Ohhh man what I went through last year to get my s$%t wired up... Changed my entire LAN from copper to fiber, new router with SFP+ port and all fiber-switches. And all gear, switches, router, FMCs and EtherRegen have linear power supplies. What my system sounds like today is beyond compare of what it sounded like a year ago. I still find local files stored on my NAS to sound slightly better than Tidal HiFi. As in, a little better treble extension, air, deeper bass, improved phasing, etc, etc. The audible difference is similar to adding in a new and appropriately located linear power supply unit. But my streaming setup now rivals my Ayre, Pass, VPI/Ortofon, PS Audio and Legacy Focus driven vinyl rig. They were so far apart a year ago that it was laughable. And I still feel like there is more to be gained. Experimentation is fun and frustrating all at once while draining the wallet.
A different world
For decades I have struggled to get digital even close to comparable to analog. Then finally a couple years ago after lots of upgrading and experimentation I succeeded. Streaming is equally satisfying with analog, very, very comparable. The full soundstage, instruments suspended in space, tonal balance, dead silent background, and details of brass cymbals … etc. Red Book CDs through my CD player are bested by my streamer with Qobuz or Tidal with hi-Rez versions.
A new world. It takes a while to get it. No longer confined to music you “own” to play over and over. Replay is supplanted by exploration. You love an new (or old album) and hit, “add to library”. It is yours.
So, HiFi+ magazine has an article on building a European 21st Century Jazz Library. I just start with the first album in the list and listen (add to library), the 2nd album (add to library), the third… the forth, fifth… a whole new category of incredible music to sit along side Miles Davis and Hank Moberly. Just a couple days in the life of a audiophile streamer. I could have never predicted this as a possibility ten years ago.
You love music? The goal of having an infinite audiophile library is now possible. It is possible at any high end level… just requires knowledge that it can be done… and I guess give up the idea that there is something special about your CD collection, or players.
I have a 2,000 vinyl albums, play them, usually one a day. They are fun, occasionally sound ever slightly better… but not significantly, I like them for nostalgic reasons.
Showing 2 responses by audiom3
@ghdprentice if you think you ’got there’ with just a few wall warts, congratulations. For others, it seemingly never ends as we just find more and more improvements through experimentation. I have no complaints with my journey so don’t be sorry. I love learning new things.
PS - I had posted in another EtherRegen thread here that the ER made little difference in my fiber LAN. But I recently bought a $9 linear wall wart and it made a stark difference. Very surprised to read that Uptone is confident in their stock SMPS and argue that you won’t really do better. It only took $9 to beat the pants off of it. I’ve since gone ahead and ordered a full linear PSU box because I am so impressed by the improvement in SQ from said wall wart. |