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Are all streamers the same?

Dogma says they’re all the same. Experience suggests otherwise. Price may or may not be guide. Are there solid tech reasons such as bleed of noise into the digital signal? What does “it’s all about the ‘implementation’”really mean? How come power cords and interconnects make a difference? For example, there are numerous USB cords that separate the power from the signal cables to minimize interference and noise transference.

Why don’t we have an accepted science of audio, as yet? Where’s the research compilation esp at textbook level? Yes I’m happy just listening and using my ears and my biases to make judgments; no problem.

Yet I continue to see dogma, from the USA and Europe, indeed everywhere, that remains steadfast in their disbelief in variances. It becomes tiresome at times. But hey what do I care? Lol, my pursuit of fidelity and knowledge remain equally strong.

128x128johnread57
russ69's avatar
russ69
3,519 posts
 

All equipment has it's own sonic signature. Some more than others. Long term evaluation is the only way to judge.

ghdprentice
7,038 posts
 

I’ve used streamers from PC and MACs, to $3K,  $5K, $13K, and $22K. In general, you get what you pay for and each jump in cost results in significant improvement in sound quality. My streamer’s sound quality equals my very good vinyl system. 
 

Science is used intimately in the design and construction of the dozens of high end streamers on the market. Implementation means what design and part choices are made in designing and manufacturing a component.
 

 

mclinnguy's avatar
mclinnguy
490 posts
 

Just like all cars are the same. They have a power supply, they transmit from one point to another, and they produce noise. As long as it "works" some don’t notice any difference between these 3 factors.

carlsbad2's avatar
carlsbad2
1,623 posts
 

dogma is defined as a principle or set of principles laid down by an authority as incontrovertibly true.

I would say that if there is dogma in streamers, it is that quality matters.  The statement that they are all the same is more conspiracy theory.

Jerry

antigrunge2
1,418 posts
 

A series of updates to the InnuOS Sense operating system has yielded major improvements in SQ n My Zenith Mk3. And that‘s before you work on the streamer‘s PSU, powercord, fuse, etc, worry about the quality of your ethernet connection or the connection to the DAC. So: emphatically: No!

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