2. digital
  3. 179322-96

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
fastfreight
822 posts
 

I agree @pinthrift that the Cable Company is good way to demo different cables.  But it is not free or even cheap, and of course the incentive is to pick one of the ?few that you demo and use your rental credits.  I did this and ended up picking Audience Au24SX and loved it.  Then my dealer, while delivering my YG speakers pulled out a pair of KS Elation speaker cables.  Time to start all over.  It was educational.  Sometimes feeling bright and tingly was just an absence of great midrange and upper end bass.; Meat on the bone.  Anyway, lots of great cables, I like all good copper, no silver for me.  I think especially true for resolving SS gear (copper).  I would take any dealer up on demoing their cables.. I am scared to try the Nordost good stuff...I might like it!

 

soix OP
9,655 posts
 

I agree @pinthrift that the Cable Company is good way to demo different cables.

Sorry, but I disagree unless you can’t find the cable you’re looking for on the used market. The discount on used cables is 50% or more, they cost very little to ship, and if they don’t work out just sell them for little/no loss and you can try as many as you like this way. In this regard paying The Cable Company to try different cables and then pay full price for cables is kinda nuts, again unless you’re looking for something that’s just not available on the used market. Then there are several excellent cable companies that sell direct and offer excellent quality and value and generous trial periods to see if they work in your system. Just my $0.02 FWIW.

fastfreight
822 posts
 

Hi @Soix, I think I tried to say that. When i demo'd cables from the Cable Company I did not know much at all, and calling them, talking to them about my system, and then trying  different companies was helpful.  I returned them and tried others, and then purchased several of their used cables, which are about 30% off retail.  Once I had a knowledge base, I did find what I wanted here on AG or USA at about 50%,  The Cable Company is a viable way to try different companies without the hassle of having to resell those you don't want. For me, it all started with power cables. You can limit demo's to those cables which are in stock and used.  Note the distinction between 'The Cable Company' and 'The Used Cable Company'.  Happy Labour Day!

ghdprentice
7,126 posts
 

@fastfreight 

 

+1

holmz's avatar
holmz
2,328 posts
 

It is probably a more effective strategy to just buy someone who is hungry a meal.

More to discover