@matthia I did a comparison of the Macbook as a streamer versus the Pro-ject Stream Box S2 Ultra streamer this morning. And enjoyed listening to the Cowboy Junkies' Trinity Sessions during and afterwards.
I connected my Macbook to my Pontus II DAC as follows:
14” Macbook M1 (running on battery) > Audioquest Dragontail USB-C to USB-A Converter > Phasure Lush USB cable > Denafrips Pontus II DAC
- Note: I initially had a Jitterbug connected to the USB out from the Macbook but I removed it pretty quickly before I did any listening in earnest. See note below as to why.
Comparison Setups:
- Macbook > Pontus II DAC playing Qobuz streamed files
- Pro-ject Stream Box S2 Ultra streamer > Pontus II DAC playing Qobuz streamed files
- Pro-ject Stream Box S2 Ultra streamer > Pontus II DAC playing local digital files
- Pro-ject Stream Box S2 Ultra streamer > Audioquest Jitterbug noise filter >Pontus II DAC playing local digital files
Musical track for testing: Cowboy Junkies’ Blue Moon Revisited (Song for Elvis) from their ‘Trinity Sessions’ album
Initial Step of removing the Jitterbug from the Macbook signal path: After listening briefly with the Jitterbug attached to the USB output from the Macbook, I removed the Jitterbug because the sound was noticeably muddy with the bass sounding particularly indistinct with the Jitterbug in place. The sound from the Macbook USB output was better without the Jitterbug.
Macbook vs Pro-ject streamer playing streamed files via Qobuz
The sound from the Pro-ject streamer was immediately noticeably better. These are the improvements are what I heard from the Pro-ject streamer versus from the Macbook:
- More holographic and 3D presentation
- Larger soundstage,
- More resolving (hi-hat cymbals noticeably clearer and easier to follow when played through the streamer)
- More musical drive. The reproduction of the streamed file from the Macbook felt like it was lacking in pace. My general impression of why this happens is because leading and trailing edge of notes are more clearly delineated due to greater resolution when playing through the streamer.
- More air (which goes along with the more 3D presentation)
- More bloom and reverb from voices and instruments when played through the streamer
Pro-ject streamer playing local digital file versus Qobuz streamed files
I heard some additional improvement when playing local files than when playing streamed Qobuz files. With all improvements going from worst to best adding up to 100%, the general magnitude of the improvements were approximately
- 85% when going from the Macbook as a streamer to the Pro-ject streamer
- an additional 15% when replaying local files versus Qobuz streamed files via the Pro-ject streamer
There were more of the same improvements, but reproduced with more refinement. In particular, I noticed more separation of instruments. I’m sure the magnitude of the improvements might be debatable, but Margo Timmins’ voice when she hits crescendoes are noticeably lush and gorgeous when playing back local files even when compared to listening to Qobuz streamed files via my Pro-ject streamer.
Jitterbug on my Pro-ject streamer’s USB output: The last thing I tested was the sonic effect of the Jitterbug noise filter on the output of my Pro-ject streamer. I got an Audioquest Niagara 1200 power conditioner this past summer and I’ve been meaning to figure out whether the Jitterbug is still providing a positive sonic improvement. This happened to be a good opportunity to do this since I was already unplugging my USB cable from my streamer. I did hear positive improvement with the Jitterbug in place. Specific benefits I heard were:
- The vibrato in Margo Timmins’ voice when she hits crescendoes is noticeable more evident with the Jitterbug in place than without.
- The sound is a little smoother
- There MIGHT be a bit more separation and definition to the location of instruments.
So with the Pro-ject streamer, I think the sound quality is still better with the Jitterbug in place than without. Though as I mentioned earlier, streaming via the Macbook's USB output sounded better without the Jitterbug. The Jitterbug will be staying on my Pro-ject streamer!
