Bluetooth DAC vs Music Streamer. What's the Difference?

[SanDiegoMike]

Hey Guys and Gals,

Apologies, but my first questions might appear unrelated to the title of my post.

I am currently using a Douk Audio P1 Bluetooth/Preamp/DAC to stream music to my Luxman L-505uxii integrated amp. The music is streamed from the Qobuz app on my iphone via bluetooth to the Douk P1. So here is where my confusion begins: Is the music streamed though my iphone being processed on my iphone DAC and then sent to the Douk, or is the iphone merely sending 1s and 0s to the Douk's DAC?

OK, this is where my questions become relevant to the post title. I am considering buying a new device to stream hi-def audio to my Luxman amp. However, I am confused when some devices are called an "Audio Streamer" (Eversolo DMP-A6, WiiM Ultra, et. al.) and others called a "Bluetooth DAC" (SMSL SU-9N,Eversolo DAC Z-6, et. al.). It seems "Audio Steamers" typically include an RJ-45 LAN interface, while "Bluetooth DACs" do not. I would think that if the streamer connected directly to the internet via LAN, the music/data/1s and 0s would come directly to the streamer without first going through the phone, and the phone would merely control the streamer. Or would the streamer eliminate the phone, altogether?

Is anyone willing to take a shot at helping me organize these untethered questions/thoughts that are in my head?

I hope this post is appropriate for this forum.

Thanks,
Michael

 

[staticV3]

Hi @SanDiegoMike! Welcome to ASR.

Is the music streamed though my iphone being processed on my iphone DAC and then sent to the Douk, or is the iphone merely sending 1s and 0s to the Douk's DAC?

Bluetooth output is an output of digital audio data, which means that the iPhone's DAC, which by definition can only output analog (Digital to Analog Converter), cannot possibly be involved.

I would think that if the streamer connected directly to the internet via LAN, the music/data/1s and 0s would come directly to the streamer without first going through the phone, and the phone would merely control the streamer.

Correct.
When streaming audio from the cloud to your streamer, then that audio never passes through your iPhone.

The iPhone merely directs the streamer to the right web address and acts as the user interface/remote control.

 

[Peterbean]

Interesting

 

[Manukatche]

Hello SanDiego Mike

I dunno Apple but on Android, if you use Qobuz app it will always output 48kHz/16 bit because that's the sampling rate of the OS. If you want to output 192kHz/24bit, use UAPP for USB output or Bubble UPnP for wifi output.

About Bluetooth, even if it's LDAC or other, it have a lot of interferences because this signal is weak regarding wifi signal.

I advice you to stream Qobuz via Bubble UPnP ( wifi ) from your phone or tab to the DAC

If you don't want to replace your DAC, use UAPP via USB or a wifi dongle.