Do I Need a Dedicated Streamer?


Hello everyone,

As the title states, I am still unsure of if I need a dedicated streamer and if it would increase the fidelity of my music compared to how I am listening at the moment. Which is using AirPlay 2 from my iPhone to my Hegel H590 Integrated amp.

 

I know that the DAC in the Hegel H590 is considered quite good and it was one of the reasons that I bought the amplifier to begin with. However, would I get a better input using a dedicated streamer for around $1000 (such as the Cambridge CXNV2 for example) or would I be better off leaving things as is?

I am just not sure if airplaying music to the Hegel is degrading the signal in comparison to a streamer that would pull its own data and send it directly to the amplifier? Also, would improving my router placement and wifi signal make any difference to the sound since my Hegel is hardwired using a mesh wifi system?

 

I am open to switching streaming platforms if I can gain something out of it such as resolution but I’m not sure if apple music is the issue in any of this.

 

If the answer to the title is a no. I am curious what I would need to take the quality of my listening experience to the next level or where money would be better spent to achieve that. I do have acoustic panels in my room and have done my fair share of research on speaker placement already.

 

The only thing that I have been considering in the near-future would have to be the isoacoustics gaia 1 feet.

 

My equipment:

Hegel H590 Integrated

KEF Reference 5 Meta

Metra Velox Speaker Cables

 

Thanks for reading.

danb99

Showing 2 responses by jacobsdad2000

Wow, hope this guy is not a doctor. Oh and if it is anything that he doesn’t own then it’s junk. 

pennfootball71's avatar

pennfootball71

169 posts

 

If it came with the amp it’s worth nothing because it was free! They are using junk little tiny boards and OP amps!

So yes you need a better DAC and better streamer!

plan on a budget if 5-10k each and another 2k for each for proper cables! 

@tony1954 I am trying to keep my sugar intake down, I will pass on the Cake unless it’s the band Cake. 😎


Merry Christmas.