Make Internet Radio Sound "Better"?

If you look at Shoutcast, you can search by bit rate. I limited my search to the highest option, 360(?) kbps. While this is not itself a guaranty of better sound, it does narrow the field a bit. Some of those stations sound really good, IME.

The question could better be articulated as: how can the signal itself be enhanced apart from playing it through every dac on the market?
Marcober

Chain of command:

The source: Not much you can do there. GIGO or "it is what it is". Find your best source.

The DAC: You're not asking about that.

Cables: Well, there's the digital from the DAC and the ic's from the DAC to the pre. Maybe you could squeeze out a little more enjoyment there.

The END: Room, speakers, amp/pre. I had "enhanced success" yesterday when I changed "just" a digital cable. I have a couple systems. I enjoyed my Maggie/ss a little more, then last night I fired up my SET system and it sounded a little better also.

Done squeezing for awhile.

Look for stations with a higher bit rate, it will sound better. IMO.

I have heard 64 kbs stations (and less) sound really good (as good or better than good FM though different) and 128kbs stations sound so so.

So the stream rate is a good indicator of potential but not always a good indicator of actual results.