Why are so many people spending so much money to build “perfect” streaming system?

@ghdprentice

I have read comments from listeners who stream via Wi-Fi and are as pleased as you appear to be. Conversely there are those who believe that Wi-Fi is inherently inferior to hard wired Ethernet cable. Have you used both or has it been Wi-Fi exclusively from the beginning of your audio streaming?

Curious about your experiences. I heard from a wireless Wi-Fi streamer user this past weekend who said he has done both and could hear no improvement with the Ethernet wired. I know there are obvious variables involved that inevitably influence the outcome. Some folks are adamant that Ethernet hard wired is unquestionably better. 

I appreciate a person’s genuine experiences but I don’t like dogma. Do you have a LAN cable connection between your Aurender server and Wi-Fi extender or is it completely wireless?

Charles

Someone starting from scratch can build a HiFi system optimized for streaming for no more (and probably less) than the cost of system optimized for vinyl.  Less than $2K or so probably can get you a decent set of used bookshelf speakers, an integrated amp, a Bluesound Node, cables, router/switch, and a media service subscription.  At that point you can access pretty much all the world's music. Searching for whatever you like is a breeze (usually). There's no messing around with dusty/warped/scratched records, worn needles, or stretched turntable belts. Setting up a streaming service isn't much more complicated than setting up a cable TV service.

On the other hand, if you're at that point with a record-player system, and truly just starting out, your biggest problem is that you have no music to play.  Building an LP collection could take you years of searching . Your library will ALWAYS be far more limited than what you could get immediately for about $20/month (about the price of 1 or 2 new vinyl albums per month, average eBay prices).  Unless, that is, you buy a receiver (integrated amp with radio tuner) and do all your listening to FM or satellite radio. That could be a pretty good way to go if you don't obsess about sound quality, you don't need to own what you play, and you are content with letting someone else choose the playlist.

Once they have such a starter system, whatever kind it is, why do some people obsess about better and better SQ?  You could ask the same question about all kinds of things. Food, clothes, etc.  

I started streaming with a Bluesound Vault 2i.  That machine literally changed my life...    Worth every penny.    Buy a Node if you don't need to rip CDs.  

I paired it with a DAC and three DACs later I pulled the trigger on an Aurender N200

Again,  worth the money as I stream 80% of the time now.    I think anyone would be hard pressed to tell where the files are coming from listening to my system.  

Rotel just released a streaming integrated amp, it looks pretty nice.  I think that is the direction amps and receivers are headed.  

@mikelavigne . Do you like classical music? How many recordings of Wagner’s Ring Cycle do you have? I have 5. Can you get 5 different recordings on ANY streaming platform?

@tk21 
I call bullshit on that - see my comment above.

@walkenfan2013  It can be inexpensive and simple, and open up a huge range of music. For me it is complementary to LPs - streaming is the most amazing resource for discovering new music

Use Roon off an old MacBook. MacBook connects to your existing DAC. If you need a DAC, try an iFi Zen for low-cost start up. Roon is easy to use.

(Or, even simpler, just buy a BlueSound node and connect to your system)

Either way, you should be up  and running in about 15 minutes and for a few hundred dollars - no more. Start there and see where your ears lead you over time

Don’t overthink it!  You could be up and running this afternoon!

All these solutions can be controlled using an iPhone or iPad, from wherever you sit when you listen

The only regret is to have waited to long to do something that was so enjoyable and transformational in my exploration of music (I now use Roon / MacBook / Benchmark DAC, which I love)

I save my LP budget for the music that is the most special to me

Let us know what you decide, and enjoy!

PS - the above not in contradiction to those who deeply enjoy vinyl (as I do) or have complex streaming solutions - I am simply offering an inexpensive and convenient path for an entry into streaming that, for me, was simple and totally enjoyable. You can follow your ears from there.  I’ve wound up with two parallel paths in my system - Vinyl or streaming -> pre -> tube amp for vinyl or SS amp for streaming -> speakers.  I just like that setup, others will have different tastes