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

@lanx0003

What makes it not sound as good if it does satisfy all the digital source requirements, your thoughts?

That is for you to decide. So definitely listen to it and develop a judgment of what you hear. If it does satisfy you sonically, then good outcome for you. My position is that people can usually experience better sound quality with more ambitious higher level audio streamers.

I do recognize that for some this isn’t so because “bits are bits “ and nothing more matters given this mindset. A computer/NUC is equal to (Maybe better) a purposeful built music server/player. Find out for yourself by listening.

Charles

Do you mean rather than measuring and correcting for the vibration of a needle through a rough groove? The original cars were electric and would have remained that way if battery tech was there. If streaming was the first source of music, NO other forms of delivery would ever have ever existed. One believes Shannon's proven paper ... because it is proven.

Charles,

I believe better SQ can be expected with higher end (in price) streamers. However, there is a diminished return as you know and the poor men like me is trying to find the sweet spot. Based on what I have seen/read from the reliable reviewers / Audiogoners, IFi ZS seems to beat BS Node and even streamers 7-8 times of the price. So I am sort of settled down there with ifi zs and enjoy it.

I have not used NUC previously so I had no experience with the SQ playing from NUC. But I could attest that, relative to MS-window based laptop and the fanless Macbook, the dedicated quality streamer like ifi zs defintely renders noticeably better SQ. I have been there and there is no turning back (unless wifi is out).

@lalitk i'm more-or-less out of vinyl these days--my last vinyl rig was a technics 1200 with a garden-variety ortofon cartridge and  a rega fono preamp and/or an arcam integrated. sounded fine, not transcendant, but i was never committed enough to upgrade.

as for the skeptics of the wiim mini, i do not suggest that it's the SOTA or that there's no justification to spend more. howsoever, as per @lanx0003 there are diminishing returns in this game and, purely subjectively, the wiim is the (dirt cheap) point at which sonic improvements become more marginal. just my opinion.

I have a decent system that I’ve built (and rebuilt) over years and am happy with the sound. Via trial and error the streaming aspect has evolved to a streamer-only device and a DAC, both relatively low-cost (iFi for both, but I also found that a Topping E50 would do a great job; BTW, I’d definitely choose ethernet over wifi). By separating the two I got a streamer with a wide range of service compatibility, and the ability to try different DACs to optimize the analog signal for the rest of my setup (always using a USB DAC for widest range). I’m using Qobuz but not paying the full price (every Black Friday season you can get a better deal on an annual subscription), and I decided to purchase Roon (figuring I’ll live long enough to realize the financial discount of ownership) because it’s the closest thing I can get, right now, to the database system I’d write, myself (I feel it pays for itself in the tree-related connections to artists and music I’d never have heard of, otherwise, as well as its recognition of sub-genres and its hardware optimization and zone coverage). And that’s the "budget way" I’m doing it.

Of course, the benefits are relative to how much you enjoy music; my preference is for having a system I like that can withstand the test of time, and doesn’t come between me and the music/performance. I’ve got what would appear to be an expensive system (other than the streamer & dac) - I grew it because of the sound and design philosophy, not because of any bragging rights - but have paid relatively little because I’ve been patient. If you’re in the last half of your life, I’d suggest you give it a try; it doesn’t have to cost a small fortune.