Fairly new to streaming. Where to start?

artemus_5

What software do you use to rip? Mac or Windows?

 

@witswWindows. Son tried for years to get me into mac, thus the M4a files for Ipod. Hated Itunes. It took up every resource on my PC. I couldn’t run anything else with it running and I am a RAM man (Always more RAM)


@audioguy85

I’ve been playing records for 60 yrs. I have 4k and a very nice table et al. I have a pretty nice cdp, Theta Miles which, though not as good as the TT, is a good player. You have to do your research, which is why we both are here. Thanks for the heads up. I’ll look at it the Vdac. Sho... I may even start with that and a laptop. But I know I need to make a move soon. I’ll keep you guys updated

@artemus_5 I'm not familiar with the Yamaha unit you mentioned.  How's the interface?  One of the Bluesound's best features is its app.  Keep that in mind when making your decision.

As to your question about "better 1's and 0's", I've yet to see a definitive answer about that.  What I can tell you is that I went from a Bluesound Node 2 paired with an Auralic Vega DAC (which was $3500 when new) to a TEAC NT-505 streamer/DAC and it sounds better than the Node 2 / Vega combo did. 

I also tried my Node 2 with a Mytek Liberty DAC and the DAC in my Sony TA-ZH1ES headphone amp (which is very good).  They all improved the sound of the Node 2, but none of them sounded as good as the TEAC all-in-one device.

My thinking is that the streamer does matter, as it seems everything matters in the signal chain, but no way I can prove that.  I have no way of testing the streamer in the NT-505 with an external DAC.

is this information site respectable?

http://soundexpert.org/home;jsessionid=E4845C94540B5003F5EBCB0502860BB1

a better site for learning?

@big_greg.


I’ve been as big a skeptic as anyone about audio voodoo and extraordinary claims. Then one day I put my $$$ down ($180 iirc) on an Oyaide power outlet. I felt stupid for spending the $$$. But it proved its worth. I have DIY tweaks which made a Big difference in my CDP. So, I don’t discount much anymore. This is why I tried to go above even the Node 2i because my system is at a very good place. But I know my cdp is getting old and the new trend is streaming. What I’m learning is the cost is very high at the time, to get equal sound to what I have now. Then yesterday I encountered the thread where CDP were said by many to be superior to streaming. I suspect the tech has finally able to make a cdp capable of very high def playback. But the market has moved away from that media. Who knows? Vinyl returned. With streaming, apparently unless you spend the $10k on the necessary equipment. This is a new market with everyone trying to show the best way and have their ways adopted. It always happens with new media. It will come soon.

@elliottbnewcombjr I am not familiar with the site so can’t answer about their reputation. Is there a particular article that you are referring? I will check it out. Thanks.