• The move to the new server is done. There are some software and database maintenance updates in process. This has us passing the hat around to help out. We appreciate any donations. Seriously, even a dollar helps. The payment page may be found here - https://www.audiokarma.org/support.html

Audiophile Streaming Suggestions

TeslaPower

TeslaPower

AK Member
Any suggestions on Hi quality streaming units for Sirius, Slacker, Pandora type feeds that sound better than a tablet or smart phone as a source?

What are you guys using. With a lousy source of input it doesnt matter how good your gear is.
Thanks in advance.
 
Register to hide this ad
I'm using a Sonos Connect with digital output modified by Wyred4Sound, into a Benchmark DAC2 HGC. It doesn't make internet streams the equivalent of flac files ripped from CD, but it makes them sound pretty good. The stock Connect is pretty good on its own, as well.
 
A good DAC will make your source sound better. Connecting via the headphone jack with a split patch cord into the amp will not sound very good. The PURE Ipod dock has a decent DAC built in and is what I use with the Ipod. The Squeezebox runs into an Arcam rDAC.

If you have an Iphone or Ipod, I would recommend a PURE dock.
 
TeslaPower said:
Any suggestions on Hi quality streaming units for Sirius, Slacker, Pandora type feeds that sound better than a tablet or smart phone as a source?

What are you guys using. With a lousy source of input it doesnt matter how good your gear is.
Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...

Not trying to be too big of an ass, but if you believe "With a lousy source of input it doesn't matter how good your gear is" - why ask the question in the first place? First you want to know about "hi end" and then trash the whole concept.

I would offer that with low data rate audio, the better the dac and associated analog parts of the chain, can go a long way toward making the feed sound better. There is a point where low data rate audio can't be salvaged - no matter what you stick behind it. Slacker has some 128k channels that can sound quite good with the proper equipment. I can't comment on Sirius or Pandora - perhaps they are beyond help - I don't know.

Perhaps you meant to phrase the question differently. In any event, a dedicated PC and a good quality usb dac will produce the best results.

Good luck with your endeavor
 
Your close to being an ass....I dont think you will need much more time attempting to master it.
I asked because I dont think my tablet or my Smart phone are good input devices.
I am searching to discover what others are using as a good source to give a signal worthy to attain a quality sound BECAUSE no matter how good MY gear is, it doesnt matter if MY source sucks.
 
I'm strictly a PC desktop user with wired connections.

Schiit Audio Modi Dac
Audioengine A2 Self Powered Speakers
Yamaha YST-SW012 8-Inch Front-Firing Active Subwoofer.

The speakers are voiced for my listening chair in my home office.

Elevated (furniture 1" felt pads) and toed in.
Pads are also under Subwoofer.

After some experimenting with speaker & sub positioning ... the sound is quite good considering the constraints of current available bit rates of online streaming services.
 
TeslaPower said:
Your close to being an ass....I dont think you will need much more time attempting to master it.
I asked because I dont think my tablet or my Smart phone are good input devices.
I am searching to discover what others are using as a good source to give a signal worthy to attain a quality sound BECAUSE no matter how good MY gear is, it doesnt matter if MY source sucks.
Click to expand...

T

There is a lot of debate on how low can you go with the bit rate, every time I do the experiment with my system, people can tell the difference as we go up through the bit rates on the same song....and like the highest bit rate versions.

Having said that, it depends on how the song was recorded and mastered or remastered. aka Quantization Error and Loudness Wars.

A lot of the new music sounds poor to terrible on good equipment because they played so many tricks to get it to sound OK on low bit rates. aka PsychoAcustics.

I do all of the D to A in stand alone DACs and use a laptop to access the local or remote digital files, this is a work in progress for sound quality.

For D to A I'm also beginning to think that an Integrated amp aka good quality Surround Receiver with a built in D to A converter direct to the amp stage may be the best quality. The Pioneer Elites sound pretty good, especially the TOTL with their noise isolation, low errors, Huge power supplies, analog sections etc...... I have even experimented with using one as just a DAC feeding my Mac gear, an experiment I may return to.

I think the real issue is where do you want to do the D to A decoding, any competent device can feed the digital stream aka phone, tablet, laptop, bluray player etc......
 
I'm using a three-year old, mid-line Acer laptop running Windows and steaming 320 kbps content from MOG and Beats Music. From there it's USB out to a Musical Fidelity V-link 192 USB/SPDIF converter into either a Rega or Musical Fidelity M1 DAC (used DACs in the $400-600 range are a notable step up in performance from new DACs in that price range) via a Cardas SPDIF cable. To my ears this is producing cd quality with some recordings.
 
Last edited:
Bubo said:
... it depends on how the song was recorded and mastered or remastered. aka Quantization Error and Loudness Wars.

A lot of the new music sounds poor to terrible on good equipment because they played so many tricks to get it to sound OK on low bit rates. aka PsychoAcustics.
Click to expand...

Interesting point. I thought it was just me ... but a lot of the new music sounds better on my low res PC rig than my living room stereo rig (better equipment). I thought it was just the fact that I don't use subs on my main rig ... :scratch2:. Food for thought.
 
Condorsat said:
Interesting point. I thought it was just me ... but a lot of the new music sounds better on my low res PC rig than my living room stereo rig (better equipment). I thought it was just the fact that I don't use subs on my main rig ... :scratch2:. Food for thought.
Click to expand...

Psychoacoustics aka tricking your brain by injecting weird noises and hiss into the recording targeted for I-pods, $2 ear buds etc becomes obvious on any decent system.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychoacoustics

Quantization and Error

Quanterr.png


Loudness wars

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Gmex_4hreQ
 
Wishing for higher bit rate streaming services

red-herring.jpg



Many folks wish there was a loss less (high res) streaming service (like a high res version of Spotify music catalog).

But when it comes to new music (the way it was mastered and the intended audience) ... might that not be a Red Herring?.

Like the funny line from an old Jack Nicholson movie ...

Melvin Udall: [to a group of depressed psychiatric patients] What if this is as good as it gets?
Click to expand...
 
Last edited:
Sonos connect and bridge streaming MOG (soon to become Beats) and like it very much. Not exactly the same as CD but very good with "good albums".

I have the Sonos bridge connected to my router which is next to my PC downstairs and can access PC files via iTunes.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom