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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 1 response by larryi

larryi
3,742 posts
 

p05129,

It has been a while since I listened critically to streamers and the mode of transmission, but, I agree that Ethernet consistently outperformed asynchronous USB connection when I heard a comparison.

While it does not seem to make sense that a streamer can make a whole lot of difference beyond a certain point of basic competence, it does matter.  I have no idea why it is so, but, early on, I heard comparisons of the software managing streaming and NAS music files and some software truly sucked compared to others when it came to sound quality; how can that be?

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