Amazon streams at up to 256k AAC which generally is better than 320k MP3. For comparison Spotify streams at 320k OGG. All of it will sound 'good' - and will be enhanced with a decent DAC.Originally Posted by Audio Al
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Location: West Sūþsēaxe
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I'm Edward.
Amazon streams at up to 256k AAC which generally is better than 320k MP3. For comparison Spotify streams at 320k OGG. All of it will sound 'good' - and will be enhanced with a decent DAC.
Current: [P20] Roon/Tidal > Custom PC> Chevron Paradox NDF16 > Phast Pre > Neuro. 686 > Tannoy Berkley (RFC tweaks)
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Location: KY - Scotland
Posts: 5,470
I'm Mike.
Be fine, I listen to a few radio streams that only give 128 and some are outstanding, if you want a listen to a really good 128kbps stream try Space Station Soma ( Electronic ) or at 192kbps try Blues Radio Athens to show what lower bitrates can do.
I don't know why they sound better than other streams at the same bitrate but they do.
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Location: Switerland
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I'm rupert.
sorry Grant, a laptop - even a Mac- is a crappy DAC.
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I'm Grant.
I beg to differ and a few in here will agree with me it's a very good dac
Regards,
Grant.... ؠ ......Don't be such a big girl's blouse
I've said it before and I'll say it again: democracy simply-doesn't-work.... ..... ...... ...... ................... ..... ..... ..... ..... .....
FIIO K7 BT, M11 PLUS, BTR7, KA5 - OPPO BDP-103D - PANASONIC UB450 - PANASONIC 4K ULTRA HD TV - PIXEL 6 - AVANTREE LR BLUETOOTH - 2* X600 SOUNDCORE - HEADPHONES INCLUDE, FIIO, NURAPHONES', FOCAL, OPPO, BOSE, CAMBRIDGE, BOWER & WILKINS, DEVIALET, MARSHALL, SONY, MITCHELL & JOHNSTON - 2*ZBOOK'S- MERCURY BD ROM, ROON, QOBUZ, TIDAL, PLEX, CYBERLINK, JRIVER - MULTI HDD'S -
Oh my god! There's nothing wrong with the bidet is there?
“Nothing discloses real character like the use of power. It is easy for the weak to be gentle. Most people can bear adversity. But if you wish to know what a man really is, give him power. This is the supreme test. It is the glory of Lincoln that, having almost absolute power, he never abused it, except on the side of mercy".
“You see these dictators on their pedestals, surrounded by the bayonets of their soldiers and the truncheons of their police ... yet in their hearts there is unspoken fear. They are afraid of words and thoughts: words spoken abroad, thoughts stirring at home -- all the more powerful because forbidden -- terrify them. A little mouse of thought appears in the room, and even the mightiest potentates are thrown into panic.”
"You don't have free will. You have the appearance of free will.”
“There's a war out there, old friend. A world war. And it's not about who's got the most bullets. It's about who controls the information. What we see and hear, how we work, what we think... it's all about the information!”
***SMILE, BE HAPPY***
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Location: Switerland
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I'm rupert.
I guess it depends to what you compare it to
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Location: Valley of the Hazels
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I'm AMusicFanNotAnAudiophile.
In truth the DACs in most laptops are more than up to the job in hand.
Where things fall down is in a couple of areas.
The analogue output stage can usually be bettered, and on top of that you're likely have some switching noise contamination over the audio circuitry. It will be very low in amplitude, but it will be there.
Irrespective of all of this, a laptop hooked up to an amplifier is a decent enough way to get to grips with streaming.
Chris
Common sense isn't anymore!
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Location: West Sūþsēaxe
Posts: 2,016
I'm Edward.
^^^ ditto ^^^
And, assuming one has a laptop or old computer, it is effectively free to dip one's toes into the streaming world. Well perhaps only for some cables costing a few quid.
Current: [P20] Roon/Tidal > Custom PC> Chevron Paradox NDF16 > Phast Pre > Neuro. 686 > Tannoy Berkley (RFC tweaks)
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Location: W Lothian
Posts: 99,005
I'm Grant.
I was suggesting putting a dac inbetween both. Stream with laptop to dac. £100 or so and your there as he has a lappy and amp. Spotify sounds fine this way and was what the guy asked for
Regards,
Grant
I've said it before and I'll say it again: democracy simply-doesn't-work.... ..... ...... ...... ................... ..... ..... ..... ..... .....
FIIO K7 BT, M11 PLUS, BTR7, KA5 - OPPO BDP-103D - PANASONIC UB450 - PANASONIC 4K ULTRA HD TV - PIXEL 6 - AVANTREE LR BLUETOOTH - 2* X600 SOUNDCORE - HEADPHONES INCLUDE, FIIO, NURAPHONES', FOCAL, OPPO, BOSE, CAMBRIDGE, BOWER & WILKINS, DEVIALET, MARSHALL, SONY, MITCHELL & JOHNSTON - 2*ZBOOK'S- MERCURY BD ROM, ROON, QOBUZ, TIDAL, PLEX, CYBERLINK, JRIVER - MULTI HDD'S -
Oh my god! There's nothing wrong with the bidet is there?
“Nothing discloses real character like the use of power. It is easy for the weak to be gentle. Most people can bear adversity. But if you wish to know what a man really is, give him power. This is the supreme test. It is the glory of Lincoln that, having almost absolute power, he never abused it, except on the side of mercy".
“You see these dictators on their pedestals, surrounded by the bayonets of their soldiers and the truncheons of their police ... yet in their hearts there is unspoken fear. They are afraid of words and thoughts: words spoken abroad, thoughts stirring at home -- all the more powerful because forbidden -- terrify them. A little mouse of thought appears in the room, and even the mightiest potentates are thrown into panic.”
"You don't have free will. You have the appearance of free will.”
“There's a war out there, old friend. A world war. And it's not about who's got the most bullets. It's about who controls the information. What we see and hear, how we work, what we think... it's all about the information!”
***SMILE, BE HAPPY***
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Location: Warrington
Posts: 3,451
I'm Neil.
Just bear in mind that streaming from Spotify, TIDAL etc. means that certain tracks (like from Universal Music Group) will be watermarked, which *can* be audible. Sometimes you'll notice subtle distortions from streaming that you don't notice on CD. Thus, don't tear your hair out thinking there's something up with your system if you hear it!
Mana Acoustics Racks / Bright Star IsoNodes Decoupling >> Allo DigiOne Player >> Pedja Rogic's Audial Model S DAC + Pioneer PL-71 turntable / Vista Audio phono-1 mk II / Denon PCL-5 headshell / Reson Reca >> LFD DLS >> LFD PA2M (SE) >> Royd RR3s.
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Location: Notts
Posts: 2,743
I'm Geoff.
Mike,
If you are still searching for a solution I have two items which might meet your needs.
The first is a Musical Fidelity V-Dac https://www.whathifi.com/musical-fidelity/v-dac/review
The second is an HRT Music Streamer II https://www.whathifi.com/hrt/music-streamer-ii/review
Both are simple in use and plug into your PC usb port at one end and your amplifiers rca input at the other end. Both devices are in excellent condition and would be well within your budget. PM if you are interested in either.
Geoff
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