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How to properly stream TIDAL, Qobuz, Deezer, et cetera?

Hi guys,

So I've been meaning to ask if there's an optimal way to stream these streaming service, if you know what I mean..., like some players which directly support TIDAL or Qobuz or Amazon Music and stuff, but what if I stream TIDAL through Roon, would the sound quality get better? and why?
I know that Roon does a lot of signal purification jobs during the whole transmitting process, still, I'm very much confused hahaha, since the cloud service is the original place of the music files, no? how come during the transmission the sound could be optimized!?

If that's a true fact that it's possible to level up the sound quality better than the original, so the theory can also be applying on the hardware parts I presume, like I can buy an real nice hi-end router to upgrade the network quality from the beginning, then the DC power supply, audio grade network switch, specialized cables, all the way to speakers, is that right?

Best,

preston8452
preston8452 OP
17 posts
 

REALLY!? degrades? this is the first time I heard it though, I haven't seen any complaints about Roon's performance, the UX of it is actually quite good, I can understand why people like it, I mean I also own a Roon Ready streamer called Munich M1T, just wondering the difference between directly streaming from TIDAL and via Roon haha.

Anyway, I couldn't really hear the difference for the time being...

daleberlin
35 posts
 

I sure would not want anything modifying the bit stream of a master recording before it enters my DAC.  That is nuts.   IMO the best SQ improvements are made in the analog realm.  DACs, amps, speakers., etc..   Unless the digital equipment is faulty and introducing interference, the bit stream entering your DAC is exactly the same no matter how much money you spend.  Many will argue, but I think there is no audible difference between a $3000 streamer and a $50 raspberry pi.  Nor a $10 usb cable or a $1000 usb cable.  It is in the analog realm that the magic happens.

preston8452 OP
17 posts
 

But some said those so called hi-end equipment adopts better materials, like pure silver to the cables, which serves better conductivity, then it could have better signal quality during the power or data transmission, per se, like less inteferences and noise which would affect the SQ... 

laps
88 posts
 

Before you start down the rabbit hole, that will no doubt ensue here soon, take daleberlin's observations as being accurate. 

ghdprentice
6,364 posts
 

The best way is through a dedicated streamer… like Aurlic, Aurender, Linn, etc. You need to match a dedicated streamer to your system. It will buffer the bitstream, completely isolate it from electrical noice and vibration and supply a clean pristine bitstream to the DAC. My streamers (An Aurender N100 and an Aurender W20SE). The latter is the most expensive component in my system (see my system under UserID). Under virtually all circumstances (in a high end system) a dedicated streamer will significantly out perform a PC.

 

Qobuz is generally the accepted best high fidelity streaming service… both signal and max high Rez content.

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