@nubiann A well thought out response. Good luck with your search.
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....................
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I have been overwhelmed by the extent of engagement on the subject of my enquiry. So I used AI as a cross referencing tool as I waded through the depth of knowledge deployed in response. I am a Sony Trained engineer so my "indoctrination" into the Japanese way and tendency to scrutinize is almost second nature. I am also a global quality Auditor, so my style of writing can come across in an overly logical fashion or somewhat formal report style but throughout my dialogue here, my deductions and questions generated are very much my own curiosity, as dumb as they might seem to some expert contributors. Most people have been understanding here and for this kindness, I am very grateful. The advice has helped and tempered my over enthusiasm. I have now shortlisted some streaming products from Aurender and Lumin, maybe I might add HI FI Rose also. I am still looking at options for DAC’s that maybe a possible synergistic match for these products as well as the rest of my system. Are you tending toward AI integration more in your daily life? Thanks for your comments anyway. Gerald.
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Many thanks, nice if you to say so. Whatever the decision, I will come back and say what I opted for but I wont review because there will be a danger of confirmation bias no doubt. |
+1 ghdprentice and I might add. Some would say... buy a Lexus and be happy with your journey Others would say... why buy the Lexus when you can save money and buy a Kia Soul,... after all you are just going from point A to B Others would say... why buy the Kia when you could buy a bicycle and get there much cheaper and you might be healthier. To each his own and be happy. |
Yes, but all of your Q and A above talks about clocking, and implies the clock is the only part that matters, and overlooks the most important part of a streamer: If the power supply(s) are insufficient not much else matters, and the concept that the clock can just "clean everything and make music perfect" is incorrect. From Antipodes: "a clock stage is only as good as the circuit it is used in and the power supply that powers the circuit. And the re-clocking stage needs to receive a low-noise signal with high-bandwidth, before it can re-clock the signal accurately. If the signals before and after the re-clocking stage are polluted by noise below the bit-rate (such as from employing linear power supplies) then the re-clocking will be largely ineffective. Anyone that claims that digital is 'just ones and zeroes' has not applied their knowledge to demanding real-world problems." All the best super-expensive, no compromise streamers have gone to huge lengths to develop their power supplies, which is a large portion of their expense. Grimm, Antipodes, Taiko, Xact S1 have developed these power supplies all in-house, these are not off the shelf parts some Joe can buy off the street and think he can make the same streamer himself. Same goes for the computer boards. Not sure how Aurender goes about their power supply but their website states this: N30SA’s unique hybrid power supply delivers a pure DC current to flawlessly power the digital audio output board, while a separate linear power supply chain feeds clean power to the non-audio adjacent components of the machine. Of course we all understand power supplies in amplifiers matter, but there is a reason why people buy a $7000 Sean Jacobs power supply for their Chord Dave. Quality power makes a huge difference in all components.
Okay, your last paragraph addresses this. But just go and listen to a no compromise streamer and hear it for yourself instead of "believing it" due to responses or trying to rationalize it. Most times in life you get what you pay for.
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