2. digital
  3. 187614-183915

Do I Need a Dedicated Streamer?

Hello everyone,

As the title states, I am still unsure of if I need a dedicated streamer and if it would increase the fidelity of my music compared to how I am listening at the moment. Which is using AirPlay 2 from my iPhone to my Hegel H590 Integrated amp.

 

I know that the DAC in the Hegel H590 is considered quite good and it was one of the reasons that I bought the amplifier to begin with. However, would I get a better input using a dedicated streamer for around $1000 (such as the Cambridge CXNV2 for example) or would I be better off leaving things as is?

I am just not sure if airplaying music to the Hegel is degrading the signal in comparison to a streamer that would pull its own data and send it directly to the amplifier? Also, would improving my router placement and wifi signal make any difference to the sound since my Hegel is hardwired using a mesh wifi system?

 

I am open to switching streaming platforms if I can gain something out of it such as resolution but I’m not sure if apple music is the issue in any of this.

 

If the answer to the title is a no. I am curious what I would need to take the quality of my listening experience to the next level or where money would be better spent to achieve that. I do have acoustic panels in my room and have done my fair share of research on speaker placement already.

 

The only thing that I have been considering in the near-future would have to be the isoacoustics gaia 1 feet.

 

My equipment:

Hegel H590 Integrated

KEF Reference 5 Meta

Metra Velox Speaker Cables

 

Thanks for reading.

danb99
yage
400 posts
 

@littleman 

If you're using the UPnP / DLNA capability of your FiiO, then you're already set for streaming.

pizzano's avatar
pizzano
14 posts
 

I myself have been going back n forth about a dedicated streamer also, but to be honest I have tried the Bluesound, Cambridge,iFi top of the line, but I stick to my dedicated laptop running Tidal, Qobuz through Audirvāna through Wadia DAC and Have not felt the need to spend $2k when not needed sonically wise. Just my 2 cents✌️🎶

herman
2,215 posts
 

these threads, and there are too many to count on this and various other forums, are a complete waste of time. Once you read the first one years ago the responses are always the same and go into 2 broad categories.

  1. there is no reason they can make things better so therefore they don’t
  2. I’ve heard it, I don’t care why, but it absolutely makes a difference

Like many here I've tried numerous DACs, streamers, cables, switches, routers, streaming services, etc. over the years so I have a strong opinion, but sharing it is also a waste of time because there are just as many who have the opposite opinion. 

nobody is ever convinced of anything, nothing new is ever offered, just the same tired "discussion" rehashed over and over and over

which brings us to the same conclusion every single time. The only way to know is to try it and decide for yourself.

joc3021
100 posts
 

Agree with Herman.  I've owned many DAC's and streamers over the years, PC based, entry level, mid tier and high end.  The source rules in my experience.  Maybe I'm totally delusional, but well chosen high end digital front ends sound much better to me.  You need to live with the gear for awhile to really appreciate what its doing. A/B testing is faulty at best. Try things for yourselves and come to your own conclusions. If it sounds better to you and gets you closer to the music, it's better.

panzrwagn's avatar
panzrwagn
451 posts
 

Ok reality check: A BlueSound Node can be had for a tenth the price of an Aurrnder. You can try the BlueSound and see if it helps, and then try the Aurender to see if the additional cost is justified for you. Even if you have to pay restoocking fees, that's a rounding error in the overall transaction. Conversely, if the value just isn't there, you just saved yourself $5,000. That's a win-win. 

More to discover