In Reply to: Sample files to compare streaming services posted by Rushton on April 26, 2024 at 11:28:27:
I like this quote from the article which corroborates my experience with network streamers:"If you are using a dedicated streamer and Tidal or Qobuz apps running on the same (embedded Linux or Android) platform, there should be no meaningful difference between them, at least according to my experience with dozens of different streamers, from a lo-fi mass manufacture streamer to a 30k USD one."
In other words, even a $100 DIY Raspberry Pi network streamer build will 'sound' as good as a $30K audiophile brand embellished with glossy marketing slicks, massively heavy and fancy chassis, and rave reviews in the audio press. In fact, certain manufacturers do use the hobby Raspberry Pi board as the heart of their streaming platform within some of their products [Bryston & Boulder, for example]. The DAC makes a big difference in sonics. The network streamer, not so much.
As an aside about "the cloud":
Many businesses including streaming services use various cloud platforms. Amazon Web Services (AWS) was early to market but there are others including Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud Platform (GCP), Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI), IBM Cloud Services, etc. These are much more than simply 'cloud storage' as large corporations run their entire businesses on them including backend database, accounting, payroll, human capital management, human resource management, customer resource management, sales management, analytics, business intelligence, etc. etc. These cloud services include hardware and application redundancy at replicated remote sites, data backup, disaster recovery and business continuity, along with tight security. The idea is to cost effectively eliminate much of your data center infrastructure and IT staff and let the specialists run your computing infrastructure for less. There's also the hybrid cloud combining your onsite data center with cloud.
Edits: 04/27/24
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Follow Ups
- Interesting article - thanks! - AbeCollins 10:49:54 04/27/24 (18)
- RE: Interesting article - thanks! - Rushton 11:40:42 04/27/24 (5)
- Agreed - E-Stat 07:30:26 04/28/24 (3)
- RE: Agreed - AbeCollins 15:20:02 04/29/24 (2)
- I read it differently but.... - AbeCollins 14:47:53 04/27/24 (0)
- RE: Interesting article - thanks! - Rushton 11:25:07 04/27/24 (11)
- Ha! I'm sure Ferenc will provide more detail ;-) - AbeCollins 14:56:07 04/27/24 (10)
- RE: Ha! I'm sure Ferenc will provide more detail ;-) - ferenc@mediaengineering.hu 00:30:20 04/28/24 (9)
- Thank you. Will you please clarify these comments.... - AbeCollins 10:05:39 04/30/24 (7)
- RE: Thank you. Will you please clarify these comments.... - Koscso Media Engineering 05:16:37 05/02/24 (0)
- RE: Thank you. Will you please clarify these comments.... - Koscso Media Engineering 01:19:40 05/01/24 (5)
- Thanks Ferenc. My final thoughts..... - AbeCollins 07:46:45 05/01/24 (3)
- RE: Thanks Ferenc. My final thoughts..... - Koscso Media Engineering 09:30:33 05/01/24 (2)
- RE: Thanks Ferenc. My final thoughts..... - AbeCollins 10:23:59 05/01/24 (1)
- RE: Thanks Ferenc. My final thoughts..... - Koscso Media Engineering 10:35:42 05/01/24 (0)
- This is what - E-Stat 06:09:00 05/01/24 (0)
- This is my experience - E-Stat 08:05:28 04/28/24 (0)