@lalitk thank you sir. Your advise and expertise has been very encouraging. I just included a better rendering implementing the 4 ceiling box clouds and quadratic diffuser. I can't wait to put this altogether. Now that I've installed the motorized chocolate brown solar shades these box clouds will "ground" the space nicely.
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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Just looked at the pic 8…WOW! Your room has that “modern lodge meets high-end listening sanctuary vibe” where acoustics and aesthetics are working in complete harmony 😊 The motorized chocolate brown solar shades definitely adds a nice touch. Well done! PS: I’ve saved a photo of your room as inspiration for my future projects 🤫 |
I'd like to think artists are benefiting from streaming, hopefully they are. But I've noticed something strange on TIDAL. On a few occasions TIDAL directed me to my favorite artists like Bobo Stenson or Tord Gustavsen but the music and artists clearly aren't the same person or genre of music and something entirely different. It's as if their names have been hijacked. And this goes for other artists as well. So what's going on here? And why is TIDAL allowing this? |
@phusis Thanks for the thoughtful reply. One small clarification though: my point wasn't primarily about personal conviction or investment preference — it was about using a comparative framework to make better purchasing decisions -- by me, for me. By anyone, for themselves. If streamer differences are at the low end of the audibility spectrum relative to amplifiers, preamps, and DACs, then an audiophile trying to get the most out of their system should weigh a streamer upgrade against what the same money would buy elsewhere in the chain. That's not really about trusting your own ears versus others' — it's about allocating resources where the theoretical and empirical basis for audible improvement is strongest. For most people in most systems, that's unlikely to be the streamer. If that person happens to want to upgrade the streamer *despite* the fact that it's not going to move the needle more than another change they could make, that's of course their choice. Some people also like to take the longer route, the scenic route, etc. All of that is beyond criticism. |
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