Point of higher priced streamer?

@pc997  

You need to compare streamer vs streamer using the same DAC. You will see no difference.

I have done exactly this in my system.  A/B comparison streamed my Node2 and Lumin U1 to the same Lampizator DAC using same inputs.  Massive difference.  I can't explain why....perhaps better power supply, reduced line noise traveling from streamer to DAC?  I don't know...all I know is massive sonic difference. It has nothing to do with the 1's and 0's.

When you stream digital data over the network, the sender and receiver agrees in the packets and each packet are checked for completeness (CRC checks, etc), if not incomplete, the the packet is resent. Resending does not impact the flow as the stream is buffered. So there will be no difference between high end streamer vs something like $80 - $100 pi based setup.

The difference could be just ‘perceived’. There can’t be any. Unless someone tell me where the differences are in technical terms. I call this a ‘snake oil’.
Are the comm packets are different? One operating system is better than others (has nothing to do with sound Q)?

@pc997  I don't believe the sonic differences have anything to do with the packet delivery...I mean honestly, how could it?  Because you're right....the information is either received or it's not.  My working theory relates to keeping noise off the line.  Those packets don't get delivered magically from the streamer to the DAC, they are delivered via electrical impulses which are interpreted as 1's and and 0's. The electrical signal doesn't just magically disappear once it hits the DAC - it has to go somewhere and that introduces the potential for the residual electrical signal to impact the analog components within your DAC.  Removing as much hash as possible from the electrical impulse may contribute to to better SQ within the DAC....again, nothing to do with packets or data quality.  I realize DAC's are designed to minimize this issue but the reality is some do it better than other.  

There is no point to argue this in the Internets. Two groups firmly entrenched in their bunkers:

1) People who only try cheap stuff, maybe because the rest of their system is just a cheap and crap: there is no difference in streamers. They don’t even need to try. They just know 

2) People who are open minded enough to venture and try different streamers: there is a difference, and an easy one to discern.

One thing I can tell you for sure: it’s extremely hard to convince the first group. They also tend to have the same opinion on everything, DACs, power, cables, you name it. Also, I am OK with whatever pleases them. I just don’t understand their inner urge to go online non-stop and proclaim their “knowledge” with no experience and experimentation whatsoever. I guess this phenomenon is a hobby too 🙄