Anyone else feel like it’s the Wild Wild West?

My journey in digital music playback without using physical media (i.e., servers, streamers, and digital conversion) has consistently become ergonomically easier to implement as well as better sounding. Every new DAC and every music server upgrade has been a notable sonic improvement over the previous. As mentioned by @sbank , improvements have been achieved by reducing jitter and noise; primarily through improvements in processing, power supplies, and isolation. The sonic improvements have consistently moved toward a more natural sounding presentation, improved dynamic impact, and better resolution without an accompanying hard edge.

Considering that I have consistently provided a baseline of stable, damped support, clean power, and adequately constructed digital cables, the notable sonic improvements have all resulted from upgrading to better equipment (servers and DACs). None of the add-on tweaks, filters, etc. that I have tried have made what I could reliably call a consistent sonic improvement, especially compared to the improvements resulting from upgrading my digital playback equipment. I appreciate the dedicated manufacturers who have researched and implemented improvements in their equipment to bring us better sound.

@attila7

Streaming not need to be difficult. Think of it this way:

Turntable —> Phonostage —> Preamp

Streamer —> DAC —> Preamp

The two analogous.

No management software is required. Buy a Aurrender, Aurlic, Lumin, or budget Bluesound streamer. The first three higher quality.

If you really just want a simple solution you can get a Streamer / DAC. Although future upgrades will be harder. I recommend Aurrender. I have two after trying others. Plunk it down, connect. Download the app and start streaming. If you are not close to your router… just buy a wall wart wifi extender… plug it in next to your system and plug that in to your streamer… it will just work.

I am hardwired in, so much faster and morecrelisblecthan wifi. I also have a dac in my amp thru the optical or digital plugs. Is a standalone sac significantly better than the built in ones?

@attila7 

Most people think a stand alone DAC is better but I think it depends on the level of the component the DAC is in. The DAC in my Boulder 866 is fantastic. The one thing the stand alone does is let you try different ones until you find one that sounds best to you. 
 

Regards

Ron 

Good point Ron, I didn't think of it from that point. I was looking from the "junk" perspective. As I can't remove a built in dac the the current flows thru it, if I add on an outboard unit the current flows thru 2 dacs, everything in the signal path has an effect on the signal. Seems like additional "clutter"? It would seem that the best way would be individual standalone single function devices but that would require a wall of components, an end to end row of plug ins and miles of cable. So much for plugging a cd player into an amp to minimize signal degradation 🤣?