Help settle a streaming argument!

I have had 4 streamers and 3 of them are as it gets.

- Sonore microRendu

-Sonore OptcalRendu using fibre

- Lumin X1 using fibre and testing the streamer section only

- PlayBack Designs Streamer-IF (using SPDIF for now, once I get a PDB Dream DAC I will use the fibre output of the streamer)

None of these 4 streamers sound the same. The microRendu is way behind in terms of sound quality to the other 3. I believe the reason is analog noise traversing the streamer from the Ethernet and then through USB into the DAC.

The surprise for me was how good the Streamer-IF sounds. It is good as the Lumin X1 and the Sonore OpticalRendu. I think the reason is that there must be a fibre wire inside the Streamer-IF that both the Fibre and SPDIF outputs use.

Listen to a stream that uses Fibre and one that does not. It should be very easy to hear a difference, even on a good network.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQj_Y8h9npA&t=566s

https://youtu.be/B-StTplQZys?si=boT2o4sP4aHhrJX5

lot of useful info here, stick with it, listen all the way through... makes alot of this stuff clear, and understandable...

Your streamer will make a huge difference in SQ. Just upgraded my Auralic Aries G2 streamer (which is is a solid streamer) to the Antipodes K22 and WOW! Assuming you have a high quality DAC of course.

Antipodes K22 Music Servers/Streamer

Totally untrue our Audioclub did a 5 hour demo showing judges from the modem-Router combo, an absolute good quality Linear Power Supply makes a nice improvement, like the excellent Linear Tube Audio LPS it’s superb build and sonics and comes with a great 12v DC cable ,most router combos are 12v just look on the bottom , and take around 4 amps this LPS goes up to 8 amps ,

fromthereyou need a good Ethernet hub theSW8  that I have is a great buy $599

telema LPS  low noise regulators and a ocxo over controlled clock

both items needs a decent power cord thepangea Sig mk2 awg14 is perfect only $200 each , and forsure you need at bare minimum$200 or more -2 Ethernet cables Wireworld starlight a good starting point ,as well as their usb cable ,  then 

your streamer will sound much better ,a node is cheap $$150 in parts including the packaging ,my point is to get digital to sound good you have to remove all these weak links ,a better fuse,and power cord like  the Pangea a must and at least a decent line conditioner, a dedicated 20 amp line bettter still.

we removed one piece at a time and left the room each increase improved the lower noise floor imaging as well as sound staging ,

just like a good turntable you have to address Everything starting at the router 

the pathetic $5;wall wart power supplies are pure noise ,and digital noise does travel home to home thsts why its essential to isolate this with a good LPS from the start. I am still working on upgrading cables , Jcat Reference make Excellent usb cables as well as Ethernet cables yes $1k+ each but well worth it , 

being an Audiophile it’s a constant to upgrade as $$ monies  allow .

Everything matters and effects SQ, including a higher quality streamer, of course.