I feel like an idiot.
But, I simply can't seem find a clear definition nor explanation of what these words referring to boxes upstream of the DAC actually do and how they differ. Some boxes with what appear to have similar capabilities have completely different names, while others with similar names do not have same capability.
So, I thought I'd ask this group for help - having not found a clear explanation elsewhere. If there's a thread in WBF or a youtube or some other website, please point me there. If not, here's my take:
Streamer - any box that receives a network signal input (cat5 or fiber patch cable) - the box might output digital (which makes it a bridge), or might output analog (which makes it a dac) - so "streamer" is really an adjective not a noun.
for more confusion, msb uses the word Renderer, which can be added to their dac to receive ethernet.
Bridge - converts the digital signal from one connection type to another, for example from Cat5 to USB or toslink (digital in digital out), so a streamer bridge and bridge are really the same thing. For more vocabulary confusion Lumin U1 does this and they call it a Network Transport
DAC - receives a digital signal (other than ethernet) and converts to analog out (duh)
DAC Streamer - receives digital signal including ethernet, and outputs analog (a la lumin x1, msb, and others on the way to simplify things, hopefully)
Network Player - perhaps a DAC Streamer, some have storage
am I close?
Unless it's me, sure would be nice if the mfgrs settled on common vocabulary for these things
I'm in the process of changing from a Dac that is a roon endpoint and has an ethernet connection to a dac that has neither.
Assuming a bridge is what I'll need to input the digital signal, suggestions for a good bridge without storage or upsampling would be helpful - so far I've come across:
- moon mind (which they call a network player, no usb out)
- lindemann bridge (no usb out)
- stack link (which they call a Network Bridge/Streamer/Reclocker, only usb out)
- auralic aries (which they call a streaming transporter)
- lumin u1 and u2 (which they call a streaming transport)
- dcs network bridge
- innuous makes something, but it has storage that i don't need
And now the Roon endpoint question - if the dac is not a roon endpoint, what's needed for the dac to receive Qobuz via the Roon interface?
I have the roon nucleus, but only because I like the interface and qobuz is fine, no stored files. If there's a way to lose the nucleus but keep the interface that'd be great.
But, I simply can't seem find a clear definition nor explanation of what these words referring to boxes upstream of the DAC actually do and how they differ. Some boxes with what appear to have similar capabilities have completely different names, while others with similar names do not have same capability.
So, I thought I'd ask this group for help - having not found a clear explanation elsewhere. If there's a thread in WBF or a youtube or some other website, please point me there. If not, here's my take:
Streamer - any box that receives a network signal input (cat5 or fiber patch cable) - the box might output digital (which makes it a bridge), or might output analog (which makes it a dac) - so "streamer" is really an adjective not a noun.
for more confusion, msb uses the word Renderer, which can be added to their dac to receive ethernet.
Bridge - converts the digital signal from one connection type to another, for example from Cat5 to USB or toslink (digital in digital out), so a streamer bridge and bridge are really the same thing. For more vocabulary confusion Lumin U1 does this and they call it a Network Transport
DAC - receives a digital signal (other than ethernet) and converts to analog out (duh)
DAC Streamer - receives digital signal including ethernet, and outputs analog (a la lumin x1, msb, and others on the way to simplify things, hopefully)
Network Player - perhaps a DAC Streamer, some have storage
am I close?
Unless it's me, sure would be nice if the mfgrs settled on common vocabulary for these things
I'm in the process of changing from a Dac that is a roon endpoint and has an ethernet connection to a dac that has neither.
Assuming a bridge is what I'll need to input the digital signal, suggestions for a good bridge without storage or upsampling would be helpful - so far I've come across:
- moon mind (which they call a network player, no usb out)
- lindemann bridge (no usb out)
- stack link (which they call a Network Bridge/Streamer/Reclocker, only usb out)
- auralic aries (which they call a streaming transporter)
- lumin u1 and u2 (which they call a streaming transport)
- dcs network bridge
- innuous makes something, but it has storage that i don't need
And now the Roon endpoint question - if the dac is not a roon endpoint, what's needed for the dac to receive Qobuz via the Roon interface?
I have the roon nucleus, but only because I like the interface and qobuz is fine, no stored files. If there's a way to lose the nucleus but keep the interface that'd be great.
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