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 upgraded from a Squeezebox Duet to Chromecast Audio to Bluesound Node X and to the Auralic G1,1. When streaming from Qobuz, sound quality appear almost as good as when listening to my MD Étude FM tuner. I also use a Chord Qutest and a McIntosh integrated amp.

No, you don't need one, and no, quality will not increase. Even a $7 Apple DAC's noise level is beyond human hearing.

@jssmith If you don't mind me asking, what streamer or streamer/dac are you using these days?  I had somebody get pretty upset (not here) when I asked them what they were using after they had a similar take on digital streaming gear.  They had said it doesn't matter and any cheap one would do and when I asked what they had, they had a fairly pricey streamer.  Seems a bit hypocritical but what do I know?

Anyone who says a cheap streamer sounds just  as good as anything else hasn’t heard a good one or doesn’t have the system or ears to be able to tell the difference. The difference between a Wiim or Node and something like an Innuos Zenith or Aurender N200 is night and day, and if you can’t hear that level of difference, we’ll, that’s just sad. Ignorance is bliss.

Streamers do not sound alike but stick with well known quality products these days and it’s hard to go wrong. Much harder than say with most any popular media format that preceded streaming.

Dacs….also much much better for much much less these days but again each may sound different. Some quite a bit! Hard to find any good quality one (based on measurements) at most any price though that will sound flat out bad.  I have a $80 portable DAC I use when out and about and it is very very good (as advertised). That is progress!

DCS has a new SOTA 5 box 6 figure cost DAC. DCS has always been known for its cutting edge DAC technology and having heard their products I agree. Would love to hear that one on a system capable of delivering all the goods.