Bluesound Node versions SQ

All those on YouTube continually say that a $4K streamer sounds better than a $300 one when feeding an external DAC, but none of them, not even Hans Beekhuyzen, with his oscilloscope prop in the background, can show any data as to why that is. Guess stuff that cost more just always sounds better. I’ll sell you a Raspberry Pi for $8000 if you are so inclined. Wink, wink.

@moonwatcher They might not show data, but they use their ears as have so many others here have done and have found very significant improvements with more expensive streamers.  Of course not all expensive streamers may sound better as with everything in audio, but those who have stepped up to pricier models from Aurender, Innuos, Grimm, etc. have experienced significant improvements over Nodes and other budget streamers or even when moving up the line within those brands.  What streamer are you using and what more expensive streamers have you compared it to?  If you haven’t heard any of the pricier streamers then you are speaking out of ignorance in assuming that more expensive streamers aren’t better or worth paying more for. 

@soix I’m an engineer. Show me the money (measurements). If I send a data stream of 01001101 and another streamer does the same to the exact same external DAC, and that external DAC is doing buffering and reclocking of the data stream such that jitter is not an issue, there should be no difference whatsoever. If someone says it sounds better, can they pass a double-blind test where all factors are controlled to within 0.001dB? I never see them do this or attempt it. Might make a great reality game show don’t you think?

The key is are they really passing the same data or not? Is one applying some DSP? I don’t have the digital measuring equipment, but I’d sure like ASR to get some and settle this issue once and for all. Is it real, or a placebo effect?

Just my opinion but I think that when you consider purchasing expensive streamers you reach the point of diminishing returns quickly nowadays when compared to budget streamers.

Without a doubt a more expensive streamer is going to sound excellent and better than a budget streamer such as a Bluesound.

But unlike a lot of other audio gear where budget gear is just ok compared to its high price alternative, here you are talking the difference between great sound (Bluesound for instance) and excellent sound (high priced streamers).

I am definitely in the camp that the DAC is the most important part of a streaming set up.

If I send a data stream of 01001101 and another streamer does the same to the exact same external DAC, and that external DAC is doing buffering and reclocking of the data stream such that jitter is not an issue, there should be no difference whatsoever

@moonwatcher There’s more to it than that when it comes to audio that has been discussed ad nauseam here so I’m not gonna rehash it here. If you wanna keep believing better streamers don’t sound better that’s your prerogative, but it flies in the face of 95% of people’s experience here so just maybe there’s something to it — or they’re all just wrong and fooling themselves and you’re right. Whatever you do, don’t even try a better streamer or heaven forbid use your ears. 🙄

An older Node with a LPS combined with the Qutest is an excellent way to get quality sound on a budget imo. That is of course assuming you like the sound of a Qutest. It was one combo of many that I have tried. I also tried both the LHY and Pardo upgrade kits (not much difference between the two as I recall) as well as using a Schiit Gumby and Denafrips Ares and Pontus with the upgraded Node. Not until I got an Aurender N150 and combined it with the Pontus did I notice and really appreciate the additional investment made. I have since moved up the food chain of DAC’s and streamers several notches. Neither I nor members of my audio club have ever needed blind tests to hear differences in streamers or DAC’s. Further, I don’t necessarily think that DAC’s are the most important part of streaming. Sure it’s easier to hear differences in DAC’s sometimes, but those differences (nuances) many times cannot really be appreciated to their fullest without quality streaming components, which btw also include quality cables and other ancillary components.