in integrating a variety of digital music sources - streamed as well as localized and computerized... think of it as a smart librarian that organizes all of it from different sources so you can see and choose from all of it, from various sources, in an easy to use, easy to understand manner, with nice photos and descriptions of each piece of music - the price of this of course, is in the subscription, and the cost of having a computer running to gather and coordinate all that info, plus send music to your endpoint/dac - you go that route then you need to spend more $ to do it right, keep your network and signal transfer noise free... tidal connect does all that at your streamer, but of course, it only deals with organizing your music (favorites, genres, artists, new releases) streamed from tidal itself |
@jjss49 100% agree now that I understand everything a little better. |
- 32 posts total