2. digital
  3. 172902-45461

Weakest digital link: DAC - Streamer - Server?

I am curious WHICH of the three is MOST important in digital playback? DAC, Streamer, or Server? I assume DAC is #1, but what about server/streamer?

 

Specifically, I have a Synology NAS which I can host ALL my music on, then using a good streamer play off it via Roon/Upnp, PLUS my streaming services.  Does it make sense to use a SEPARATE server JUST for my music? 

Like is there going to be MUCH difference between these setups?!

1. NAS (music server) --> Good Streamer (ethernet, Roon) --> DAC

2. Dedicated Music Server --> Same streamer (ethernet, Roon) --> DAC

3. Dedicated Music Server with streamer (digital out) --> DAC

 

I understand for SURE, if one connects a NAS USB out to streamer/DAC it will sound WORSE than dedicated music server with low noise components, BUT if I am sending the music over ethernet to a good streamer, WHY would a music server make ANY difference? The streamer would essentially take the same files off my NAS, as if would from Tidal and play in the same fashion... no?! 

WHAT am I missing?!

 

PS. I can also upgrade the NAS with linear PSU to lower noise, but once again, sending audio through ethernet shouldn't matter.

alexb76
cindyment's avatar
cindyment
351 posts
 

Too bad no amplifier is a straight wire with gain.


No, the speaker tends to interfere with that, but many come very close. I encourage you to take some amplifiers that identified as such and see if you can tell them apart without looking.

 

invalid
1,282 posts
 

No, the speaker tends to interfere with that, but many come very close. I encourage you to take some amplifiers that identified as such and see if you can tell them apart without looking.

 

 

No thanks, those kind of amps tend to give me a headache very quickly.

 

cindyment's avatar
cindyment
351 posts
 

@invalid 

If that is the case, then you likely have a speaker/room issue.

invalid
1,282 posts
 

I've heard amps like that in plenty of systems, rooms and different speakers, they all sound bad to me.

tony1954's avatar
tony1954
1,246 posts
 

@havocman     

"Jason Bourne I think you're quite wrong about that, anything under four figures won't sound very good at all and you're also wrong about transports...... esoteric makes the best ones and everybody else is second and third"    

Not sure how someone can pass judgement on every DAC under $1,000 and dismiss 99.9% of the CD transports in one sentence, but it must be nice to know everything.     

 

 

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