2. digital
  3. 190027-170711

why expensive streamers

@soix and others

I am unclear about the effect on sound of streamers (prior to getting to the dac). Audio (even hi-res) has so little information content relative to the mega and giga bit communication and processing speeds (bandwidth, BW) and cheap buffering supported by modern electronics that it seems that any relatively cheap piece of electronics would never lose an audio bit. 

Here is why. Because of the huge amount of BW relative to the BW needs of audio, you can send the same audio chunk 100 times and use a bit checking algorithm (they call this "check sum") to make sure just one of these sets is correct. With this approach you would be assured that the correct bits would be transfered. This high accuracy rate would mean perfect audio bit transfer. 

What am I missing? Why are people spending 1000's on streamers?

thx

 

delmatae

Showing 1 response by tomcy6

tomcy6's avatar
tomcy6
2,625 posts
 

This high accuracy rate would mean perfect audio bit transfer.

As you know, there’s more to good sound than perfect bit transfer, electronic noise transferring with the bits, for one. It’s like wires and everything else in audio that shouldn't make a difference, the designers and builders keep finding ways to make things sound better. The improvements may not be worth the money to you or just may not be your cup of tea, but they’re worth it to someone.

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