Seeking streamer advice for Tidal but also Netflix, YouTube, etc.

[jcarys]

Have you by chance compared the audio quality of your sheild to a separate streamer of "higher quality" while still using the same dac for both? By that I mean a streamer that is at least a couple thousand dollars... Preferably closer to $15,000? I know it sounds ridiculous, believe me... But that's how crazy the debate of "what's best" is. To all that read this message: Please don't roast me for mentioning a $15,000 streamer. I know you think it's hogwash... I'm just using it as an example lol!

I have not compared the sound quality of the Shield to any high dollar streamer, because there is no need. I'm using the digital HDMI out to a Denon AVR, which is doing all the conversion. There is no reason to spend megabucks for the source to convert to analog and then reconvert to digital in the receiver. The ADC conversion in the receiver is the limiting factor in the chain. You can definitely get a higher specc'ed DAC than the Denon, but whether it would actually translate to any sound improvements in the room is doubtful. And we now have $99 DACs that perform beyond what a human can hear, so again spending thousands of dollars on a digital source just isn't needed anymore. If I needed a streamer, I certainly would spend money on a Wiim or something similar, but it most likely would make very little or a tiny change in sound.

I can compare the sound from playing a BD/DVD/CD/SACD in the same rig from either an Oppo UDP205 or a Sony 707ES. Most of the time I prefer disc based for surround (the higher bitrate is simply a better source), but stereo is so close that it depends on the content. Of course, I don't know what master is coming from the Tidal stream, so their starting point could be better or worse than my local comparison disc. I personally would never again spend big money on digital components, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't. If I were you I would audition as many options as you can locally and find out if you can hear any differences. I would try to sample Wiim, Bluesound, Eversolo, and probably the Marantz M1 before making a decision. Good luck.

 

[Audiotistic]

I have not compared the sound quality of the Shield to any high dollar streamer, because there is no need. I'm using the digital HDMI out to a Denon AVR, which is doing all the conversion. There is no reason to spend megabucks for the source to convert to analog and then reconvert to digital in the receiver. The ADC conversion in the receiver is the limiting factor in the chain. You can definitely get a higher specc'ed DAC than the Denon, but whether it would actually translate to any sound improvements in the room is doubtful. And we now have $99 DACs that perform beyond what a human can hear, so again spending thousands of dollars on a digital source just isn't needed anymore. If I needed a streamer, I certainly would spend money on a Wiim or something similar, but it most likely would make very little or a tiny change in sound.

I can compare the sound from playing a BD/DVD/CD/SACD in the same rig from either an Oppo UDP205 or a Sony 707ES. Most of the time I prefer disc based for surround (the higher bitrate is simply a better source), but stereo is so close that it depends on the content. Of course, I don't know what master is coming from the Tidal stream, so their starting point could be better or worse than my local comparison disc. I personally would never again spend big money on digital components, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't. If I were you I would audition as many options as you can locally and find out if you can hear any differences. I would try to sample Wiim, Bluesound, Eversolo, and probably the Marantz M1 before making a decision. Good luck.

I appreciate your response, thank you. I'm using the DAC in my Trinnov so I'm only concerned with the streaming portion of a streamer... Which everyone on this site agrees is easily satisfied with a very affordably priced streamer... While most people on Audiogon absolutely disagree. Both to the level of laughing at each other for believing in their convictions. I'm just a regular guy caught in the middle trying to educate myself lol. I very much appreciate your recommendations

 

[MaxwellsEq]

I appreciate your response, thank you. I'm using the DAC in my Trinnov so I'm only concerned with the streaming portion of a streamer... Which everyone on this site agrees is easily satisfied with a very affordably priced streamer... While most people on Audiogon absolutely disagree. Both to the level of laughing at each other for believing in their convictions. I'm just a regular guy caught in the middle trying to educate myself lol. I very much appreciate your recommendations

I've worked in professional studios. I've also worked on large "IT" network and computer systems.

Consider this: you complete a spreadsheet with some important accounting details. You save it locally and copy it the "cloud". You email it to colleagues. Two days later a colleague asks about a data point. You open your saved spreadsheet and check your working out. You confirm that you've not made a mistake and the answer is 2.46. You email your colleague an annotated version of the spreadsheet with notes showing your working out.

Now suppose: when you saved the file, did any bits get swapped? When you emailed it, did any bits get swapped? When you opened it after a few days, did any bits get swapped?

Bugs which cause tiny corruptions in spreadsheets or databases etc. are big news because these days we depend on bit-perfect saving and transmission of files.

If you construct a digital audio chain where everything remains bit-perfect, there simply cannot be a change in sound. Bit-perfect streamers must all the sound the same. Ethernet switches and routers thanks to asynchronous working and checksums cannot affect sound. If they did they would mess up our spreadsheets!

 

[Audiotistic]

I completely understand, thank you so much for your input.

 

[Tre2023]

I love my Apple TV as well... Other than the fact it chokes the audio quality. From what I understand the Nvida has "audio passthrough" so it "apparently" allows for max quality on Tidal... But that's what I'm trying to learn/confirm as I have my doubts. This would all be much easier if one could achieve hi res/lossless audio via Apple TV lol.

The Nvidia Shield TV Pro can “preserve audio bit depth and sampling rate” over USB and HDMI when set to do so in the Advanced sound settings.