@tcutter Yes, your understanding is correct, as I see that your X4 interface essentially functions as a DDC - USB in and different, clocked(synchronous) format out. What I explained applies only where the DAC receives its input via a USB connection.
Do streamers make a difference?
Just added the Nagra Streamer and I can wholeheartedly say yes, it does. Without buttons, remote control or a screen, it is elegant in its simplicity. On the other hand, its music selection is anything but simple as it accommodates Qobuz Connect, Tidal Connect, and Spotify Connect. It is Roon ready/Roon Tested, JPLAY Certified, and plays with Audirvāna, Airplay 2, UPnP/dlna for local files and vTuner for radio access.
It is a wonderful device and I hear more music and I hear the music more clearly. But in the interest of full disclosure, is it the streamer or the result of removing a USB connection?
My previous system used a Roon Nucleus Plus as server and streamer and was fed via an AudioQuest Vodka RJ/E ethernet cable from an Xfinity XB7-T modem/router. The Nucleus was then connected via an AudioQuest Dragon USB cable to a Playback Designs USB-X4 interface, which connected to a Playback Designs MPD-8 DAC using their proprietary high-bandwidth fiberoptic cable. In addition to the fiberoptic connection providing galvanic isolation, the USB-X4 also reduces jitter with a clock that is identical to the clock in the MPD-8.
The new system has the Nucleus and the Nagra Streamer each connected via Vodka ethernet cables to the Xfinity XB7-T. Nagra and Playback Designs share design technology and the Nagra Streamer connects to the MPD-8 with the same proprietary fiberoptic connection as the USB-X4 and also incorporates the identical clock, yielding the same sonic benefits in terms of noise and jitter reduction.
There is definite improvement in terms of detail and space. There is simply more to the music. I venture that the streamer contributes the lion’s share but acknowledge that I have removed a USB connection from the flow, which may also contribute to the difference.
While I believe it is a great addition to my system, the Nagra is not for everybody since its connectivity is limited to only two outputs, the second being an S/PDIF. The USB port is an input for hard and flash drives.
The matching Nagra Compact PSU almost doubles the purchase price so I have ordered a Teddy Pardo LPS to replace the included SMPS.
I do not use a network switch since I have only the two ethernet connections and see no reason to isolate one from the other. I also believe clocking is not an issue, but I am interested in what others think on both fronts.
Of note, EMM employ a similar proprietary fiberoptic cable set-up but utilize a different format that is not compatible with Nagra and Playback Designs.
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Yes they can and often do. Streamers are merely specialized computers. Lots of ways to design and program them, including to sound a particular way. Those marketed to audiophiles do so to appeal to that particular target audience, usually in a manner that helps differentiate from others. That can include aesthetics, features and even producing a desired "house sound" to differentiate from others. |
In my system, where I use Roon to stream Tidal and Qobuz, and to manage stored music files, I notice significant sonic differences between the sound of streamers (i.e., Roon endpoints), and little to no differences between servers running Roon Core. I am currently directly comparing two different streamers, my Sonore Signature Rendu SE Deluxe optical and a recently added Innuos Stream 3 with an outboard Innuos PhoenixUSB reclocker. I was able to set things up so I am able to switch between the two streamers in less than 30-seconds with the output going through the same DAC and downstream components/speakers. So far, the comparison is much closer than I expected, with both units sounding very good and the differences being more a matter of sonic preference than a case of one being clearly "better" than the other. |
I also use Roon with various streaming sources. Each can and often does sound quite a bit different. DAC used in each case is probably the biggest factor, though two different sources to same DAC may sound different as well, but generally less so. An example is ASIO versus WASAPI source on the same PC sound similarly good via asynchronous USB connection to DAC, but still very subtly different.
Roon core/server used has little or no impact on sound. The main thing there is that the computing engine is powerful enough to run Roon efficiently and reliably and that network connections have sufficient bandwidth. I find 2g wifi is sufficient if set up properly in a manner that ensures a strong connection using either mesh or wifi extenders. Roon does recommend a wired network connection between core/server and router, which is best but I find not an absolute requirement. I can easily recommend this latest gen Asus NUC PC (cost: ~ $1K) to run Roon core both efficiently and reliably:
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“Nagra and Playback Designs share design technology and the Nagra Streamer connects to the MPD-8 with the same proprietary fiberoptic connection as the USB-X4 and also incorporates the identical clock, yielding the same sonic benefits in terms of noise and jitter reduction.” This is the X-factor in retrieving the optimal performance from your Nagra streamer. When I first looked at Nagra, I knew N-Link would be essential to unlocking the streamer’s full potential. And LPS would be the next logical step! Congrats! |
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