Sound quality differences in streamers


Can there be sonic differences between moderate and high priced streamers when used for streaming only. I will not use or engage an onboard DAC or any other feature, just stream from Tidal or Amazon to DAC. If the unit is just transferring zeros and ones to a DAC can there be differences in say a $300 WiiM and a $3000 dSC streamer? Thanks

kckrs

Showing 2 responses by mclinnguy

If the unit is just transferring zeros and ones to a DAC can there be differences in say a $300 WiiM and a $3000 dSC streamer?

And there is the ignorance, it is not just transferring "1’s and 0’s".

Doesn’t common sense tell the ones who have heard this nonsense that streaming music is no different than sending a word document there must be something else happening? That maybe those of us who have spent many thousands on streamers did it because the music actually sounded better? If there was no difference between a multi-thousand dollar streamer and a $300 Wiim how is it possible all these streamer manufacturers would stay in business longer than a few months? Because we are all fooled? We have nothing better to do with the money? Audiophile's like to pay thousands for a fancy case? Only a fool would believe that. 

Hans can explain it as well as anyone: Watch some of his videos: That is not "proove it" but explain why digital sound is complicated, this first one is not about streamers but filters, and the second explaining that digital is not simply "1’s and 0’s". 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PSsKdAcwUL4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B-StTplQZys

More importantly prove it to yourself: go to a dealer and ask them to proove to you that expensive streamers sound better. Honestly I don’t know why people keep asking this question about streamers being the same or not over and over.

Words are cheap, and useless- the proof is in the listening- go listen. 

@johnsmith55 

 I tested, tested, demoed, tested, and demoed, against my personal custom built pc. 

I have read about some other fellow who custom built his own PC for streaming, pushing everything to the n'th degree, testing hundreds of combinations of processors, parts, and power supplies, custom ordering parts from suppliers to spec, some parts engineered and developed in house, including the power supply. Apparently the end product is very good, haven't heard it myself. His name is Emile Bok. 

Tell us about your custom unit.