Sound quality differences in streamers

@yyzsantabarbara i am sorry, I forgot to respond.  I had a customer who was without digital due to a product failure and I sold him my Klimax DSM sample and had to wait for a new one which took a while and is going to be on demo in customers homes for a couple weeks.  I have not had a chance.  At some point I will.  
 

What is interesting is I am not hearing much of a difference between server vs stream on Linn devices, I suspect due to the robust buffer that Linn needs for its Exakt system.  It will be interesting to see if optical does have an impact.  
 

I did get some swtitches and other devices (brands will remain unmentioned)  that I have tested prior to my oladra in the chain they have had no impact that I could perceive or they created issues that prevented testing. One device failed and others have caused network and connection issues. I have not found anything that works and makes a meaningful difference.    

@sns - I am curious how I might configure a clean/dirty side network.  My music server is hard-wired to the mesh router base unit and runs Roon Server (core) for three systems.  The streamer (Roon endpoint) in the main music system is hard wired from the same switch as the server but two other systems have streamer/endpoints that are wired to mesh satellite units on the same wi-fi as we use for television and computers.  Do you have any suggestions of how I could set up a clean/dirty side network?  If no, would the Switch X be beneficial for my set-up? Thanks

In any case, i hope you leave yourself open to the possibility that the digital source of a server or a streamer is as vital and primary to a sound system, as a pre, an amp and speakers are.

@kevn 

Sadly, I am going to have to disappoint you. I am open to the possibility that a streamer can make a difference in sound quality, however I doubt that "vital" accurately represents it, and "primary" it ain’t.

I realize this statement puts me in the company of men who own Naim gear. I am mortified, but what’s a person going to do.

You mention elsewhere that you are a trained architect (I’ve never met untrained ones), so I’m going to guess that you have some passing familiarity with how stuff gets built. Like, you prep and stabilize your site, pour your foundation, erect your walls, etc. Same goes for building an audio system; there is a process involved, and a rational way to go about it. Sane people don’t build their systems around streamers any more than you build your buildings around sliding closet doors.

I am not denying the importance of closet doors, mind you; just that there is a right place for everything. 

Next up: why would a streamer that merely transports ones and zeros make a difference in sound quality? Is devinplombier insane? Stay tuned

O P here. I appreciate but certainly didn’t except this many responses on a subject which has been hashed over before. Thanks. I was this close to ordering the Volumio RIVO+ plus outboard power supply but because I am initially planning on WiFi connection only I read the RIVO suffers connectivity wise. I’ve read that the Cambridge EXN100 is quite capable with great results via WiFi. Still reading, still researching, still thinking —

@devinplombier 

Very interesting topic.  And I’m sure all will be shocked that I have a different view than @kevn  does as it relates to digital v analog.  I think perhaps a more apt analogy is as follows:

1) Reading the source - in the analog realm, everything starts with accurate reading of the music as described physically in the grooves.  Speed of turntable, tonearm and cartridge setup (e.g., VTA, VTF, etc.) and the stylus itself all contribute to how accurately the grooves are read.  In the digital world, putting streamers aside for a moment, the comparable factors for a cd player involve the transport mechanism and the laser.  In both examples, this all happens before conversion to an electrical/analog signal.  Therefore accuracy is really the sole goal here.  And accuracy is obviously far easier to achieve in the digital realm (which I think supports @devinplombier ’s point).

2) Conversion to electrical/anslog - here’s where it gets interesting and more challenging, and where lots of differences emerge, both in the digital and analog realms.  For analog, the movement of the cantilever is converted to an electrical signal connected to the moving magnet or moving coil.  And then you’ve got the gain required and RIAA conversion.  Holy smokes, it’s a gd miracle!  On the digital side the “electrical signal” is created by the DAC, which is why we always talk about the DAC as operating in the analog realm.  

Ok, so what makes a streamer special or different from the CD transport?  Absolutely nothing, and that’s the point.  It’s just a different transport whose only purpose should be to read the source material accurately before it is converted to an analog signal.  Just as with turntables and cd transports, streamers can do a better or worse job of adding noise (distortion), but the objective is just accuracy.  There are no “musical” streamers.