Is a USB stick directly into ones streamer (renderer) better than streaming from a PC/NAS?

I have a cambridge Audio 851N which has a couple of USB slots, one of which is occupied by a small 32Gb USB 'stick' with some of my music on it.

I see a LOT, a huge amount of discussions going on re streamers/computers/NAS etc etc, and some spend thousands on these items. A LOT of money can be spent with expensive LPS and specially built computers, some also costing thousands, but WHY? Why, when one can dispense with the PC/NAS, rip off switches and their cables etc etc altogether and listen directly from a USB stick attached to a streamer, so no PC etc is required at all (for music playback).

Am I missing something here? Surely a USB memory stick (drive, whatever) costs almost nothing, as is connected directly to my streamer. I've no need to stream from my (expensive) PC or my NAS, with all the pitfalls that that entails. All I need to be powered up is the 851N and my power amp connected to my Maggie 1.7i's - bliss.

I don't use Tidal/Spotify or any of the other expensive sources, nor have any need for the rediculously over priced (IMO, I've not tried it) programs like Roon, as the USB stick does it all.

I've compared direct streaming from the USB stick with NAS and PC listening, both using 'good' cables and power supplies, and the direct USB input beats them both.

daveteauk12-09-2021 7:28pm

...
20 posts total
View entire discussion

fuzztone Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 5,644 posts 12-10-2021 at 01:23am Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete Yes is is to me. Portable SSDs trump Synology. But I also play vinyl, cheap streaming like Qobuz, internet radio and free streaming like BandCamp & Soundstream. But if you are frugal, limit yourself. $400 of DigliOne Sig/Nirvana does all that except spin LPs.
tomic601 Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 13,182 posts 12-10-2021 at 01:42am Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete a USB stick into my NAIM Atom is excellent, rivals the Synology NAS and both are improved by the $50 or so Audioquest Jitterbug @nonoise i appreciate your constructive post and links I am a robot with a noise killing jitterbug in every port
nonoise Details Discussions Posts This discussion 11,226 posts 12-10-2021 at 02:06am Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete Got it. All the best., Nonoise
jond Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 6,057 posts 12-10-2021 at 04:08am Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete I've never used a USB stick I have about 3.5TB in a Synology NAS streaming through an Auralic Aries Mini. The NAS with two 4TB drives cost me $557 the Mini lightly used $449 had both for 5+ years now they work great and super reliable.
akg_ca Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 2,397 posts 12-10-2021 at 02:03pm Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete Either hard drive storage system provides the same audio performance in my BRYSTON digital player and BRYSTON DAC system … a USB stick or NAS makes no difference . I use the USB stick 90% of the time because it’s faster The DAC that is paired up to the digital player / streamer is the “silver bullet” step- up to improving your digital music appreciation…. (And of course with a high-end cable linking the player to DAC in a 2 box system) …. It’s not the digital file storage medium. my stablemate BRYSTON DAC with a CARDAS CLEAR cable bested my prior ARCAM DAC and ATLAS cable. Ditto for no difference in USB vs NAS storage reproduction using the USB input on my other high-end DAC in my REGA ISIS VALVE cdp/DAC with a CARDAS CLEAR cables loom array. FWIW ….