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Does a streamer do anything to the data that Tidal provides?

I have been streaming Tidal to my HiFi for the past 4 years with a streamer and a DAC connected to my amplifier (Raumfeld streamer to Musical Fidelity DAC and also Musical Fidelity Amp). I also have an all-in-one system for my summer house (Naim Muso Qb). So, I know the basics and I am only interested in streaming from Tidal.

What I struggle to understand is, what the streamer does apart from transporting the digital signal and therefore why it could make sense to invest in an expensive streamer.

I understand what Digital to Analogue Conversion does and that it makes sense to ensure a good quality, but isn't the streamer just a transporter of data? Does the streamer do anything to the data that Tidal delivers apart from receiving them and sending them to the DAC? 

Thanks in advance, Michael 
mtraesbo

Showing 2 responses by mtraesbo

mtraesbo OP
46 posts
 
Many thanks for a lot of inspiring responses. I must admit, though, that I still do not understand, how a streamer can enhance the bitstream.
 
If the streamer is a transporter that connects the music sources with the DAC then how can it make the output any better than the input? 

I understand that if the input is provided in higher format than a streamer can manage, then a better streamer can do a better job. But if a cheap streamer can manage the input stream from say Tidal and provide it to the DAC bitperfect, then the job is done - isn't it? 
mtraesbo OP
46 posts
 
Many thanks, Willemj, 

So if my aim is to increase the sound quality of my setup (only listening to Tidal HiFi through Raumfeld streamer, Musical Fidelity DAC and Musical Fidelity amp) then I should start by getting a better DAC as the current streamer does 24 bit/192 kHz, right? 
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