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Do I Need a Dedicated Streamer?

Hello everyone,

As the title states, I am still unsure of if I need a dedicated streamer and if it would increase the fidelity of my music compared to how I am listening at the moment. Which is using AirPlay 2 from my iPhone to my Hegel H590 Integrated amp.

 

I know that the DAC in the Hegel H590 is considered quite good and it was one of the reasons that I bought the amplifier to begin with. However, would I get a better input using a dedicated streamer for around $1000 (such as the Cambridge CXNV2 for example) or would I be better off leaving things as is?

I am just not sure if airplaying music to the Hegel is degrading the signal in comparison to a streamer that would pull its own data and send it directly to the amplifier? Also, would improving my router placement and wifi signal make any difference to the sound since my Hegel is hardwired using a mesh wifi system?

 

I am open to switching streaming platforms if I can gain something out of it such as resolution but I’m not sure if apple music is the issue in any of this.

 

If the answer to the title is a no. I am curious what I would need to take the quality of my listening experience to the next level or where money would be better spent to achieve that. I do have acoustic panels in my room and have done my fair share of research on speaker placement already.

 

The only thing that I have been considering in the near-future would have to be the isoacoustics gaia 1 feet.

 

My equipment:

Hegel H590 Integrated

KEF Reference 5 Meta

Metra Velox Speaker Cables

 

Thanks for reading.

danb99
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happydad44
5 posts
 

Check out the new Eversolo streamers. A6, A6 Master Edition and the A8. Starting at less than 1K.  Great DAC, fantastic screen options.  XLR, RCA, Digital  outous, SSD slot, and much more.

flyfish77
41 posts
 

As others have stated, streaming will definitely improve your audio quality. 

I think that trying out inexpensive streaming options is a good way to get an understanding of what streaming is all about before dropping big bucks on a high end streamer.  If you try out the Bluesound Node or even the $220 WIIM Pro Plus with the DAC in your Hegel 590, you will not only learn about streaming user interfaces, but you will also find out if your network is up to handling streaming,   Chances are good that either of these options will sound better than using AirPlay.  You can only go up in sound quality from there.

User interfaces for streamers are also part of the evaluation process for streamers.  Some people, myself included, really like the Roon user interface.  Since your Hegel H590 is Roon Ready, you can try out Roon for 14 days for free. If you have a computer that is connected to an Ethernet cable that can run Roon, you can install Roon on it and stream to your Hegel and see how it sounds.  Using an existing computer to run Roon is not a long term solution, but the trial will demonstrate to you how Roon sounds and help you to determine if you like the Roon interface enough to buy a computer/server to go that route.

Good luck in in streaming journey.

ghdprentice
6,511 posts
 

@flyfish77 

Good comment. A very valid approach.

 

This is not the approach I take, because I am in search of the best possible sound and when I do lots of intermediate steps and it always ending up costing me more. But that is my personality and values.
 

I got into streaming early on and streamed using a Mac, PC heavily modified to be quiet, cheap streamers, then finally the enormous gap between my CD player and vinyl disappeared. I climbed from $3K to $5… auditioned $10, $13, and finally bought $22K. I research the heck out of stuff and carefully choose components at a given price level. I could have cut out a couple levels and jumped up to a cost at my average component level and saved time and money. But, as I said, this is me.

 

The sneak up slowly, dip your toe in as a very valid approach for many people.

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