Do I Really Need a Dedicated Streamer?


Hello. I have my iPad connected via USB to my excellent Chord DAC. I use Spotify mainly to stream. Why do I need a separate streamer (Wiim or BludSound Node) to play my music? Is a streamer just a convenience?

dunkin

I think so.  My music listening is sometimes seated, something background.  Having a streamer lets me have music going without also having to have my phone/pad or whatever draining it's battery.

As @bbenzaquen6343 stated: 

"you need to get ride of Spotify and get Qobuz. They also have a 2 months free period. I guarantee you will hear the difference.

Once you hear it, you can unheard it."

Agreed wholeheartedly... and the costs are about the same. Just make sure to seek out and attentively listen to some of the hi res audio available. 

In the first trial month, I'd suggest doing some A/B testing against Spotify. Assuming you hear superior results via Qobuz, in the second month, I'd suggest getting a trial subscription to Roon, and (with their DSP set up best for your signal path & components), doing A/B testing between Qobuz hi res and Roon processing Qobuz hi res. 

Pardon the redundancy, but it's true, once you hear it, you can't unhear it.

Folks, appreciate the comments and knowledge.  But I want to be clear on the question I am asking.  I am not asking about software (Qobuz v Spotify).  No matter what app, the question is: is a streamer somehow better(quality of music)  at serving the same files as an iPad or PC....both connect to the Spotify (or Qobuz) server.   Does the hardware really make a difference in serving same files in the music streamer app cloud? 

My experience is that a dedicated streamer running into a good DAC will not improve the sound quality if streaming Spotify...but that it will improve the sound quality if using Tidal or Qobuz...quality of the streamer only matters if it’s being fed a high quality source...in your situation, I don't think a dedicated streamer will improve sound quality...