Do I Really Need a Dedicated Streamer?


Hello. I have my iPad connected via USB to my excellent Chord DAC. I use Spotify mainly to stream. Why do I need a separate streamer (Wiim or BludSound Node) to play my music? Is a streamer just a convenience?

dunkin

Showing 2 responses by jastralfu

You don’t need one, you’re playing music without one but quality of playback can increase dramatically with a better streamer.

Much of the increase is due to the digital components increased quality within a dedicated streamer and dac.  This includes better clocks, power supplies, galvanic isolation which all can produce a much better musical presentation.  This would include better resolution, imaging, soundstage, transients, and lower noise floor.  Basically all the things @akg_ca stated.  Bits aren’t bits, there is electrical noise and jitter that are added to an output signal coming from an iPad or iPhone.  Whether your rig is transparent or revealing enough to hear that added noise is also a valid question. I run usb from my MacBook Pro but use a ddc and DAC to ameliorate those issues.