ARE SUPER EXPENSIVE STREAMERS REALLY WORTH IT
THEY ARE IF YOU BELIEVE THEY ARE
What’s the deal with all caps titles?
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....................
Showing 6 responses by devinplombier
First, sorry about the above post. It's just that all-caps grate. Second, your questions are thoughtful and on point imo. They are far less dumb than many of the answers you've been getting, if I may. Third, since you ask, here is the truth about digital streamers. - Buy a $15000 streamer if you can't afford a $30000 one. It doesn't really matter which one because at that price level they are guaranteed to enchant (they wouldn't cost that much if they weren't amazing - think about that for a second) and they are all created by geniuses, or should I say magicians - after all, anyone who can turn a botched Linux distro running on a lowly ARM Cortex into Gold has to be a little bit of one. - Pick a team: USB or I2S (Teams SPDIF and AES are the audio equivalent of the Liechtenstein National Football Team). Acquire enough random knowledge about oven clocks, DDCs and HDMI pinouts to effectively defend your team in forum posts. In-depth knowledge of com and network protocols is entirely superfluous and will fall on deaf ears. Ditto references to the studio / mastering world, though it solved those issues eons ago with Dante, Ravenna, AES67 et al. - Absolutely invest at least $1000+ in a USB / I2S cable. Digital bits are extremely small and wily. They easily escape lesser cables, causing annoying jitter. High-end digital cables effectively capture jitter and turn it into harmless vapor, resulting in the inky darkness of a 360 degree soundstage from which you can easily pick the exact location of Diana Krall's lips. You read it here first!
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@soix @russbutton You are both correct. Streamers are nothing but computers, and often not very good ones (think Raspberry Pi 4 or 5) unless you’re in the mood for something like a $31,000 Taiko Extreme which, besides being an exquisite piece of kit, packs serious computing horsepower. To @soix ’s point, quality power supplies, galvanic isolation, clocks, etc. do make a difference, and they should all be part of any serious audio PC build. The aforementioned Lucas Audio does just that for you, but by the time you’re done with him you’ll have spent near-Taiko money. You can also build it yourself; if so, expect to spend in the neighborhood of $4-5k on quality components. But those of you who once used a mac mini or some such in your digital chain and then come here to denigrate PC network streamers on the basis of your one (admittedly dismal) experience, it’s like saying you drove a Nissan Leaf back in 2010 and it sucked, therefore all electric cars suck. Teslas don’t suck, neither do Lucids, and a $50 Raspberry Pi build will better a mac in terms of sound quality. So I think it's time to give PC streamers their due. Done properly, they will rival the SQ of anything Aurender or Innuos make, plus they will give you unmatched software flexibility, upgradeability, and power. |
No. Folks look for certain attributes in amps that supports their listening styles. Those attributes don't necessarily command high prices. Some folks like 10-watt single-ended triodes. Those rarely cost a lot. You can even build them yourself. 10-watt amps are not my style, however. I like high-current big iron. That doesn't necessarily cost a small fortune either, on the used market at least. Now, if you like that new-gear smell and you don't know a soldering iron from a clothes iron, then "super expensive amps" may well be your best bet. Also, there is no need to yell, unless you were just emulating OP's caps style.
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