Streamer help.
- Thread starter Snappahead
- Start date
cpt_paranoia
Addicted Member
Spotify is a lossy, relatively low quality service. At best, 320kbps MP3.
But you seem to be dissatisfied with all digital sources. It might be illuminating to try digitising your RTR or vinyl, and then playing back through you DAC...
cpt_paranoia
Addicted Member
Agreed, but I got the feeling the OP was otherwise happy with their system; they have subsequently confirmed that.
Not sure what my sig has got to do with anything; I don't have one, and it's not my system in question... I usually comment from a theoretical pov, because it avoids the whole 'revealing system' thing...
Sorry, that was directed at the OP after they mentioned their sig.
The point was to dump Sonos for a different streamer.
cpt_paranoia
Addicted Member
If that's what you want to do, then the suggested Wiim is a good option.
But it is unlikely to improve your digital audio quality, since it does not seem to be an equipment limitation.
jayvis
Addicted Member
Well, that's purely subjective. And the OP probably doesn't want to go there in this thread.
Maybe what I have is the best I'm going to get? I keep hearing how digital music can be spectacular. I'm not sold. But then again, I'm not willing to roll the dice on a $ 5000 Sim Audio Moon streamer to find out, and ultimately be disappointed. I'd throw a grand at it, if someone could tell me that would work. So far, not so much.
jayvis
Addicted Member
Every component in your system, especially speakers, will determine what you can or can't hear. Only you can decide if you're willing to spend the time and money to experiment. For some, their systems are never good enough.
All I can tell you is that digital music can indeed sound spectacular. Of course, as with all mediums, the sound quality of the original recording plays a big role. In other words, a poor recording will sound bad on digital, same as it will on LP, tape, etc.
I own a variety of DACs, ranging from $200-750. All of them can deliver excellent sound quality. A $5000 device may well offer some marginal improvement, but is not required.
Digital has its own characteristics, just as does vinyl, tape, etc. Perhaps you just don't like those characteristics. But Spotify uses a compromised format (MP3), so it cannot sound as good as a lossless format (as used by all of the other streaming services).
On the same theme, your Sonos devices are limited to CD quality...as opposed to the higher resolutions offered by the other streaming services. However, that would not appear to be the bottleneck, since even CD quality can sound as good as analog (at least to my ears, and on my systems...which are not as nice/expensive as yours).
I own a variety of DACs, ranging from $200-750. All of them can deliver excellent sound quality. A $5000 device may well offer some marginal improvement, but is not required.
Digital has its own characteristics, just as does vinyl, tape, etc. Perhaps you just don't like those characteristics. But Spotify uses a compromised format (MP3), so it cannot sound as good as a lossless format (as used by all of the other streaming services).
On the same theme, your Sonos devices are limited to CD quality...as opposed to the higher resolutions offered by the other streaming services. However, that would not appear to be the bottleneck, since even CD quality can sound as good as analog (at least to my ears, and on my systems...which are not as nice/expensive as yours).
Vinyl, FM, Cd's, tape sound spectacular. Streamimg....ehhh
Thanks for your input. Appreciate it.
jayvis
Addicted Member
Try a different streamer in your system using Tidal HiFi or Quobuz and compare to your Sonos. If the streamer you try has an internal DAC, you can compare it to your D100's DAC to see which one you prefer. If you don't hear any improvements, send the streamer back and just keep what you have, or eliminate streaming as a source. Concentrate on what you enjoy.
Try a different streamer in your system using Tidal HiFi or Quobuz and compare to your Sonos. If the streamer you try has an internal DAC, you can compare it to your D100's DAC to see which one you prefer. If you don't hear any improvements, send the streamer back and just keep what you have, or eliminate streaming as a source. Concentrate on what you enjoy.
Streaming is great for summer when the system and all the Zone 2 speakers are playing in and outside the house. I tried Tidal, did not like it. I'll Try Quobuz and see where that goes. Thanks
cpt_paranoia
Addicted Member
If it is subjective, then it is subjective from the OP's PoV, which is the only one that matters.
BUT the OP seems happy with CDs, played through the DAC and the rest of their system. Since Sonos can support CD quality streaming, but the OP is unhappy with the sound through the Sonos and DAC, it seems unlikely that the equipment is the problem. Rather, the Spotify lossy compressed source, that has been pointed out a number of times, may well be the limitation.
Try a hjgh-resolution service (Qobuz, Amazon) with a streamer capable of higher resolution than the Sonos devices. Wiim, Bluesound Node, Cambridge, Sim Audio, Mytek, whatever.
My point was/is that you need to try high-res streaming, thru a device capable of delivering it (not Sonos). I suggested the Wiim because it is so cheap and provides bit-perfect output. As I said above, if this doesn't provide great sound quality, the marginal improvements from spending more $$$ aren't going to solve the problem either.
My point was/is that you need to try high-res streaming, thru a device capable of delivering it (not Sonos). I suggested the Wiim because it is so cheap and provides bit-perfect output. As I said above, if this doesn't provide great sound quality, the marginal improvements from spending more $$$ aren't going to solve the problem either.
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It's the Sonos, especially the Port as it is not bit perfect, the Connect S2 is perhaps better as it is. I work with a system that has 6 Sonos boxes, two Ports and four Connect S2s, in it and I would not have one in my system at all...
Any high resolution streams are dumbed down by the Sonos system. We also have three Aurenders at that house and they are much better than the Sonos' digital output in SQ, as well they should be...but 24/192 streams are passed by the Aurenders to their DACs perfectly. The Sonos wont even play high res streams, much less anything encoded with MQA...I much prefer Qobuz as it does not depend on proprietary licensed hardware/software to deliver high res music./
https://www.hiresaudio.online/cd-quality-internet-radio/
Any high resolution streams are dumbed down by the Sonos system. We also have three Aurenders at that house and they are much better than the Sonos' digital output in SQ, as well they should be...but 24/192 streams are passed by the Aurenders to their DACs perfectly. The Sonos wont even play high res streams, much less anything encoded with MQA...I much prefer Qobuz as it does not depend on proprietary licensed hardware/software to deliver high res music./
https://www.hiresaudio.online/cd-quality-internet-radio/