An illuminating thread with many viewpoints. Any old streamer will do if the DAC is great? Vice-versa? A question I'm trying to answer for myself, allotting $5k for the experiment. Could turn out the new front end is no better sonically than the Macbook Pro + streamer/dac combo, nor even more convenient. But then the learning of costly lessons is often a major narrative in our lives, and whether these even count as errors is a purely subjective assessment. Worth a run, wot?
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.)
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.)
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- 78 posts total
...how about faster than you can spend to keep up with it? *L* It's likely that by the time you've heard about X; investigated, considered, decided upon and purchased, plugged it in, decided 'yay' or 'nay' about it. It's obsolete. Laugh and sneer all you like. One can literally 'process' digital to 'sound' analog at the studio. But even given that, that output goes through digital processing at some point on the way to your ears. Given, there still exists 'pure' process extant. But, like the gramophones of the past, all things pass. And that passing is accelerating daily... May as well enjoy the ride, as you can't stop the vehicle. You can opt to jump off, though.....;) Happy Sunday, J |
This DAC, the Khadas tone board, derived from a chip designed for mobile phones. https://www.khadas.com/tone I’ve got one. Sounds great. And it objectively measures very well indeed. They publish their own figures and some verifications are here; https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/review-and-measurements-of-wesiontek-khad... its $99... |
@surfmuz....*G* Precisely....I've got Bluetoothed hearing aids that have eq (although not enough bands for my tastes, but...) that can actually be 'focused' so I can hear 'behind' me as well as F2F.... ...so talking behind my back isn't 'safe territory' anymore...*L* They're decent ear buds, loud enough...They even work with headphones, although that seems a tad silly. I can duplicate the correction they apply to headphones, but swapping things out is relegated to 'serious listening hours' only. But I will opt out when offered implants that run on my body heat. Anything I can't shut off easily (or can't) would make me mildly paranoid. What happens if one's late with the monthly installment? What sort of 'other connections' would the devices 'require'? I've got a Watchman implant that monitors my heart, and it's TAVR valve. Pacemaker and an 'on-board' defib functions; instead of a major 'zap', it gives little 'taps' to ensure that I 'keep the beat'. ;) Late Payment? Let's make J 'skip a beat' or 3.... The implant's in your head. You go 'blank' for awhile...how long? No concept, no clue.... You wake. You're doing some process you've Never Done Before. Somewhere you've never been. With people you don't know, in the same clueless state. No idea as to how long you've been There, doing That. Welcome to the Collective. Work might set you free...maybe....*evil L* I like the Future, as long as I can pick and choose the bits 'n pieces. ;) Sleep well, J |
- 78 posts total