2. digital
  3. 160137-108624

Streaming for beginner

I have a PS Audio front end-- DMP disc player and DirectSteam DAC. Very happy with the resolution and performance, especially from my redbook cd collection. For those familiar with the DSD, it is upgradable via a network bridge card to become a dedicated streamer. When I bought this DAC, I was looking ahead to an eventual migration to streaming.
I also have a Spotify account, that currently only serves me as a companion to my iPhone during walks and exercise.

My question: assume my goal is to stream for convenience, simplicity, and achieve audio quality that equals or surpasses that of redbook cd’s. I am not looking to purchase music or download it for storage. What am I missing? I also have a dedicated iPad that can serve as the interface to the DAC/Streamer. Spotify also claims that streaming in high resolution is available on my account. Do I need anything else? Am I oversimplifying this?

I am a beginner when it comes to streaming, so please answer in simple terms since I will not be familiar with a lot of the services and components mentioned elsewhere in these forums. In fact, confusing enough for me that it is forcing me to ask here.


mbiondo
bobby1945
79 posts
 
I have an account with both TIDAL and QOBUZ via ROON.
I honestly cannot resolve a difference between either of them.
Unfortunately I have no access to CD or Vinyl so unable to conduct comparisons.
richtruss
163 posts
 
For best quality streaming, yes to Qobuz, yes to wired Ethernet, but the network implementation is important. Cheap 4-way or 8-way network switches by D-Link etc. act as buffers to induced network noise. Change the included wallwart PSU to an IFi iPower unit If possible.Always place one of these directly by your rack and use a short very high quality Ethernet cable. Use it for audio only. To further improve the quality to surpass CD you must filter out the RFI in the Ethernet cable, otherwise this enters the streamer‘s circuits and upsets the timing of everything and will smear dynamics and detail/ambience in music. The Network Acoustics ENO filter is the business for doing this.
mahler123
3,630 posts
 
OP

you are there already as far as the tech goes.  If you wanted to convert a CD collection to hard drive and stream it then you would be adding a fat layer of complexity .
  Spotify vs TIdal or Qobuz?  I switched from Spotify to Qobuz and I hear a difference, but I know many musicians that I respect that are perfectly happy with Spotify.  Since these services offer free trial periods experiment yourself
ghjuvanni
92 posts
 
+1 for Qobuz

Streaming into RME ADI-2 DAC from Node 2i or Fiio M11.
WiFi works just as well as Ethernet cable, provided you are not to far from the antennas, 5GHz preferred. No exotic cables needed!
bluorion
494 posts
 
I have a CD player/streamer (all in one) which connects to my WiFi. I play Spotify through my iPhone and it sounds awesome. I tried Bluetooth in the past and didn't like the flat sound. It was a very easy setup and I'm not a very technical person either. Good luck!
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