To old to understand streaming music.

[Jagosia]

Hi. Please anyone explain. Right now I stream music on my wi-fi connection. Anthem av70 processor ,Arcam power amplifier, Aria 936 speakers and my Samsung mobile phone thru Spotify. Why it is better to add a direct streamer Auralic, Audiolab or other manufacturers ? What will I gain using any of those? 

 

 

[Batty]

If you are using the 3.5mm headphone out from your phone, using a dedicated streamer will give you access to a better DAC and therefore a better sound quality.

I stream spotify from my laptop via USB cable to my DAC.

I also use a Squeezebox Touch for internet radio.

 

I am not far from you, one day maybe pop in to see how I do it?

[stereo coffee]

Spotify is also available in Linux, where you can listen from your computers audio output, or indeed attach a small FM transmitter to the computers audio jack,   to enjoy it around the house where you have a radio .  

[Batty]

Forgot to mention that I prefer the larger screen of the laptop over the phone too.

 

P.S. I'm 64.

[Guest]

Are you using Spotify Connect (via Wifi) on the AVM 70 or using Spotify on phone and connecting via Bluetooth?  Bluetooth is slower and may not sound as good.

 

The AVM 70 has a decent DAC and power supply.  Adding an external streamer just for Spotify unlikely to improve things.  Plus it adds another box and cable.

[Jagosia]

Yes. I use Bluetooth from phone to AVM 70. Thank You for reply. I do not wanna spend another thousand on dedicated streamer and cables if there will not much improvement. I do also have Hegel H390 that  has a decent DAC .

[Guest]

43 minutes ago, Jagosia said:

Yes. I use Bluetooth from phone to AVM 70. Thank You for reply. I do not wanna spend another thousand on dedicated streamer and cables if there will not much improvement. I do also have Hegel H390 that  has a decent DAC .

Have you updated your firmware?  If so,  suggest you use Spotify Connect from your phone to the AVM70 and likely to improve SQ. ** This will then negate the need for an external streamer.

Edited November 16, 2022 by Snoopy8
Added **

[Jagosia]

Yes it did upgraded firmware automatically.

[Guest]

1 hour ago, Jagosia said:

Yes it did upgraded firmware automatically.

Then you should be able to use Spotify Connect

https://support.spotify.com/au/article/spotify-connect/

[dbastin]

Both the Anthem and Hegal will have a streamer built in.  The real question is "are you satisfied with what you have?".  If not, there are many ways to improve, such as higher res streaming service, better server than a phone, separate streamer that is better than the built in ones ... and the whole ethernet/ network rabbit warren.

[Jagosia]

Thank You. I am satisfied with sound. What do You mean better server than phone? I do not want a steamer with DAC build in it. I do understand high resolution streaming but did not yet try it.

[dbastin]

1 hour ago, Jagosia said:

Thank You. I am satisfied with sound. What do You mean better server than phone? I do not want a steamer with DAC build in it. I do understand high resolution streaming but did not yet try it.

 

There are basically 4 functions when streaming audio from the interne, every bit matters if you want to improve this system, and the network has several bits some of which matter more than others:

1. the network (nbn, router, wifi etc)
2. the server (software run on your phone hardware)
3. the player/streamer (software on your Anthem and Hegal hardware)
4. the DAC (your Anthem or Hegal)

If you are satisfied and not curious how much more satisfied you could be, don't read further.

 

Phone's are not really good servers.  A dedicated PC would be better, such as NUC or Raspberry Pi, and there are many other computers specifically designed for audio too.  At the very high end is Antipodes Oladra, but I include this link not to say you should consider Antipodes, but because it explains the typology I outlined above in more detail.

 

https://antipodes.audio/design/#streaming_hardware

[Juzbear]

Both your devices (Hegel and Anthem) have streaming capability (are streamers, if you want, just in the same box as everything else in them, including the DAC). Both can do the streaming themself- that is they have the capability to get the data stream over WiFi or ethernet, with your phone just being essentially a remote control. If you are using your phone to send it to the amp via bluetooth, you are just adding an extra step to the process and using low resolution data to get to the music- you do not need to do this, and your streaming amp/AV receiver can do all this for you- you will just need to learn how to control the anthem and the Hegel to do this. A separate streamer is essentially like anything else- whether it is separating out the preamp, DAC or whatever- it has theoretical benefits. In my experience, the most important thin with streaming is the ease of use (the user interface). According to audiophile lore, there is a fair way between streaming bluetooth from your phone and hi end streamers, and you have two very well regarded pieces of hardware that bridge the gap, and have the capability to stream in hi res. . Happy learning!