Rebadging of Streaming Platforms

I do think I would be much more likely to spend money on a DAC (up to a point) than the streamer. 

If you listen to people who’ve built streaming systems it’s pretty clear that everything matters, and matters a lot.  Cheap out on the streamer if you want because you think they all use the same modules, but the overwhelming evidence is that the devil is in the details.  If you look at reviews of streamers like Wolf, Aurender, Grimm, etc. you’ll see there is another level of performance no matter what common base electronics are used.  That’s the bottom line.  Your point is noted, but largely irrelevant. 

No the bottom line is if a person (or most) can’t here a difference then Smart is when to Stop. So imagine say 2% better, what kind of animal can here that difference Certainly not a human ! Now add up all the I think I here a Difference’s, Snake oil included, and the only real hard core fact is the money you’ve wasted. You might have a few Lit, Light, empty pretty cases, bells and whistles and flashey cables to brag about, so all is not lost. Yup we’ve come a long way, 40-50 years learning….What how to listen ? Heard that before Lol
Digital is here, things are changing, there will always be debates along with that marketing B.S. Enjoy 😎

Overwhelming evidence is that the devil is in your ‘pockets’ 😈 A ‘massive’ majority would leave little room if any for a debate correct ? But it’s easy BS for all to sling. Irrelevant as an adjective…not connected with your money  Lol 

Hear: can’t here a difference then 

Ben hearing this for  4o + years now yet analog is still here and we convert digital to analog. 

You might have a few Lit, Light, empty pretty cases, bells and whistles and flashey cables to brag about, so all is not lost. Yup we’ve come a long way, 40-50 years learning….What how to listen ? Heard that before Lol

1971 GTO eh? 

About as un-digital as you get. 

Think I will take my Lucid Air GT for a spin. 

@badgerdms 

Indeed, there are a number of streamers anchored by the open source flexibility of the raspberry pi variants. There are others which utilize a more sophisticated cpu setup but Linux seems to be OS of most. I can imagine that many of the manufacturers today are taking advantage of the pi as their core streaming platform and they write custom interfaces for their specific application. Like so many things in life, how the signal is addressed to feed the input, power supply implementation(s), what is done to the digital signal on the output side and how the handoff takes place are where the art of the individual designers is on full display. Noise rejection is also a big deal.

I've been streaming for alot of years and there are distinct performance levels. Some believe it is a matter of minor degrees...and within certain performance bands it is. There is quite a performance improvement from a normal home computer and an optimized mac mini. There is a considerable improvement from a mac mini to a purpose built streamer. Then you have the performance leap from there to the Aurender/Innuos level, then to the Grimm/Taiko level and on up. Is it worth the $$$ to move up the performance band? Thats an individual choice. For many, the entry Innuos level is a terrific stopping point. For those who want more, there are more sophisticated approaches as you move up the $$$ heirarchy.

For those who believe its snake oil or marketing BS, I would respectfully submit you havent heard it for yourself. A healthy dose of skepticism is always good...but to deny the performance improvements aren't available and are figments of an imagination is the equivalent to offering that all phono cartridges sound the same...that all phono stages sound the same....