why expensive streamers

@mdalton 

I guess we’ll just have to agree to disagree. Perhaps it’s not jitter that makes the difference I’m hearing, but, a difference (for the better) exists. And, it’s been a worthwhile pursuit for me and many others. Nevertheless, I would also politely suggest that the notion that jitter is virtually nonexistent in any decent streamer is incorrect. You might argue if it’s audible - but jitter exists and the benefits of better clocks in both streamers and in DACs, or in outboard clocks - is plainly audible. Plainly. The only thing these better clocks are doing is reducing that timing error - jitter. 

So - we disagree. No harm.  My best to you. Moving on.

@mgrif104 

I agree to disagree.  And I do believe that you are earnest in your beliefs.  I guess my frustration is this feeling that we live in a post-truth world.  I show you factual evidence of virtually no jitter across a wide range of streamers, but because you want to believe in the jitter fantasy, you insist there is audible jitter, offering. no evidence other than that you hear isomething.  A different approach would be: “ok, i guess you’ve shown me it’s probably not jitter.  But I hear something. Maybe I need to work out more carefully what it is.”. Regardless, peace be with you.

mdalton

How can it be that these manufacturers have discovered a secret in removing jitter, noise (and fairy dust?) without showing us how to measure this new, exciting branch of science?  Why don’t you ask them to prove it?  Why don’t they volunteer this information that would prove their brilliance? It’s all mystifying to me. 

If you are genuinely mystified by these these questions you rattle off, why don't you ask the manufacturers for whatever you seek? Why harass users here to obtain the information on your behalf?

This isn't a scientific forum. No one here owes you proof of anything.

We do live in a post-truth world. But you also did not show me factual information of virtually no jitter. You showed me factual information of little jitter - two different things. And, I’ve read scientific studies that show the ear is sensitive to smaller timing effects than you claim. So, I, right or wrongly, can at least wonder if jitter indeed may be an effect. Regardless, I’m completely open to the differences not being jitter - but I also took out the effects on upsampling and processing in my auditions that you believe are those causes. In my initial auditions, I engaged neither. (Full disclosure - I do now use an upsampler and processor to great effect in my system so I acknowledge those potential benefits.) I’ve also given you rationale (but still anecdotal) why I don’t think I’m so easily duped by confirmation bias as I’ve rejected many things upon audition that didn’t provide the performance promised. I don’t part with money so easily.

I will close with this. In addition to being in a post-truth world, we are living in a post civilized world where people on forums not only disagree, but do so with verbal hostility,  arrogance and superiority. As I don’t believe my responses merited this, so your closing rings particularly hollow.  

I am confused about "no jitter."  When I was looking at different DDCs, I came across this review about the Singxer SU-6 model, that I ended up purchasing.  The reviewer performed measurements and at that time the SU-6 had the lowest jitter of units they had tested, but there was still jitter.

In addition, the reviewer discussed noise and said:

The second issue that a good DDC or Streamer will seek to address is electrical noise. You don’t want noise from your source causing your DAC to perform poorly. Noise can have a direct, audible effect, such as hearing GPU-whine through your headphones/speakers, or it can have indirectly-audible effects. For example, causing clocks in your dac, or other circuitry, to perform sub-optimally.
Some dacs are more immune to this, and some will even have full galvanic isolation to in theory prevent any noise getting through entirely. But many smaller dacs are much more susceptible to it.