Streamer as transport to external DAC, does streamer need a LPS?

[PolarisPrime]

I am just entering the audiophile scene. Apologies for a very specific question. I could not find the answer anywhere on the Internet.
Question is basicly as the title says:

Streamer as transport to external DAC with a LPS, does streamer also need a LPS to (in theory) improve or not affact the sound quality?

More about my beginners setup:

BluOS Node Nano as a Streaming transport. Set feed of hi-res signal into my DAC. DAC is a Fiio K9 Pro ess and my headset is a sennheiser hd800s. The Fiio does have a LPS build in. I do NOT hear a hiss sound when music is on. So thinking LPS would not make a difference for my ears? Also if it is a transport, should just be data that goes into DAC

Side notes:
I really like the fiio k9 pro ess combo with my hd800s. My first experience with decent audio. Wow, it really lifts the fogg. I really like the neutral sound of the Fiio. Although not much experience on other DACs. Music over bluetooth, never again for me!

Build in streamer connect services is really bad, so that's why I went with an external streamer.

As next step I would have liked to move to a matching stack and not stay in all in one category, but could not sell fiio for a decent amount in my area and could not accept sunk cost (850 euro buying price -> bellow 400 euro asking price).
Also I like the sound, not sure what brand would have a similar sound. I cannot buy DACS left and right. In store listening is I think biased on wanting it to sound better and also you are in a store not at home.

 

[MaxwellsEq]

Streamer as transport to external DAC with a LPS, does streamer also need a LPS to (in theory) improve or not affact the sound quality?

Hi welcome to ASR. No, the streamer doesn't need a linear power supply.

 

[boxerfan88]

Generally no, but yes if you like/prefer having a LPS.

 

[PolarisPrime]

Generally no, but yes if you like/prefer having a LPS.

Lol. You mean if I like to have an extra gadget?

 

[staticV3]

Linear power supplies are a particularly persistent superstition in the audio world.

Everyone swears they improve audio quality, even big brands get in on the game by offering LPS upgrade, basically no one bothers doing controlled listening tests to find out it's complete nonsense.

 

[PolarisPrime]

Generally no, but yes if you like/prefer having a LPS.

Thank you for you welcoming me to LPS.
Great site.
Could not find the fiio k9pro ess in the testing list. Did I jump the hype train and thr brand and quality is considered sub par by this community? In any case it got me interested in hifi. Man..did I miss out in the past listening on my phone via bluetooth

 

[PolarisPrime]

Linear power supplies are a particularly persistent superstition in the audio world.

Everyone swears they improve audio quality, even big brands get in on the game by offering LPS upgrade, basically no one bothers doing controlled listening tests to find out it's complete nonsense.

Thanks for replying. As beginner I am beginning to see that there are some believes and this hobby connects technology measurements and hearing bias which creates fired debates.

 

[staticV3]

Could not find the fiio k9pro ess in the testing list. Did I jump the hype train and thr brand and quality is considered sub par by this community?

There are measurements of a K9 Pro prototype on the chinese measurement site L7Audiolab: https://www.l7audiolab.com/f/fiio-k9pro/
Though they might be of the AKM variant.

L7 uses the same audio analyzer as Amir (and with arguably more care put into the measurements), so their results are as trustworthy as those here.

Overall, I'd say FiiO's engineering is just fine.

Not the creme of the crop, but still competent and when used for listening instead of as lab equipment (like we often pretend we do here with excessive attention to inaudible features ), then their stuff will be identical to TOTL gear from RME, Topping, Octo etc.

 

[PolarisPrime]

There are measurements of a K9 Pro prototype on the chinese measurement site L7Audiolab: https://www.l7audiolab.com/f/fiio-k9pro/
Though they might be of the AKM variant.

L7 uses the same audio analyzer as Amir (and with arguably more care put into the measurements), so their results are as trustworthy as those here.

Overall, I'd say FiiO's engineering is just fine.

Not the creme of the crop, but still competent and when used for listening instead of as lab equipment (like we often pretend we do here with excessive attention to inaudible features ), then their stuff will be identical to TOTL gear from RME, Topping, Octo etc.

Thanks. And thank you google for the translate option . Luckily I did spend some money on balanced cable for the HD800s from audioninja)