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Help settle a streaming argument!

This is a SQ argument and is as follows-  I argue if you connect your streamer to an outboard DAC the streamer does not matter it’s just serving the music to the outboard DAC to do the work.  Therefore, buy a basic streamer.  The other is that you need to buy a top quality streamer and DAC to get great SQ. 
 

I liken it to cd players or the more pretentious cd transport argument- if the intent is to connect to outboard DAC the cd player doesn’t matter the outboard DAC DOES!
 

features and functionality aside!  Thoughts…..

polkalover

Showing 2 responses by erik_squires

erik_squires
15,803 posts
 

OP:

That's ideally true, but not absolutely true.  From multiple readings of multiple reviews, though rare, there are cumulative effects of jitter.

For instance, introducing mediocre jitter reducers in front of a DAC with otherwise excellent jitter reduction does show the effects of that "reducer" but in a negative fashion.

Modern jitter reduction techniques are really great, and far better than prior to 2000, however it is still possible that a really bad upstream component can introduce such bad timing effects even very good jitter reduction systems can't compensate for it. Is it worth $30,000 for a streamer? Probably not! :) 

erik_squires
15,803 posts
 

Really depends on a couple of things. You _can_ make a streamer so bad that the DAC’s own jitter reduction system just can’t keep up, and is forced to pass the jitter on.

A half decent streamer with 10 seconds of buffer and a galvanically isolated USB asynchronous connection can be all you need.

One other issue to consider is the noise put back into the line by wall wart adapters, so getting a nice iFi supply is something I recommend.

Personally I like to keep my streamer and DAC separately, so I can choose the DAC and also to ensure the streamer keeps up to date with the latest software services and formats.

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