Anyone heard any differences between streamers (streamer only, not DAC)? Or better yet, done any blind testing of different streamers (not using any built in DAC). I am asking about only the streamer hooked to an external dac with a high quality streaming service? Thanks.
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Depend how hard you believe in magic and in the positivity of electrons.
Yes. Just last week, I ordered a wiim mini for my father and hooked it up to my system when it was delivered. Compared it to my node w/ upgraded lps. Not double-blind testing or anything like that, just a no-expectations a/b test. Only difference was that I used coax out from the node and optical from the mini. Node was noticeably better. The wiim just sounded thin and less dynamic. It wasn’t a massive difference like Bluetooth compared to a hardwired network, but it was definitely noticeable. Especially in the upper and lower frequencies. Cymbals kind of scatter off with the mini and had a more defined decay with the node. That was the easiest thing to pick up on. Bass was less pronounced. It wasn’t that it was quieter, just not as authoritative.
I have other opinions about other streamers I’ve heard, but these are the only 2 I’ve heard in the same system, a/b style.
A Raspberry Pi Zero (<$30) gives you a bit perfect, transparent streamer. The only reason to spend more is to get one with a built in DAC if you don’t already have DAC capabilities in your system. Or to get one with Dirac or PEQ.