Sound quality differences in streamers

@soix I would agree that non-data "noise" such as, say, SMPS noise can affect sound quality if and when allowed to enter the analog realm, if you will (usually meaning your DAC’s output section); but would you say that that noise can affect sound quality while within the digital realm, unless of course it is so extreme that it results in gross RW protocol failure? Trying to understand where you’re coming from. Thanks!

I don't know, visit @mdalton 's virtual systems and you can see for yourselves that he's no dilettante.

@mdalton I look forward to it! Always game for politics and scotch :)

@soix in the process of slightly missing my point, you seem to be helping my point. At the end of the day, a quality DAC with a sophisticated input section will strip any and all noise from the incoming data stream; in that way, digital accoutrements such as audiophile Ethernet switches, DDCs, $1000 USB cables and the like are paradoxically most efficacious if you own a crappy $99 DAC, which I most definitely trust you don’t.

Also, @sns kudos for tackling the tricky PSU problem once and for all, although you sure didn't go the budget route 

@sns 

I’m glad you are adding your voice to those who know from experience that not only is a PC more than adequate as a streamer, it is often superior. Also (and I didn’t even think of that before) it is true that:

Cool thing with custom builds is you get to hear what individual components add to the mix, everything matters.

Very true! I must however respectfully point out that there is no such thing as a "Windows motherboard". Now, Windows has been the dominant OS for 40 years, and it follows that motherboard design certainly accommodates Windows, but motherboards are by definition agnostic.

Although Taiko successfully runs Windows in their Extreme, Linux is probably better suited to a DIY build due to its almost infinite customizability. Right out the box, Windows does not want you to customize it and it will resist. 

One last word, "Enterprise" motherboards (that is, server boards) are preferred because of their relative lack of features and absence of related componentry, thereby eliminating potential noise sources; a few of those boards also natively support SFP (the main fiber Ethernet standard), which is desirable as it provides 100% galvanic isolation between the PC and the next component in the chain, thereby ensuring that any noise that happens in the computer, stays in the computer.

Oh and +1 for the Audiophilestyle forum

1) Streamers work solely in the digital domain, and as such have no sonic signature of their own.

Unless the designer puts one there. It's easy enough to implement basic DSP functionality in FPGA chips.

The so-called ’digital realm’ takes place on an analog carrier.

The link below is a worthwhile read. It is an enlightening discussion about 1’s & 0’s and square waves by AudiogoN veterans:

- Almarg (physicist & multiple patent holder, RIP) 

- Audioengr (Steve Nugent, former design-team lead at Intel Corp & holder of 22 patents)

https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/square-waves-or-1-s-and-0-s

@steakster

Thank you for sharing the link. That old Audiogon thread veers into a ditch early on due to an argument over, I guess, the physical representation of a digital signal being transmitted over a wire? I honestly doubt it is likely to enlighten anyone, but I could be wrong.

I am also not sure why you chose to present Steve Nugent as an Intel employee, rather than as the founder of a high-end audio equipment company.

One may disagree with Steve, and I can’t say I don’t, but there is no denying the fact that he is a brilliant albeit idiosyncratic thinker whose ideas deserve broader standing in the audiophile world. His columns in the old Positive Feedback should be required reading for anyone interested in digital audio, especially those endeavoring to hold forth about it in forums such as this one.

It should be pointed out that Steve’s digital credentials are impeccable; this is the person who brought Pentium II to the world, not just a "team lead". 🤣

Unfortunately none of this transpires from your above post or from the thread you linked. I just thought it would be fair to do Steve Nugent some justice, especially for the benefit of those unfamiliar with his work.

@steakster 

So, I make you laugh; and you liken me to a prominent American intellectual who was renowned for his sharp wit and intelligence. We are going to get along great! 😃

@mdalton 

I think we should invite steakster and teach him a thing or two about digital audio 😁