Network player or laptop for streaming?

[Goran]

Hello everybody,

I need an opinion from the community about whether there is something to be gained on sound quality or ease of use if I stream music from dedicated music streamer instead of laptop.

I am a happy owner of the NuPro A-200 since last December, ant they are connected with the laptop with USB cable.

For the locally stored music I am using foobar with ASIO driver. Foobar is controlled with foobar controller app from my smartphone.

For streaming services like deezer, tunein radio etc, I use chrome remote desktop app on my smartphone.

Am I missing anything for not using a dedicated streamer?

In my opinion, since USB interface on the NuPro series is asynchronous, the speakers are responsible for the timing, and buying the high quality hi-fi streamer will not improve the sound. What are the experiences of the members of this forum?

[Gabi mag Mukke]

Hi Goran,

In my opinion only usability will be different changing to a dedicated streamer.
So if you are happy with this point stay as it is.

Cheers

Markus

[Goran]

Thanks for the opinion!

Also in my opinion there should be no differences in sound quality, especially since the USB interface is asynchronous so NuPro will be responsible for timing no matter if the source is laptop, streamer or CD player.

I also do not have any problems with the noise from the laptop, since even at the max volume only small, high-pitched noise (USB packet noise?) is audible only when I am very close to the speaker (10-20 cm).

Anyhow, does anyone has some practical experience on this subject?

[CarlTheodor]

Hello,

for about five years I have used a very old laptop (discarded from my Office as it had not enough power for doing work anymore) for streaming of music from my NAS to the hifi System via WLAN. Later on - two years ago - I switched to an raspberry pi due to comfort reasons (controllable by remote control, hdmi, very small device, short boot sequence etc.). There is no difference in Sound Quality.

So - if you are happy with the Laptop solution as it is, go ahead !

Best regards

CT

[Goran]

That was exactly the kind of practical reassurance I was looking for.

Thank you!

[flo5]

Hi goran,

I agree with both guys here. When connecting your nuPros with a USB cable, the whole signal way is digital and switching the laptop / streamer would not affect or improve sound quality.
Keep on listening.

Kind regards,
Flo