Help settle a streaming argument!

@polkalover Imagine the sound from an old “record player” verses a $10 -$50K turntable with fancy phono ($-$$$) stage and an 2-10K needle. Same is true for streaming equipment. The good news is that money outlays are far less for a smoking streaming setup than for a vinyl one. 

arafiq

The question that OP posed was answered by many. Now the goal posts are shifted - "but why does it sound better? give me concrete proof!" 

It's a game some play here. In this thread, a difference was established and measured, but a measurementalist objected that the difference wasn't "significant":

Significant" ?   I think some folks should look up the word in the dictionary.  Different? Yes, but tiny, tiny, tiny unless you are letting your belief system modify what you hear vs. the actual sound. 

"Significant" is obviously subjective but to this guy, you're a victim of a "belief system" unless you accept his "belief system."

Hans Beekhuyzen on his YouTube channel has answered this question time and time again. The answer is that a better streamer will sound better to a higher end DAC compared to a lower end streamer into that same DAC in a revealing system.

He has tested the WiiM Pro Plus in his three "reference" systems at various price points and can tell a good sonic difference even in his lowest end system. 

This doesn't mean the WiiM Pro Plus is "bad". For its sub-$300 price point it is amazing what you can get, but no it isn't a "giant killer", even acting as a streamer only.   

Very interesting and enlightening conversation. I just received today my NEW Bricasti M1 SE DAC, with the streaming card. I have 2 systems, one higher end. This DAC/Streamer will go into the high end one. I have always streamed via USB, and Windows based computer and have been extremely happy, via Qobuz. Rock and Roll only. So I will be anxious to compare USB vs  Ethernet Streaming. Will be going out soon to find a reasonably priced I Pad. I have Ethernet  available as we speak. Still have to call Retailer that sold me my Bricasti for an education on How To Stream, and app downloads that are needed for the Bricasti. Looking forward to contributing to this topic. Thanks all !!! Hopefully whats needed for successful streaming is easy????

@arafiq in the digital domain the sound signature is done by the dac.  if you serve the same file from a node or a $20K aurender and bypass the internal dacs of each there should be no sound change.  the only explanation I can give would be a better power supply. beyond that-   I would buy a node and upgrade the power supply. but people keep saying its better!  I ask how? if you're not using the internal dac.  that's all