Do Streamer only devices really impact sound quality?


From a layman mindset, a streamer transmits electronic information to a dac via coaxial cable or other connection. The electronic information I believe is standardized for all streamers. That said, the streamer itself could not influence the sound quality heard by the audience. I think it is bit-perfect information coming across to the dac. 

So for instance a Bluesound 2i   vs  Cambridge CXN V2 streamer should sound identical with the same connections and equipment used and of course same streaming service and content.

 

thoughts appreciated if I have this correct?  

dvdgreco

Showing 1 response by rbstehno

If you are going to use usb to a dac (why anybody would is beyond me), then a server will probably make a difference. If you use Ethernet then IME they don’t and you don’t have any issues with jitter or clocking. It’s only with usb that you have to buy all the tweaks/gimmicks to try to get usb to sound good. 
You still have to provide a quality internal network infrastructure with top quality cables to get good quality sound using Ethernet.

For over a decade, the software that is used to read the data has more influence on sq than the hardware. Even when I used an external server years ago, the Auralic Aries, I preferred the sq when I used the Lumin software to access the Aries. Same goes for iTunes, pure music, amarra, audirvana, and Roon.