Audio streamers seem overpriced to me, too. I've heard very good performance from cheap ones built around a Raspberry Pi. There is an element of Veblen goods in pricing of much audio gear with high-end aspirations. Then, audio gear often is overbuilt to justify its pricing IMO.
Why audio streamers are so much more expensive than video streamers?
I am a newbie in Hi Fi, and just got into the process of setting up my stereo system. In budgeting the audio streamers, I found it's interesting/hard to really understand that the audio streamers are way much more expensive than video streamers. From technology perspective, video streamers offer 1080p/4k video, with extra decoding of dolby vision/HDR, with built in HDMI and USB port, and same time offers audio streaming capabilities. Not to mention some even have fancy function like voice control. If you look at the audio streamers, pretty much all we talk about is the MQA unfolding, and DSD has been around for many years. Amazon firestick is only $35 while the most affordable audio streamer starting from $400-$500 range (Node 2), and most of streamers will need extra DAC, which adds another several hundred bucks, just to give you the audio. Am I missing something here? Are audiophiles paying way too much to preserve our self esteem and distinguish ourselves from regular people that pay minimum to get regular entertainment through video streaming?
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https://www.audiophonics.fr/en/network-audio-players-raspdac/audiophonics-raspdac-mini-lcd-kit-diy-s... Less than $225 delivered, with screen. HiFi sound compared the cheap TV streamers. What is the question again? |
- 13 posts total