Building Your Dream Sound: A Vinshine Audio YouTube Series
Unlock the secrets to creating your ultimate high-fidelity stereo audio system with Vinshine Audio's new YouTube series! Join us as we guide you through the exciting journey of building a sound setup that will elevate your listening experience to new heights.
In this comprehensive series, we'll cover everything you need to know, whether you're just starting out in the world of high-fidelity audio or you're a seasoned enthusiast looking to take your system to the next level. From choosing the right components to optimizing your setup for the best sound quality, our expert tips and advice will help you build the system of your dreams.
Get ready to explore topics such as speaker selection, amplifier matching, DACs, cables, room acoustics, and more. Plus, we'll share insider secrets and practical insights to help you avoid common pitfalls and make informed decisions every step of the way.
Whether you're a beginner or an audiophile aficionado, our goal is to empower you with the knowledge and confidence to create a high-fidelity stereo audio system that brings your music to life like never before.
Subscribe to our channel and stay tuned for the first episode of "Building Your Dream Sound" – coming soon! Let's embark on this exciting journey together and unleash the full potential of your audio setup.
Episode #3: Announcement, Streamer & Digital Transport!
In this episode, we will discuss the details of streamers, which streamer you should choose, and what considerations to keep in mind when shopping for one.
But before we dive into that, we have some exciting announcements to share with you.
Announcement #1: DENAFRIPS entry-level DAC
As part of our ongoing YouTube series, 'Building Your Dream Sound System', we're thrilled to announce that we've partnered with DENAFRIPS to offer a special promotion. For a limited time, we've lowered the price of their entry-level DAC. Simply sign up for an account on Vinshine Audio to receive loyalty points, which can be redeemed for a coupon code towards the purchase of the Enyo and Ares 12th-1 DACs.
This is a limited-time offer, so be sure to take advantage of it while you can.
Announcement #2: Free Audio Consultancy Services
Finally! After receiving numerous requests, we're excited to announce that we're now offering free audio consultancy services.
Whether you're just starting out on your high-end audio journey or you're a seasoned audiophile looking to improve your sound system, we're here to help. Simply drop us an email with your questions, and we'll provide you with honest and meaningful recommendations.
What is a Streamer?
What is a streamer? A streamer is a digital audio streaming device designed to stream music from popular streaming services (Tidal/Qobuz/Spotify/Amazon Music, etc) or play music from local media such as SD cards, USB pen drives, and NAS (Network Attached Storage).
Essentially, it replaces the need for a computer to stream music.
uP: Purpose-built Computer
A streamer is essentially a purpose-built computer with a dedicated operating system, tailored made solely for streaming music.
Will it outperform a regular computer?
That largely depends on the quality of the streamer. It's difficult to make a generalization. However, in many cases, a high-quality streamer can outperform a consumer-grade computer. This is because the price point of a high-quality streamer is often much higher than that of a standard computer.
Differences? Digital Transport / Streamer
Digital Transport
You may have heard of the term with 'digital transport-only' streamers, such as the Volumio RIVO. These streamers do not include a built-in DAC. Instead, they output a digital signal through various digital interfaces like SPDIF, USB, etc. In order to use these streamers, you will need to pair them with an external DAC.
Streamer
On the other hand, an all-in-one streamer, like the Volumio PRIMO or the Bluesound NodeX, includes a built-in DAC. The streamer processes the digital signal and converts it via its integrated DAC to output an analog signal. You can use the streamer's built-in digital volume control to adjust the volume. However, as discussed in my previous episode, we highly recommend volume attenuation in the Analog Domain by using a proper preamp.
Which Streamer is for you?
When it comes to choosing a streamer, there are many options available on the market, with prices ranging from under $100 to a few thousand dollars.
So, which streamer is right for you? Here's our recommendation:
1st Streaming Services
In my opinion, the first priority should be the availability of streaming services supported by the streamer. You'll want to choose a streamer that supports your favorite streaming services.
2nd OS/APP UX
Consider the user-friendliness of its operating system. The operating system and smartphone app need to be user-friendly, easy to use, with a short learning curve, and reliable.
Finally! Sound Quality
Very often you'll often be connecting the streamer to an external DAC for a high-quality audio system. For example, with the DENAFRIPS DAC, which reclocks and FIFO buffers all digital inputs, the DAC is less reliant on the quality of the streamer. Therefore, my recommendation for choosing a streamer would be based on streaming services and the fluidity of the operating system.
But! It's worth mentioning that not all streamers sound the same. By feeding the DAC with a good quality digital signal, you can further improve the sound quality of your audio system.
We are here to help!
We have had good experiences with various popular streamers on the market. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us. We are happy to help you build your dream sound system.
List of streamers on-hand:
pi2Design pi2AES
pi2Design Mercury V1 [Discontinued]
Aurender W20SE [Unboxing Video]
Bluesound NODE X [Unboxing Video]
*Disclaimer
We are not experts in this field (we are not audio electronics designer, nor do we have good knowledge in digital/analog measurements), but we are offering our insights based on our experience. Your mileage may vary, and we encourage you to explore and experiment to find the solution that best suits your audio preferences and needs.
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Happy Listening!
Team Vinshine Audio