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


I don’t understand why so many people are spending so much money building the ultimate streaming system? I guess I am just out of touch… Would love to hear some reasons streaming is so dominant today.

128x128walkenfan2013

i just got a wiim mini airplay2 on amazon for $89 and connected it to a $150 smsl su-6 dac. now, i'm not one of these all-digital-sounds-the-same guys, and i trust those dropping megabucks on their streamers are satisfied, but i'm hard pressed to see spending alot more for incremental improvements.

“but i'm hard pressed to see spending alot more for incremental improvements.”
@loomisjohnson 

Good to know you find your streaming outlay satisfactory. I am curious how much investment you have in your Turntable / Cart and phonostage? 

@zlone 

The two factors that are frequently ignored in the streamer space, beyond the 1's and 0's, are noise and jitter. These are real factors in hardware design and in the end audio quality. Especially jitter. It is undeniable that the clocking of the signal is critical to delivering good, focused sound.

If you understand that then you should also understand that the product of noise and jitter is distortion. And the levels of distortion that are audible can be measured and have been known for many decades. And almost all digital devices are below those distortion levels. No one disputes that humans can't hear 50kHz. Why do people dispute that they can hear inaudible distortion?

You do not need to spend 2-3k to have a decent streamer but the $80 wiim does not cut it.  I tried it and, as Stereophile commented, the bass is soft and the sound is not as engaging.  Tried IFi Zen Streamer ($300) and loved the SQ, although the UI (such as search engine) with Qobuz (through Mconnect) is not as convenient as the UI on Wiim.  

Can't count the many times I've observed the oft repeated mantra of illogic that believes no further improvements available, and this applied to every single component in audio systems. And then these individuals open their minds to trying the things more experienced audiophiles suggest, shazam, new converts!

 

Funny thing is, I don't see individuals, at least within all the audiophile forums maintaining long term static setups. If one already had a setup that couldn't possibly be bettered, why would you change a single thing, and furthermore, why are you even involved in these forums. If I was as truly happy as these individuals profess to be I'd not be involved in any audiophile talk, just blissfully happy and ignorant in my little bubble. Seems some unncertainty here, just jump in, the waters fine!