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Check in: How quickly are streamers and servers evolving?

This is a question for those who have been trying streamers and servers recently, watching reviews and product launches, or who just know their stuff and keep up with the technology. I am trying to separate market hype and churn from what is happening, technologically.

Many have said that DAC technology development has slowed down enough for people to feel comfortable spending real coin on a good DAC. Good to know.

So my question is: How quickly do you think streamer and server technology is evolving? Is it still a moving target -- in other words still worth being somewhat cautious about perhaps waiting before dropping serious coin as the technology is soon to change again? Or are we slowing down?

(For those who think these technologies can be accomplished in economical ways (Raspberry Pi, etc.), I'm still curious about your opinion about the speed of change, regardless of whether high dollar expenditures are unnecessary.)

Of course the other yet integral issue is how fast music catalogs are keeping up with the hardware changes to supply the new hardware with files that it can play. I just watched Darko discuss the Spotify move to CD quality (which he celebrates and for which explains the rationale), and it seems most of the music out there continues to exist at CD quality only, not higher resolution.

(Oh, and before someone chimes in with how analog beats digital so why bother...please don’t. I know you think that.)
hilde45
hilde45's avatar
hilde45 OP
5,261 posts
 
@sacman I agree that streaming is a big part of the future. Not opening up a non-existent debate.  
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bluemoodriver
193 posts
 
It’s interesting that although music streaming is low on the priorities of Raspberry Pi’s designers, they still took the trouble in version 4 to improve the USB out and reduce noise. And the HATs which give us excellent SPDIF out are now measuring as good as anything out there at any price. The diminishing return after $150 is now vanishingly small. 
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,693 posts
 
No. If the steamer streams the stuff you want you are good to go. Has been that way for over 10 years now, longer than with DACs. It started with early Roku and Squeeze system products that can still hold up with a good external DAC. Streaming hi fidelity audio is not hard technically on the grand scale of things. Streaming high res audio and video is much harder and even that is commonplace and high quality from many sources these days.
Don’t let audiophile nervosa or analysis paralysis stop you on this one. Choose a streamer, any streamer and Jump on in, the water is great!

I would add with commercial computer technology and applications that are still always evolving best to stay away from the grandest most expensive offerings. Anything of mass value there will come down in price over time. But if you must have the best... then you must.....it is what it is. Just do it if you can.
hilde45's avatar
hilde45 OP
5,261 posts
 
Great answers so far! Thanks.

@tvad wrote,

From my perspective, it’s impossible to "get ahead". One either make a choice to be frugal, or one makes a choice to buy the best one can afford knowing both will be bettered relatively soon.

Agreed, but "frugal" exists on a sliding scale, for each of us. So my question is about how "relatively soon" servers and streamers are "bettering" now compared to DACs. Your comment about the rapid change of computer processing speed does address that.

Perhaps the "choke point" is the availability of content at that higher density. If it’s "not much" then it makes sense to stick with older formats -- but of course, DACs can now make a large difference with those older formats, so they remain a better investment than new streamers.

@ianrmack or others -- How great a difference does upgrading to a separate power supply make for a DAC?
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