+1 "If you make listening and observation your occupation you will gain much more than you can by talk [posting]. " - Robert Baden-Powell
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…..
- ...
- 137 posts total
I have a fantastic DAC (Denafrips Terminator II) I upgraded from a nice Bluesound Node to am Innuos Zen Mk3 Streamer. I'm not as knowledgeable or technically gifted in terms of describing what I am hearing as a lot of the vets on this forum by a log shot, but I am hear to tell you..... NIGHT and DAY. The SQ improvement was stunning. Every Component in the chain matters, some may matter more than others, but the higher quality streamer was a game changer for my system. |
If you are truly doing blind listening and observation tests, then I believe you heard differences between good streamers. Whether I would hear differences, I don’t know. But if you just spent $$ for new equipment, put on some music and claim it sounds so much better, then I have a little trouble accepting what you tell me. I don’t have the luxury to do blind tests on different equipment, so maybe you are right and there is a difference between streamers. But all the hype I hear about better streamers addressing issues with jitter and timing which can affect sound quality, all this hype I believe is BS. Here is a good explanation of jitter and timing by someone I happen to respect but many in here do not. Listen to him and if you don’t like it, that’s cool, move on.
|
I think noise is a factor in the conversation. I had a U1 mini. It sounded good. Added an Sbooster external power supply. There was a definite improvement. Just replaced mu U1 mini with a U2. The U2 was another significant improvement. Better sound stage, more micro detail and a more natural presentation. |
@daleberlin Well you’re free to “believe” whatever you want. But when you have the vast majority of people here who have upgraded to better streamers and have experienced very obvious positive improvements, well, you’re kinda swimming against the stream here. Do you really think all those folks are fooling themselves into thinking they’re hearing something better, because if you do I think you’re the one fooling yourself. And it’s not just about jitter and timing — better parts quality, power supplies, and significantly lower noise levels are all important aspects of why more expensive streamers sound better, and significantly so. Ignore the wisdom of the members on this site at your own peril. I will say burying your head in the sand is certainly an easier way to go, or maybe try a better streamer yourself and see what you hear rather than just what you “believe” to be true. |
- 137 posts total