2. digital
  3. 173977-9627

A different world

For decades I have struggled to get digital even close to comparable to analog. Then finally a couple years ago after lots of upgrading and experimentation I succeeded. Streaming is equally satisfying with analog, very, very comparable. The full soundstage, instruments suspended in space, tonal balance, dead silent background, and details of brass cymbals … etc. Red Book CDs through my CD player are bested by my streamer with Qobuz or Tidal with hi-Rez versions.

 

A new world. It takes a while to get it. No longer confined to music you “own” to play over and over. Replay is supplanted by exploration. You love an new (or old album) and hit, “add to library”. It is yours.

So, HiFi+ magazine has an article on building a European 21st Century Jazz Library. I just start with the first album in the list and listen (add to library), the 2nd album (add to library), the third… the forth, fifth… a whole new category of incredible music to sit along side Miles Davis and Hank Moberly. Just a couple days in the life of a audiophile streamer. I could have never predicted this as a possibility ten years ago.

 

You love music? The goal of having an infinite audiophile library is now possible. It is possible at any high end level… just requires knowledge that it can be done… and I guess give up the idea that there is something special about your CD collection, or players.

 

I have a 2,000 vinyl albums, play them, usually one a day. They are fun, occasionally sound ever slightly better… but not significantly, I like them for nostalgic reasons.

ghdprentice
ghdprentice OP
7,046 posts
 

@pokey77

 

Thanks. I think the EtherRegen was worth it… like one of the many tweaked that adds up to a great system. It was only $600 or something… less than a power cord.

 

I think my concern is that someone not familiar with the technology would come away thinking getting good streaming requires an advanced degree in networking… it requires no knowledge of networking what so ever. I don’t know if I mentioned this here, but I have been in IT most of my career… senior executive for the last thirty years. On the other hand, I don’t want to futz with it now that I am retired… and I didn’t have to. It is great if folks like playing with networking, honestly I am sick of it. I put the first PC on the network in a global semiconductor company.. and all of the other 4,000 on the next few years. I have spent millions on routers and bridges, T1’s and fiber… just don’t want to screw with it, and didn’t have to.

One quick trip to Best Buy to buy an extender and my streamer was plugged in and working at vinyl level of performance… it is a very good streamer of course.

 

pokey77
1,269 posts
 

@ghdprentice 

"I think my concern is that someone not familiar with the technology would come away thinking getting good streaming requires an advanced degree in networking". I'd totally agree with you, that is certainly not the truth. People just need to know they can refine their systems by working on the network side all the way to their DAC or server. I've been very pleasantly surprised at just how much better it got adding the ER/LPS and better Network cables. Just read some forums and jumped in. Others can do it just as easily. 

 

ghdprentice OP
7,046 posts
 

@pokey77 

+1 Cool

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