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ARE SUPER EXPENSIVE STREAMERS REALLY WORTH IT

Folks I am confused why some streamers need to be so eye wateringly expensive. I appreciate the internal basics need to be covered such as a high quality, low noise power supply and a decent processor speed etc..  but that is not rocket science.

So my question is could a decent streamer outputting its data stream via I2S to a good quality DAC receiving the I2S stream be a more cost effective way of rivalling let’s say a streamer costing 5k upwards.

I have heard and digested the argument for expensive streamers quality being centred around the management of the data timing via a quality clock circuit but there are very reasonable in relative terms, DAC’s out there that have dual super high quality temp controlled clocks within, at least the equal or arguably even better than the say a 5k streamer with some sporting dual high end DAC chips etc.

So could utilizing a good quality streamer and a separate high-quality DAC connected via I2S indeed offer significant benefits and potentially reduce the need for a very expensive streamer.

I say this with the knowledge that I2S is designed to preserve and separate the Signals so avoiding the timing issues connected with multiplexing. I2S (Inter-IC Sound) separates the music signal from the timing signal, potentially eliminating jitter or at the very least greatly reducing the possibility for the pesky music killing jitter which we all could agree would lead to improving overall sound quality.

Wouldn’t this separation ensure that the timing information is more accurately preserved, even when compared to a high price streamer, leading as clean or cleaner and more precise audio data output. With I2S, the DAC can use its own high-quality clock/s to synchronize the data, which will reduce jitter and improve sound quality.

Could this possibly mean that even if the streamer has a less advanced clock, the DAC’s superior clock can take over, ensuring best  performance.

So bang for buck would it not be advantageous to investing in a high-quality DAC and using a good but not necessarily top-tier streamer to achieve excellent sound quality without the need for an extremely expensive streamer. Surely the DAC’s performance will play a crucial role in the final sound quality.

Play gentle with the pile on please....................

nubiann
audphile1's avatar
audphile1
5,279 posts
 

@soix I had exactly the same experience as you when I compared DH Labs coax vs. stock cheap usb cable between Aurender N200 and Bricasti M3. The cheap USB beat the DH Labs. And it had nothing to do with the cables. The DH Labs D750 is an amazing digital cable. It’s purely the processing - coax relying on streamer clock vs USB relying on DAC clock. Same with i2s. And if you take into consideration that some use DDC to reclock USB in and output i2s to DAC then you have as clean a signal as could be. And most likely USB and coax would sound just as good, all else being equal (clean reclocked signal, etc.) 

I haven’t tried but that’s my thought process  

 

soix
9,651 posts
 

@audphile1  My understanding is SPDIF/AES/i2S benefit from the streamer/DDC clock and that the clock in the DAC still works but just has a lower jitter signal to deal with.  I was also under the impression that USB does not benefit from clocks in the streamer/DDC and that the only clock in play is the DAC’s clock, which if true would put USB at a bit of a disadvantage in that regard.  Of course it also greatly depends on which input the designer optimized on any given DAC as usually there’s one that’s better than the others, so that’s at play here too.  Not sure I’ve got this right and still learning as I go here so very open to other thoughts on this. 

kennymacc
424 posts
 

@nubiann So many highly technological responses here, it boggles the mind, lol. For what it’s worth, a few years ago, I had to move my audio system to a smaller space, so I downsized and simplified my audio system with phenomenal results. One of the things I did in order to have less components in my audio system was to purchase an extremely high end streaming DAC. The streamer/DAC combo in my Ayre Acoustics QX-5 Twenty DAC sounds absolutely superb. I can’t tell you how, but it does. So, there are other more simplified, high quality, options out there at your disposal. Happy listening.

willywonka
261 posts
 

I think it's a matter of balance in your system. If you have a modest system you wouldn't need to buy a $20K streamer and in fact you most likely wouldn't even realize the improvements in the expensive streamer. On the other hand, it wouldn't make sense to have an expensive and very revealing system with a very low end and inexpensive streamer either. I think common sense prevails here. Like people say everything in your system matters and you need to always look at the weak link. I will tell you that I'm certain that there are differences between cheap and expensive streamers. What those differences are is something you need to decide for yourself and to make a decision if the addition costs are worth it to you.

audioman58's avatar
audioman58
4,193 posts
 

To me they are ,I am in several audio clubs 

a blue node good for starting out, like the Eversolo 6 

I have a Innuos Zenith Mk3 and it’s just built on another level 

the casework and ever feet were designed with vibration in mind , from the high quality Teac cd- ripper drive to the SS HD 

linear power supplies 3, plus incoming,outgoing filters to clean the signal 

very high quality Mundorf Mlytic power supply filtering capacitors to complement

even more so the Nichicon. Capacitors , it’s built to a very high level 

similar to my LSA MicroZotl series 2 preamp and a richer warmer more Analog type sound ,to me well worth it ,and the power cords, as well as usb,and Ethernet cables equally important. Even the incoming digital a Zlinear Power Supply is a must from the router fs the horrible $5 wall wart.

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