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What is the function/pupose of music plyr/streamer

Sorry guys another neophyte here with a simple question.
I am going to set up a Computer sourced link into my audio system (sooner or later, once I figure this out).
I "think" I have the basics of the chain down; Computer, Bridge/Converter, DAC, Amp. However I don't understand what advantage a music player/streamer would afford me.(I will be using a MAC and using mostly Apple Lossless files). So this invites 3 questions for me.
1. Why do I or would I need a Music player or Music Streamer? (they are the same, right?)
2. When used, where should it go in the chain?
3. While these devices often list support for many different kinds of audio files, almost none actually say they support Apple lossless, is this because they don't or they just don't want to spell it out?
Thanks for your patience with some of us new/old (double jeopardy) guys.
But any info would be much appreciated.
246810
russe41
95 posts
 
The music streamer is the DAC. You can take usb out of the mac, through the music streamer and into your computer, then ad a good software program (I use JRiver) of your choice to tie system together. You can also use external hard drives for file storage.
larryken
537 posts
 
check out my rig...it's real simple but effective.
loomisjohnson
1,905 posts
 
i just posted with many of the same questions regarding my recently-acquired squeezebox touch and learned the following:
1. my squeezebox does play flac (apple lossless files), which a number of other media players won't; if the device doen't state that it supports a particular format i would not assume that it does;
2. if you're using the media player in the same room as your computer, it is somewhat redundant--i.e. the computer can perform the same functions of managing and playing files, etc. as noted above, the media player may have a better dac than the internal dac of the computer and thus sound better, tho if you're using a separate external dac this advantage is negated. the key advantage of the media player would be the ability to stream files from your computer in one room to another room (or, if you're not using a computer to play files off a iusb drive or sd card assuming that your media player has this ability).
audioengr
3,282 posts
 
There are two basic types of digital computer music streaming: 1) USB or Firewire driven and 2) network driven

If you are using USB or Firewire, it uses some or all of the audio stack S/W in the computer. Therefore, improvements in sound quality can be achieved by using Amarra, Jriver or Pure Music player software to avoid some of the audio stack nasties. Once these are avoided, the audio quality can be the best available, as supporting hi-res.

If you are using wired or wireless networked via Squeezebox Touch, then the data is the data and the audio stack is not involved. Player software is custom for each device, such as Sonos or Touch (Squeezecenter) or AppleTV (iTunes). Most of these do not support hi-res or are limited to 24/96.

Apple creates kind of a hybrid of networking and core audio, so its not a good thing. Their airplay sends the file WiFi only from core audio and encodes it as apple lossless. Not good. its not just "data".

Steve N.
Empirical Audio
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