Do streamers make a difference?

Streamers are like every other high end audio component the higher the quality provided the sound design objectives are in alignment with your own, the better they sound. 

Is this saying that they make a difference or that improving a streamer will make as much difference as other components? 

Part of the challenge of this hobby is where and how much time, money, and effort should be focused on improving this or that aspect in a system. 

in this discussion i think dave (@hilde45) is on to the critical point

where is the $ and effort spent to get the greatest sonic impact? 

first tier -- room treatment/setup, speaker/subs selection, speaker/amp compatibility, source selection (not optimization)

second tier -- source selection (assuming the source, be it tt/cart or dac/streamer are working pretty well - let’s say, at 85-90% of ideal, as a base case)

third tier -- source optimization -- tube rolling, streamer choice, cleansing/clocks -- and preamp/amp selection (middle of the chain so to speak...)

fourth tier -- cable selection, physical isolation of components, core/cpu capacity, tweaks and so on

something like this I think is about right.... of course ymmv

@fastfreight 

Ironically, one of the reasons I chose to get a separate streamer is to distance it from the computer running the server function. No data, just rationale. My other more important reason was that I hoped/assumed that a new streamer made by Nagra would be superior to an older one made by Roon.

And I thank you for your kind words.

Streamers are different from each other just as other components are. Earlier in my audiophile journey I tried streamers that came with a Yamaha preamplifier,  a NAD preamplifier,  and one that came wirh the Cambridge Azur preamplifier. I then purchased a McIntosh MA12000 integrated amp and experimented with a Bluesound Node, a Lumin, an Innuos Pulse and an Innuos Pulsar. Each streamer was a step up. I now have Accuphase components and there is a clear difference between the Innuos Pulse and Pulsar. The Pulsar takes streaming to an entirely different level and worth all the money spent.

And just when I thought the Pulsar was the endgame,  I replaced the factory cord with a custom Furutech cord and the improvement was immediate and next level once again.

Good Morning @tcutter ,

Ironically, one of the reasons I chose to get a separate streamer is to distance it from the computer running the server function. No data, just rationale.

I get that.  I keep all my computer things (except my Scion and Grimm) in my office. (Modem/ router  > Switch > Switch > Audio feeds , all with nice Linear power supplies).

But having Core reside in my Scion  (or Grimm), avoiding LAN connections here seems to work great for me.  Now I never  need to visit the office to check on my Core / Server.  More direct perhaps.  Quite a passion this is.

Anyone heard the $6k Lumin U2 streamer. I just looked at a photo of it, and I see that it has a fibre optic input. I was under the impression that it was only the $10k Lumin U2x that had the fibre input. I used to own the Lumin X1 and it was a great streamer, but just a so-so DAC. The U2 and U2x are only streamers.