DAC or Music Streamer?

Mike

Mike

Audioshark
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What's your preference and why?

DAC = USB input requiring a computer (Mac or PC ) in between the data and your DAC.

Music Streamer = connects via Cat 5/6 and pulls the music from your NAS/HD and converts into analog.
 
Mike,

For playing through the entire house, I really like the Apple TV for streaming music from many Internet stations around the world. I use a WW optical to the ARC DAC8. For 2 ch listening I'm really enjoying the Bryston BDP-2 through the ARC DAC - AES/EBU Shunyata Z-Python.

Thanks!
 
Streaming because I haven't had anything that sounds better in my system over the NDS. Yet!

It's sort of a pain to get set up, but once it is, its pretty simple to operate.
 
Using a PC to a streaming device or PC to DAC. Prefer PC to DAC via USB for purity of signal and just to void DLNA topology, but for doing multi-zone/whole-home stuff, the PC to streamer option works well.

Using a streamer by itself is a futile effort when you have a huge database.
 
Both really. My CAPS ZUMA uses JRiver MC (JRMC) to play back files that are stored on the network. The output of the CAPS goes to my Debussy. JRMC is configured to play back all music from RAM rather than disc. I have a pretty fast network too so no issues whatsoever playing back DSD even. I've done a comparison of files stored on the ZUMA and those played back from the network and cannot tell the difference.
 
There is no difference.

And with JRMC and a decent LAN, you can control any other DLNA-compliant device as a renderer. This gives you the highest level of functionality, control, and quality.
 
-E- said:
Using a PC to a streaming device or PC to DAC. Prefer PC to DAC via USB for purity of signal and just to void DLNA topology, but for doing multi-zone/whole-home stuff, the PC to streamer option works well.

Using a streamer by itself is a futile effort when you have a huge database.
Click to expand...

I am not sure if I agree. I am actually using the 808v3 as a streamer (Meridian calls it an Endpoint) to connected to my network and play the music stored on the MC-200 elsewhere in the house. No PC/Server associated noise anywhere around to impact the SQ. The MDMS (aka Sooloos) handles large database rather nicely.
 
I'm using a Hrt Music Streamer 2+. It has worked fine without costing a fortune. I have had some diffculty telling the difference between Dacs. I'm sure if you going spend thousands there better be a difference. Benchmark is supposedly quite good. If you are doing both disc and computer you should look at oppo 105. Those Sabre 32 chips are right up there.
There might be better places to pitch dollars. IMHO.
Others may be more knowledgeable than me on this topic.
 
I'd have to go with Music Streamer. I'm basing that partially on convenience, but that said Streamers usually have good dacs built in and now days some of them even do that 96/24 160/98 402/306 stuff or whatever the hell that is (I can't remember all those numbers everyone uses). To me personally, have a Streamer beats having to drag out the PC every time I want to listen to streaming music. ~Eric
 
still-one said:
I am not sure if I agree. I am actually using the 808v3 as a streamer (Meridian calls it an Endpoint) to connected to my network and play the music stored on the MC-200 elsewhere in the house. No PC/Server associated noise anywhere around to impact the SQ. The MDMS (aka Sooloos) handles large database rather nicely.
Click to expand...

Sorry, but you proved my point entirely. Your streamer is far from by itself.
 
I am using my computer hard drive to stream via ethernet CAT 6 routed to my modified SB Touch, digital coax out to the digital input on my MW Oppo 105. Also use the SB to stream MOG files and internet radio. Really happy with the resulting sound + convenience!
 
The rest of his Meridian/SoolooS gear is using the 808v3 as a DLNA renderer, essentially (it is reliant on the rest of the gear to function in this fashion). It is not a standalone streamer.
 
-E- said:
Sorry, but you proved my point entirely. Your streamer is far from by itself.
Click to expand...

E, Having lived with a Linn Akurate DS for a few years I can tell you that it's very simple in use, and that once the music is ripped to the NAS,you don't need a computer at all.
The Linn pulls the music from the NAS and I control it all from my ipad or iphone. And it sounds better than any CD player I've ever heard, and I've heard a lot of them !!
As far as the amount of content is concerned,you are only limited by your amount of storage on your NAS, and storage is cheap.
 
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