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0s & 1s are all the same aren’t they? Is it really worth paying for a “better” Streamer?

OK, so at the moment I use a Raspberry Pi into a Denafrips DAC.

I’m looking for the best sound I can get, but also to reduce boxes if I can (SQ is the decider), so looking at either an Integrated or Preamp with DAC or buying a Streamer with DAC, which would free me up to buy any Integrated or Pre..

But my question is, fed into the same DAC, do expensive Streamers really sound any better than a Raspberry Pi?    After all, aren’t 0s & 1s just that????

I can buy an Auralic Aries at a good price.  Would I really hear a difference?

I’ve only ever heard 2 expensive Streamers, both Linn.   Wasn’t at all impressed.   All I could hear is that awful smeared Linn house sound.

Is there an outstanding Streamer with Onboard DAC I should go for?



Thanks





singintheblues

Showing 6 responses by djones51

djones51
4,947 posts
 
I've listened to at least a dozen streamers including a raspberry pi and I could never tell a difference in SQ. The most expensive was the Auralic. Some had features I liked, better UI, etc..
djones51
4,947 posts
 
Really? Explains what exactly,  no difference between the raspberry pi or the Bel Canto or Aurrender or Innous etc.. ? 
djones51
4,947 posts
 
I’ve yet to see a technical accurate analysis of why there is a difference is SQ between two streamers. I’ve seen reasons why there might be audible differences which I have admitted. Just as a class A amp and class D have differences in their build doesn't mean they can be differentiated better than chance in a blind test. 
djones51
4,947 posts
 
I tried a Bel Canto, Auralic, Lumin, Minidsp SHD Studio, raspberry pi4 running Ropiee through a Matrix X-SPDIF2,  Simaudio Moon. These were all fed ethernet by Cat 6a cable and used as roon endpoints. They were connected by AES3 cables to Dutch and Dutch 8c's. I didn't conduct a blind test and other than preferences for UI I didn't prefer one over another, they were basically all the same in SQ. I understand this is my subjective opinion and does nothing to help anyone decide what they might like anymore than someone blabbering about lifted veils and opened soundstages and darker noise floors will. That's the difference I understand that , unless it's a controlled listening process then all any of this is is hyperbole. 
djones51
4,947 posts
 
You moron there was no rest of the system. A streamer and Dutch and Dutch 8c was it. So which was crap the Lumin, Bel Canto, etc.. or the Dutch and Dutch? You really are a pathetic excuse of a human. 
djones51
4,947 posts
 
Merry Christmas to you too. 
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