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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
mitch2
4,242 posts
 

@sns - I don’t have any noise issues I am aware of and the fiber to the streamer in my main system probably helps mitigate any noise but your post gave me an idea.  Since the two auxillary systems source 99% streaming, and I do not need my stored music files for those systems, I could indeed set up another Roon core on the network for those two systems but, unfortunately, that would require me to purchase another Roon license, which is currently about the only thing I have that is free since I signed up as a lifer early on.  Based on all that, I am going to consider the issue not broke, and therefore not in need of fixing. However, thank you for the ideas.

mdalton's avatar
mdalton
564 posts
 

@kckrs 

Cool!  Let us know how it goes.  What’s the ETA?

vthokie83
1,022 posts
 

fleschler

Sure you can get really good streamer for well under $1,000, that you can use with your Poseidon. Buy a used BlueSound Node 130 (not 2 or 2i) for about $250, and add a used Denafrips Iris DDC for about $350 to $400.

The Node 130 only outputs via USB (which you could also send direct to the Poseidon) into the Iris. The Iris does it's magical DDC stuff, and then will allow AES/EBU, optical, RCA, and I2S to the Poseidon (I know the Poseidon does not accept I2S)

As long as you want very good, and not state of the art, this combo will work really well; and the Node has a terrific interface.

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