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Anyone else feel like it’s the Wild Wild West?

I’ve been following the streaming threads here for a while now, and I find it both exhilarating and intimidating.  I mean, we all know everything in high-end audio matters to some degree or another, right (Ok, maybe except for the flat earth contingent)?  From what I’m reading and from my own experience the process of optimizing steaming has near unlimited potential, and some even say it rivals or even surpasses vinyl if taken to the max.  Cables, routers, optical, filters, extenders, power supplies, switches, etc., they all seem to make a significant difference despite the naysayers who say bits are just bits.  I’m all in on this steaming renaissance, but most of the jewels of useful info are buried in other posts, so I’d like to have this be a consolidator post of your best streaming experiences and recommendations for others who could benefit greatly from your hard-won victories and maybe save a lot of people the agony you went through to get to streaming nirvana.  So have at it — let’s empower this community in this noble task and help everyone realize the amazing potential of this magic gift to audiophiles.  What say you?

soix
ghdprentice
8,128 posts
 

@ronboco

 

You bring up a good point. A high end integrated can surpass mid-range separates, very true.

Each companies product lines are: Flagship = two box single function (like DAC, amp, or preamp), first level down… single box function, next level down… integrated of two functions… etc.

 

Why? Sharing space, power supplies, and functions compromises the performance. Also, upgrading… means the whole box when integrated… unless with swapable circuit boards (a huge sound compromise).

For folks that have limited funds (+95%) of audiophiles, every purchase is a compromise, with the expectation of an upgrade in the future. So, individual boxes at the highest level affordable is the way to go. Slowly and incrementally build a better system over time.

The big expensive integrated components are mostly for really well healed folks that want great sound and want it hidden and would never dedicate the thousands of hours over out lifetime an audiophile will to appreciate and assemble a system to cater to their desire for great sound.

pedroeb
493 posts
 

It was easier with vinyl, as non of that extra multi-$1k increments were needed.

  • No power conditioners

Maybe turntables don't need power conditioners per se, even if preamps and amps do, although they are certainly best with ripple free DC so there's no AC to contaminate to the low level signal.
 

nonoise's avatar
nonoise
11,226 posts
 

I never made it past CDs and don't regret it.

All the best,
Nonoise

jond's avatar
jond
6,063 posts
 

Hard to believe I've been streaming over 10 years now!  Started with a Squeezebox Duet that seemed like the greatest thing since sliced bread then Sonos and finally my Auralic Aries Mini. The learning curve in the early days was steep, particularly adding a NAS, but looking back I can't believe how easy it all actually was.

tomcy6's avatar
tomcy6
2,638 posts
 

Most of the commotion in streaming is with getting a clean signal from your wifi router to your streamer and then to your DAC. If you want to experiment with switches, optical cables, etc., go ahead, it can be done cheaply. But if you don’t want to fool with that stuff just enjoy what you have (always a good idea) and wait for someone to come up with an easy and cheap solution. It will happen.

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