What are the advantages of a Music Streamer or Network Streamer?

[DelsFan]

I wanted to post this in the High-End Audio forum, but read that questions there are verboten.  So here goes:
 
In a nutshell:
Am I automatically limiting myself by using my laptop to stream music from a service such as Tidal Hi-Fi? I read that pretty much no matter what, one’s DAC will never receive as good a (digital) signal from a computer as it will from a streamer. FOR A $5,000 TO $10,000 headphone setup, is this pretty much the case?
 
Is USB the least desirable method to send the digital stream from any device to my DAC? Even though that is how the majority of people do it? Or did that used to be the case before the advent of (another component to purchase, along with a power cord and yet one more interconnect) DDCs?
 
Am I on the right track here, trying to use I2S instead of USB to feed my DAC – taking all USB cables out of the equation? AND, does it make sense trying to incorporate a maximum of three devices in the chain which require AC power (server, DAC, amplifier), plus headphones? Four major purchases?
 
I’m thinking I want to connect my streamer to the internet via an RJ-45 cord,
send the chosen signal via I2S cable to my MQA compatable DAC,
then via balanced interconnect to my tube based headphone amplifier (like Woo Audio WA-22?), (and)
ultimately the analog signal to headphones to be named later (via balanced cable), like Audeze LCD-X fazor or Focal Elear or Mr. Speakers Ether Flow, or Oppo PM-1.  Or similar.  No Focal Utopias, yet.
 
 
 
Note: I have an older Linn Genki CD player with a Coaxial BNC output which I will (for now) use as a transport to play my CDs. However, I don’t have but a few hundred CDs, many of which I don’t listen to anymore. “I think” my primary way of listening to music will be by utilizing Tidal’s hi-fi smorgasbord tier, making use of their MQA offerings where possible.
 
I’m just getting into this hobby (from two-channel equipment that’s gathering dust) – all advice before I drop several $K will be appreciated.
 

 

[Music Alchemist]

Here's a good thread on the topic:
 
http://www.head-fi.org/t/787020/review-comparison-of-5-high-end-digital-music-servers-aurender-n10-cad-cat-server-totaldac-d1-server-auralic-aries-audiophile-vortex-box
 
The OP didn't update the first post. Last time I checked on his comparisons, the winner was the SOtM sMS-200. (Which is cool because it's far more affordable than many of them.)
 
As I understand it, it's the network player that improves the sound, whereas the server and control point you pair with it (even if it's just a laptop) has little to no impact on the sound.

 

[DelsFan]

  Here's a good thread on the topic:
 
http://www.head-fi.org/t/787020/review-comparison-of-5-high-end-digital-music-servers-aurender-n10-cad-cat-server-totaldac-d1-server-auralic-aries-audiophile-vortex-box
 
The OP didn't update the first post. Last time I checked on his comparisons, the winner was the SOtM sMS-200. (Which is cool because it's far more affordable than many of them.)
 
As I understand it, it's the network player that improves the sound, whereas the server and control point you pair with it (even if it's just a laptop) has little to no impact on the sound.

 
I read through the first and last 5%; need to read the whole thread in its entirety, which could take a couple of hours, but am supposed to be doing something other than thinking about headphone rigs now.  Or typing here...
 
I don't care much about the server function (but might later), I just want something that will stream music from my (say) Tidal service to my dac/headphone amp - in a quality manner.
 
It sounds like comparing the five really expensive servers in that post to laptops is like (in the old days) comparing the quality a turntable could deliver, compared to that of a cassette deck?
 
I guess one question I have is, are the $2000 offerings like the
Sony HAP-Z1ES and
Melco NA1 Hi Resolution Digital Music Library
significantly better than a Macbook Pro (OK, to make the comparison more fair, a Macbook Pro with something like the Bel Canto USB link or similar in order to isolate and "upgrade" the USB signal before it gets to one's DAC)?
Or, does one have to spend their entire budget ($5K) on a server in order to get an improvement over their laptop and "USB link"?

 

[Music Alchemist]

  Or, does one have to spend their entire budget ($5K) on a server in order to get an improvement over their laptop and "USB link"?

 
The SOtM sMS-200 is only around $500 and outperformed stuff that costs five figures. And you can use it with a laptop or whatever. I don't plan on buying one myself until I have a high-end DAC.

 

[ProtegeManiac]

 
I read that pretty much no matter what, one’s DAC will never receive as good a (digital) signal from a computer as it will from a streamer.

 
Any measurements for that? And what parts were in the computer?
 

 
Is USB the least desirable method to send the digital stream from any device to my DAC? Even though that is how the majority of people do it? Or did that used to be the case before the advent of (another component to purchase, along with a power cord and yet one more interconnect) DDCs?

 

Least desirable due to variances in motherboard power management design and potential for noise. A decent motherboard won't have a problem. 

Otherwise it's more desirable than SPDIF due to bandwidth since it can handle DSD.

 

 

 

 

[artur9]

   
The SOtM sMS-200 is only around $500 and outperformed stuff that costs five figures. And you can use it with a laptop or whatever. I don't plan on buying one myself until I have a high-end DAC.

I highly recommend that sMS-200.  It's a fantastic little device.  Only reason I sold mine was my other equipment isn't USB capable and I got tired of using all the converters into them with the endless "do I have a good one" naggings at the back of my mind.
 
Also, unless you're into classical or obscure music, using your laptop as a Roon UI and feeding a Roon-ready device is a very good way to experience Tidal.  I'm into classical so it didn't work out for me but the Roon interface is amazing.