Here’s another 2 cents. I am here just trying Roo n because I’m looking for a fix to drop outs in my music streaming. I started streaming from a NAS a few years back when I decided to get back into 2 channel music. First I streamed from my Oppo and Marantz theater set up through the remote zone to speakers downstairs. I then started reading Audiostream. Something that came to my email because I subscribed to Home Theater magazine.
I then was convinced after emailing back and forth with a Audiostream reviewer, that I needed a dedicated 2 channel system. It started with a usb dac, Bel Canto ulink. Still have it if anyone wants to buy it. It led to new everything including a real streamer, which now isn’t Roo n ready, so if I stick with roon, it will be replaced.
Each piece I added made a difference in sound quality. None made a huge difference. None made an immediately obvious difference. But all made a small difference for thebetter. My final addition just happened this year.
I never believe d that interconnects and power cords made a difference. I’m fact , I thought the idea and cost was insane. But I decided since I had a very old cheap digital cable that I would get a new one just for fun. guess what? It made a difference. $5000 or so later I now have all new interconnects, power cords, a power conditioner and even an auctioneer outlet in the wall for $160 or some crazy thing. I must be nuts
Was it worth it? To me? Yes. If I sit in the sweet spot on my couch and really listen to the music, I can hear things that I never heard before. It really is amazing. Would I know if someone took 2 power cords out and put the stock ones back? Probably not. Heck, I might not even notice if it was all gone tomorrow, until I sat in the sweet spot and really listened
So if you are just listening to music in the background while you go about you’re business, if you don’t notice the difference between an mp3 and a 24/192 file or you think I’m nuts for buying all the cables, then you probably don’t need a separate streamer. But if you’re a little nuts like some of us, then maybe you do.
I’ll say also, what my stereo store guy, said to me. They make these things and they cost a real lot. If they didn’t make a difference, nobody would be buying them