Streamed music sounds awful in my system and I don't know why ....


cd's spun in a transport are so much more satisfying.  Streamed content lacks body, bass, and correct timbre.

DAC is the Moon 780 driven by Moon's transport with Audience Front Row loom. Streamed source originates  from Windows Media Player platform into the same DAC 780 via CAT 6 cable hardwired into a Spectrum router.

If I wanted to upgrade the streaming experience, where would I start ?

Rest of system -Shindo Giscours pre-amp, VAC Phi 300 amp, Purist speaker cables feeding Wilson Sophia 3's.

Thanks for any guidance.

 

 

 

 

 

128x128dr-john

Many if not most off the shelf streamers cannot run HQPlayer dsp, not enough processing power. Probably my single greatest issue with off the shelf is this lacking. Most have chosen low power processors, their means to achieving low noise platform. With the right diy setup you can have both high speed processing and low noise. Takes more engineering prowess, but greater speed and using less of a processor's capabilities may result in superior performance.

 

DIY may also result in a far more adaptable streamer, I can choose between optimal usb, aes/ebu, coax, I2S, direct ethernet out with my atx board streamer. With Euphony OS can choose between various music player software, all Roon, Roon core with embedded HQPLayer, Roon with Stylus EP (Eurphony's music player), all HQPlayer, all Stylus (core and endpoint). Many other proprietary optimizations available via Euphony OS, for instance direct play from RAM.

 

 

Too much bad information.  A specialty pc can become part of a hi end playback system.  WMP has no place...try JRiver MC or even WinAmp.  

Unfortunately, no truly fine internal pc DACs exist.  The last true audiophile PCI sound card was the M-Audio 2496. The downside was that no drivers were ever provided past W7.  I guess that hasn't stopped some of us from enjoying these amazing machines.

Despite some short comings, simple desktops or even NUC's can provide a foundation for streaming & NAS solutions of hi caliber and immense satisfaction.

Get rid of the PC. Decouple the Eth net from the system.

Small Green Computer

 

 

 

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