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Streamer versus Computer?
- Thread starter Gorgonzola
- Start date
jcarys
Active Member
I still use a computer primarily, just because it's easier on a desktop setup. However, playing Qobuz yesterday I had a couple of times when the CPU hit max and I got a quick click or stutter on the music. A small negative, but it's still there. When playing back on my main system, I still use the Nvidia Shield, which is dependable as a streamer, outside of forgetting Atmos now and again.
melomane13
Active Member
sound pressure meter to calibrate the channels : I doubt that's accurate enough. use voltmeter on power amp.
As have been said many times in this thread, streamers are computers. Who cares?
Just use what suits your needs. Personally, I use a Raspberry Pi 4. It does both streaming (via shairport-sync) and local playback (via MPD). I am... fairly knowledgeable of Linux systems, and so my custom setup (using ALARM + various software bits + CamillaDSP) is perhaps not for everyone, but it is easy, and streamlined for me. I don't think I've spent more than 15 minutes of work on it over the past 5 years or so. But to get to that point of "carefree bliss", choosing both the software bits as well as the hardware were carefully done.
If you think a streamer suits your needs better, use one. What's the big deal?
Just use what suits your needs. Personally, I use a Raspberry Pi 4. It does both streaming (via shairport-sync) and local playback (via MPD). I am... fairly knowledgeable of Linux systems, and so my custom setup (using ALARM + various software bits + CamillaDSP) is perhaps not for everyone, but it is easy, and streamlined for me. I don't think I've spent more than 15 minutes of work on it over the past 5 years or so. But to get to that point of "carefree bliss", choosing both the software bits as well as the hardware were carefully done.
If you think a streamer suits your needs better, use one. What's the big deal?
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Agree. Like you said - if we define the term "computer" by having a CPU, memory, storage, software/firmware and a basic user interface or the IPO (input-processing-output) nature, all streamers are computers... while clearly not every computer is a streamer (you have to install additional software). Very few streamers will pose a fundamental bottleneck in sound quality these days, just pick whatever combination of design and features tickles your fancy.
Indeed. Some others in this thread have mentioned things like the fundamental restrictions of TOSLINK and other such interfaces. But, in general they indeed do not pose limitations on your actual sound quality. Most devices do stereo transparently, we're on ASR after all, so this should be accepted as fact around here.
My CamillaDSP based setup solves a lot of theoretical issues with DSP. Personally, I consider that to be "nice" rather than a "must have". But since I can get it for free with my preferred set up, I opt for it. I could buy a streamer sure, but that'd be a downgrade in most ways I can think of unless I spring for the megabuck Storm or Trinnov setup.
Others have mentioned the difficulty of streaming Atmos. That's a real issue for most streamers. I used to have an Apple Homepod setup, streaming Atmos using it was very cool and my current streaming setup only does stereo. A defintive downgrade compared to my current setup. MPD plays my local files just fine however.
My CamillaDSP based setup solves a lot of theoretical issues with DSP. Personally, I consider that to be "nice" rather than a "must have". But since I can get it for free with my preferred set up, I opt for it. I could buy a streamer sure, but that'd be a downgrade in most ways I can think of unless I spring for the megabuck Storm or Trinnov setup.
Others have mentioned the difficulty of streaming Atmos. That's a real issue for most streamers. I used to have an Apple Homepod setup, streaming Atmos using it was very cool and my current streaming setup only does stereo. A defintive downgrade compared to my current setup. MPD plays my local files just fine however.
Periodically, though I imagine most updates relate to their own software stack and security updates are few and far between.
I’m not too worried about this. My streamer doesn’t have access to my PII; it doesn’t even have my Spotify password, instead using an auth token.
Of course it’s a potential attack vector but it’s only one of many IoT devices. Better to exercise good network hygiene with separate VLANs and/or WireGuard and make sure your computer is locked down good.
Of course, electricity power usage is the most important thing to consider. The only negative side is internet security of the streamer. That's why I prefer playing using DAP which has the same quality even higher than Computer, depends on DAP type/model/brand.
And right now, the price of storage for the music files (SSD/HDD) for Computer is much expensive than SD Card/MMC used by DAP.
And right now, the price of storage for the music files (SSD/HDD) for Computer is much expensive than SD Card/MMC used by DAP.
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Personally, I could not care less if some hacker wastes time trying to hack a streaming device.
I'd worry more about the streaming service and how secure they keep my personal information... especially payment info.Your streamer's IP address can be useful for those kinds of people. Better use VPN on your router.Personally, I could not care less if some hacker wastes time trying to hack a streaming device.
The streamer's IP address is private, and all my "intelligent computers" are behind a DMZ. I do use VPN, but don't really need it.
All devices connect to internet must have public internet address. If your streamer is only for local, then it's the same as DAP.
They share a single public IP address. Broadband routers inevitably implement NAT (network address translation). Which is -peripherally- a security feature. But I implement a simple DMZ on top.
As written, this statement is not even wrong.
Yes, to participate with the internet you need some way to access to it, true, but multiple layers of NAT have muddled what this means in practice for IPv4. What you wrote isn't even strictly correct for IPv6, though NAT is thankfully less common there.
Continuing that line of thought, NAT isn't strictly a security feature either. In what way would the IP address of a streamer be useful "to those kinds of people"?
Absolutely true, the job of NAT is IPv4 address space protection. We would have run out of IPv4 addresses eons ago without NAT.
However, it masks your internal network topology and also drops unsolicited inbound traffic that's not already in the active stateful flow list. But of course it doesn't protect anyone from any virus or similar threats that can be sent through email or prevent users from doing stupid things on the internet. I really don't think anyone has to be afraid of a hacker trying to get into your network... much easier to get you to click on stuff you shouldn't and infect your infrastructure in other ways... and even the best firewalls can not be relied upon to protect you from careless behavior or the newest threats.
Hackers go after companies and their Linux servers these days. That's where things can be lucrative. Hacking an individal's personal computer is not a good investment of their time in 99% of cases.
No, I will never trust any router which does NAT jobs. Everyday I reset the router to factory setting then restore latest backups. And every 3 hours I renew the public IP address from ISP. Of course, reset for new connection from VPN service providers such Mullvad VPN every hours.
Also, I change my email address everyday and my phone number every week. Lastly, change ISP every month. I wish I could change my name every year but it cannot.
Is this for real? How do you people live with this level of paranoia?
Yes, that’s my secured life.
antcollinet
Grand Contributor
How do you think your router routes packets sent to your public IP address, to the individual devices on your network, if it is not using NAT?
Let me assure you that if your internet connection is IPV4 (which it is else you would not have a single public IP) then your router is using NAT. No other way for it to work.
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