Help me out with streaming...


I'm currently streaming via USB from my mac mini into the usb input of a Hegel H190.  I'm using Audirvana with Tidal.  Is this optimal or am I missing something?

mikeybklyn

+1 to using a dedicated streamer. The Mac Mini can still be used solely as the server.

You are experiencing a major bottleneck by using USB straight off the Mini’s motherboard. The H190 has streaming capability, so I recommend connecting the H190 to your network over ethernet. Then stream from the Mac Mini to H190 over UPnP. As long as the Mac Mini and H190 are on the same network it should work. This will accomplish a few things.

1) Separating server and streamer duties to separate devices

2) Connecting these devices over a network electrically isolates them

3) The streamer can be a low power and low noise device feeding into the DAC

OP

 

You can get get sound from a computer with Audirvana Plus.  I prefer streamers but my recommendation is get a streamer on trial, put it in the same system, and compare

Budget?  Optical Rendu would be a big improvement if in budget.  Also, dump Tidal and get Qobuz if you can.  It’s just better if they meet your musical preferences, and no need to deal with their ridiculous MQA bullsh*t.