Need tips to better my sound



I’m not computer savvy and enjoy the convenience of streaming.
Right now my router goes to my smart TV by ethernet cable. I stream Spotify app on TV through an optical cable to my dac (old parasound zdac) to yamaha integrated(a-s500) to Revel tower speakers.
Would the best Improvement be to get a dedicated streamer such as a blue sound? I heard blue sound doesn’t work with Spotify but maybe I could get Tidal? I have music stored on an external hard drive, but my computer is slow, old and crappy. I enjoy streaming and seeing my music choices on my TV screen. Do I need a computer to utilize a dedicated streamer? I don’t know how to go about improving this budget (ghetto) set up that I’ve got. The only brick-and-mortar store around me either wants to sell me tons of crap  I can’t afford, or Best Buy tells me "sonos".
suggestions? directions? thanks.
128x128labguy

Showing 2 responses by fuzztone

What soix said.

At the $150/yr special you will not find better SQ for the buck than Qobuz.
You can blow $360/yr on Tidal+Roon and get NO better SQ.
Not intersested in proprietary MQA.  Either is Linn, Schiit, etc.
It "does not solve any problem that the world currently has."
I can barely listen to Spotify any more, even to a BT speaker in a motel room. At $120/yr it sounds to me like it's worth $1/week. AND Spotify is digging in against upgrading to even lossless. You can effortlessly transfer your personally made playlists via the Soundiz page. (One p/l at a time for free.)
With a spdif cable from Blunode 2 or 2i to your z you can compare the SQ of both DACs to give a sense of direction on you HiFi journey.
OR
You can grab a closeout Blunode N100 ($300 Amazon) before they are gone, hook to ethernet (its WiFi sux) and toslink it to your z (the N100 internal DAC also sux.) Just resist swapping any cables on the N100 because you need the proverbial dick tweezers to access the jacks.
Also know that all Blunodes will play local lossless+ tracks via flash drive or SSD. (The N100 only suppies enough current for up to a 500 Gb Silicon Power external.) This is easier and quicker than adding music to my Synology NAS, no foldersort.exe needed on SSDs. And it reduces the need to make playlists for easy folder play.
Just be aware that all streamers that I have tried here require sporadic (~monthly) rebooting along with the router (node) to renew the handshake. (This is most likely ComCrap's fault.)
OR
You can put a $160 orange fuse into your yamamama.
Please report on SQ improvements if you go that route.
I really mean it.
If you have a coax or toslink input vacant on your DAC I recommend the Metrum Baby Alambre with Volumio (OR Roon (if you're lazy and rich.)
Email Wouter if you have any questions.
It'll give that BluNode a run for the money, SQwise. Then use the free BubbleUPnP app to control Qobuz. It's better than BluOS. As a bonus it will stream tracks from your phone via WiFi better than BT.
$482 delivered, direct.