Movie SQ - Apple tv+ vs Smart TV (lg) Aps. Preference?


Have a smart tv and wondered about connection sound quality.
Seems LG smart tv aps for HBO Max and Netflix sounds differnet and may be better vs what comes out of apple tv box when connected to ethernet and fed to a processor.

why are there sound differences?  Hate using smart tv aps as connectivity via CEC is horrible.  Once connected its fine but switching back to tv channels is a challenge.


jumia
Video quality is generally pretty good with these streamers when using the stock switching power adapters (i.e. Amazon Fire TV, Roku, AppleTV).  However, you would be amazed on how much better the video quality is with a linear power supply.  I tested this side-by-side watching the same move streamed from Amazon services.  I used the current model Amazon FireTV Cube, which was good.  However, when compared to a Tivo unit with a Teradak linear power supply doing the Amazon streaming app, the Tivo just blew away the FireTV in video quality (as well as audio quality).  The video picture was just so much cleaner and more solid and colors were more saturated.  There was an element of video noise with the FireTV and wall-wart power adapter.  Obviously, audio quality (over HDMI) was significantly better.  Audio did not have the harshness/brightness of the FireTV and sounded much more natural.
this in an interesting discussion.  In theory then Blu Ray from a dedicated player with a superior power supply to ATV should also sound and look better?  I've always noted the superiority of dedicated players versus the ATV in my HT systems but always attributed it to problems with the stream itself and not factors such s power supply.
Does connecting to a power conditioner help or is linear power a better way for a streaming box?

There is limited commentary out there, except herein, about sq issues when using a streaming box like apple tv or roku, etc.


Generally speaking, bluray discs will have better audio and video than streaming because streaming is usually somewhat compressed video and is limited to Dolby Digital audio.  Bluray has better video resolution on the disc and also provides hi-res bluray audio formats (DTS-HD MA and Dolby TrueHD).

That being said, I think you may be able to get better audio/video from a Roku streamer if you use a linear power supply on the Roku.  This is because pretty much 99.9% of bluray players out there will actually have a switching power supply.  Some may have linear power supply for analog audio output (i.e. oppo 105/205), however they still use switching power supply for digital/HDMI.

Here's an old thread that I wrote up:

https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/musings-on-switching-power-supplies-lps-for-oppo-directv-radi...

If you get a Oppo or Panasonic bluray player and then upgrade it to linear power supply (i.e. Oppomod website or others), then it is likely to meet or beat a Roku with linear power.

A power conditioner may help a little bit on the streaming box, but you are still using a tiny switching power supply.  A "Linear power supply + Roku" would be highly superior to "Power Conditioner + Roku".

In all my testing, R&D, modifications and experience, the power supply is the single most important factor in most audio electronics.
Bluray player is tough due to viewing limits.

so linear power is path to get better sq.

seems easy.