Do streamers make a difference?

@lalitk wrote:

If someone can’t hear or appreciate the difference between a purpose-built streamer and an off-the-shelf server, it’s a cue to step back and consider the bigger picture…their overall audio system philosophy.

Not every system is configured to reveal that level of nuance ...

Give me a break - could you be a bit more condescending? Saying the difference between streamers to my ears is of lesser magnitude isn’t saying there’s no difference. Compared to my current streaming solution mid level or -priced (DAC/)streamers counting the likes of Lumin P1, NuPrime Evolution Stream and Eversolo A10 is really about difference flavors more than one being better than the other.

What is does take to really open the sonic canvas and make a worthwhile difference is something like a Grimm MU1, but the problem is the sucker comes with a steep addition in price, and currently at least it’s an outlay I’m not prepared to throw at it. The point being: for any meaningful improvement compared to where I am now, it takes a lot of dough. 

And just to be clear: when a "purpose built" streamer up to about $5k can’t improve on a DIY streamer (with low ripple PSU, server motherboard, audibly selected processor, RAM, OS storage type, M.2 NVMe music storage, pro AES/EBU digital out $1k pro sound card and software optimizations), it doesn’t amount to much more than an off-the-shelf unit when all is said and done. 

@phusis lalitk isn't being condescending—he’s just authoritative and highly knowledgeable in the area. Do you have a turntable? If so are all turntables, cartridges and stylus alike? No they aren't and neither are streamers. It's not about flavor,  it's all about the electronics that make one streamer superior over another. Streamers and DACs like anything else continue to evolve and improve.

@fire_water wrote:

lalitk isn't being condescending—he’s just authoritative and highly knowledgeable in the area.

Might well be, but going by his reply just above I'd say he's full of it. 

Do you have a turntable? If so are all turntables, cartridges and stylus alike? No they aren't and neither are streamers.

Did you read what I wrote above? If you did, and was able to comprehend it, you wouldn't reply the above. But for sake of leniency, what was the context of my reply? I'll reiterate: streamers, and that I found the differences between them to be of a lesser magnitude than other component groups.

So where exactly did I say streamers all sounded alike? Nowhere, and of course you should be able to deduce that the same goes for the other categories of equipment, more so even. 

It's not about flavor,  it's all about the electronics that make one streamer superior over another. Streamers and DACs like anything else continue to evolve and improve.

This is not what's really discussed by me on a broader scale, but within a certain range of streamers, which was my context, it can very well be about flavors. Until it's not when that pricier unit (like the Grimm Audio MU1) improves in areas that I regard as objectively better being more resolved, tonally more accurate, better dynamic contrast (lower noise floor), spatially more acute, etc. 

@phusis streamers don't all sound alike and extremely expensive streamers are objectively better. There's a clear difference in SQ between a streamer that comes with a NAD or Cambridge preamplifier, a Bluesound Node, a Lumin,  an Innuos Pulse, and Innuos Pulsar based on my past experiences having owned them. And just when I thought the Pulsar couldn't get better,  I replaced the factory power cord with a custom Furutech power cord and the SQ was significantly better.  USB cables from my Pulsar to my Accuphase DC-37 Processor/DAC also affected SQ. 

@fire_water 

I appreciate the support and thanks for catching my drift. You actually get my point which is more about framing our experiences. And system context, which plays a much bigger role in whether those gains are actually heard. That’s why I brought up system philosophy. Not as a knock, but as context. 

Where I see it a bit differently is in how those differences present themselves in real systems. In my experience, especially in the mid or low tier range, the delta often comes across more as flavor in presentation rather than a clear “this one is objectively superior” across the board. That’s what I meant by nuances and not dismissing engineering, but acknowledging how those design choices translate sonically.

You analogy is spot on but even there, we know synergy and implementation can outweigh hierarchy. A “better” component doesn’t always yield a more meaningful result if the system isn’t set up to reveal or benefit from it.

So for me, it’s less about denying differences and more about how much those differences matter within a given system and set of priorities.

Different paths, same goal…enjoying the music 👍

PS: How’s your search coming along with room acoustics.