Streaming vs Physical Media

Uneven playing field. Try a CDT(maybe borrow?) around the same price as your streamer that has i2s outputs, using the same brand and type cable, and then tell us what you hear.

That would be a more valid comparison.

All the best,

Nonoise

My thoughts exactly. The Audiolab 6000 CDT is very nice for 500.00 USD. But to be perfectly candid,  you can go substantially above and beyond with upper tier CD transports. Far higher CD playback sound quality via transport is easily achievable.

Charles

"Mythology" ? There are always differing opinions and experiences especially with regard to High End audio. It appears to me reading comments from very credible and experienced members on this forum and say WBF that these additional  parts/accessories used in streaming are in fact beneficial and improve sound quality.

There are very credible minds on both sides of this debate.  

I don't want to turn this thread into that same old debate.  However, I do believe that mentioning "the inherent noise in streaming" as though that is an incontrovertible fact and that these devices are necessary to correct them does a disservice to the less experienced wanting to get into streaming/digital music.

So I just think it's fair to note that there are other credible, non-fringe viewpoints, especially given the prices of some of this gear relative to more fundamental items that could be addressed with that budget.

I don’t want to turn this thread into that same old debate. However, I do believe that mentioning "the inherent noise in streaming" as though that is an incontrovertible fact and that these devices are necessary to correct them does a disservice to the less experienced wanting to get into streaming/digital music.

Great point, and one that I’ve used a few time when people would denigrate CD playback due to all the "inherent" drawbacks that were stated as factually occurring all the time when, in fact, that was never true.

That was at or around the time when streaming first started taking off and everyone was rushing to it like moths to a flame. Factor in the numbers game (high rez sampling rates!) and it was practically a blood fest with CD users feeling like they were on someone else’s menu if they spoke up.

Now here we are with a mature technology that’s getting even better and one just past it’s nascent stage that has quite a journey ahead of itself.

All the best,
Nonoise

@jji666 So I just think it's fair to note that there are other credible, non-fringe viewpoints, especially given the prices of some of this gear relative to more fundamental items that could be addressed with that budget.

Fair point and observation, I readily acknowledge there are conflicting perspectives. Referring to those with alternative views or outcomes as "mythology" is smug and pejorative in my opinion. 

My main point is that the really upper echelon streamer/server manufacturers seem to have identified signal path noise and power supply quality as the glaring weak links. Most say products from companies such as Taiko, Antipodes, Grimm, Pink Faun and so on have achieved superb sound via this focused approach. 

So if they are mistakenly attributing fault to the wrong "focused" on factors, what explains their high level of sound quality as a result of their efforts? For those who say noise is not an issue, what do they believe accounts for obvious different tiers of sound quality amongst various servers/streamers? Or is there denial that sound quality differences even exist?

Charles

"mythology" is smug and pejorative in my opinion. 

It wasn't intended to be smug but apologies for any insult.  In reference to this quote, I don't feel too bad about calling it out.  It's an extreme statement:

Every streamer or server out there regardless of price simply benefits from noise filters placed in between server or streamer and your router. 

As I originally mentioned, I'm adding balance.