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What is the added value of a streamer over a networked dedicated Computer

Hi

I see lots of sales pitches for streamers as digital sources, and plenty on this site advocating them. I get that they're a purpose-built user interface but, apart from that convenience, including a visual display on the device, (i) do they really deliver better hi-fi sound as a source over a well set up computer dedicated to hi-fibreoriduction (ii) if so, why?

Here's some background to my question(s). I currently use a dedicated Mac Mini with SSD (headlessly) and Audirvana Plus software through a USB DAC. I tend to listen to digital files on external drives (wired connections). Some are high Definition eg Flac, some are aiff ripped from my extensive CD collection. Currently I only tend to use Spotify etc to test if I like music and invest in actual downloads of the music I like.  In day to day use the Mac Mini/Audirvana Plus (virtual) player is controlled using its remote app on an iPad on the same Network. If I wanted I could add high quality online streaming from, eg, Tidal. Whilst that would expand the breadth of music I have immediate access to, it seems to me to add another potential source of interruption/corruption of data flow. The Audirvana software overrides/bypasses detrimental computer audio elements and processes keeping the data path simple and dedicated to hifi audio replay.

So what, sound quality-wise, would a standalone streamer device using NAS or other drive storage and/or online web connection bring to the party? It seems to me it's just a digital device containing effectively the components of a computer with a button (or remote) interface. I understand the old argument that it's dedicated and not doing other things simultaneously and that computers are traditionally electrically noisy environments but I'm currently sceptical that with a dedicated computer, not being used for other purposes, and running a virtual device like Audirvana Plus which effectively switches off internal functions which might compromise sound, this is a real problem. Also it seems that a "dedicated streamer" contains many elements which are effectively computing elements. Note that I have no industry connection or monetary interest from Audirvana or Apple.

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nekoaudio's avatar
nekoaudio
489 posts
 

When designing and testing the Neko Audio D100 DAC, we happened across what we expect was an improperly constructed computer sound card. It was from a popular brand and a very common model of sound card. As a result, there was a significant amount of noise being transmitted out its coaxial S/PDIF cable, on the ground line.

The D100's input circuitry is designed to eliminate/mitigate that type of incoming noise, but otherwise the S/PDIF signal fidelity would have been negatively impacted. The impact of that could be either audible or inaudible, but regardless can affect the proper operation of the DAC or a downstream component it is connected to (i.e. noise traveling through the DAC's into the preamp). Safety testing checks for some of this.

That's one specific example of a possible relevant difference between digital transports.

edcyn
1,876 posts
 

Yeah, I went from primitive to high-zoot in one fell swoop, but the long and the short of it is that a dedicated, Ethernet-connected Streamer/DAC instantly gave me significantly better sound quality than what I got when I plugged my laptop's audio/speaker outlet into my integrated amp. . To be sure, the first streamer/DAC I purchased went belly-up within a week or so of its warranty expiring, but its replacement has yet to show a moment of ill-temper. I happily stream in hi-rez all the live long day. Even, ahem, CD quality streams can sound excellent.

vonhelmholtz
909 posts
 

If you are looking for the best sound, perhaps a better strategy is to set a price point and ask for streamer/server recommendations and then A/B the two approaches. That’s what many of us have done. If you don’t want to spend a good bit of money, then please avoid this approach because the A/B just drains the bank account because much of the time more money does buy better sound.

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mapman's avatar
mapman
21,851 posts
 

You can’t categorize one type of device as inherently superior to another in regards to digital sound “quality”. The devil is always in the details…..what two items specifically are being compared. It will sound really good either way these days when done similarly right. A lot of the differences claimed are here say based on personal preferences. In the past, problems with noise may have been more common on lesser quality computers but in general that is no longer a big deal. YMMV.

 

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