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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 6 responses by zlone

zlone
420 posts
 

Nice system. Streamers matter, a lot. Given the investment you have made, I would do some research and get something at the same level. It seems that Aurender and Innuos are the top choices around here. I would avoid getting one with a DAC built in, use the Hegel for now, though you may want to get a separate down the road. I am pretty sure your sound will improve massively with a real streamer. 

zlone
420 posts
 

@o_holter  Yes - but maybe there are reasons, nevertheless? Why do people insist that streamers make a change? What are the reliable, objective sound improvements with a better streamer?

I have been through a couple streamer upgrades, each one was an improvement. I still have a ways to go. The objective answer is: jitter and electrical noise. Jitter smears the image, affecting the sound quality and the soundstage. 

I use SPDIF, and have also found there is a significant difference in these cables. I am not sure why that is, but it is the case.

 

 

zlone
420 posts
 

@yage  So given the lack of reliable subjective evidence, the only evidence we can use is objective measurements. I haven’t come across any data that conclusively shows that a modern bit-perfect source (e.g. streamer) makes an audible difference in terms of distortion, noise, frequency response or jitter with respect to the USB interface - link.

Possibly true in the case of the USB interface, as the DAC will handle the clocking and not the streamer. My experience has been strictly with the SPDIF interface, in which case streamer quality and jitter are very apparent.

 

zlone
420 posts
 

@rick_n +1

I didn’t do my homework and realize he already has streaming capability. Follow ricks advice for a no cost way to trial a better streamer. I expect you will like the results, then you can dive down the rabbit hole. 

zlone
420 posts
 

@deep_333 A PC will also give full flexibility for all kinds of software tweaks, etc. You won't be locked in with some crappy glitchy software on some thieving vulture's 20k "streamer".

Granted some of these streaming servers are overpriced. However holding up a PC and Windows as the magic answer and calling all others crappy, glitchy software uncovers a significant "knowledge gap" on your part when it comes to operating systems.

zlone
420 posts
 

What @ghdprentice said.

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