Computer Audio Asylum

Music servers and other computer based digital audio technologies.

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RE: I'm intrigued

Posted by AbeCollins on March 15, 2017 at 19:05:32:
"I just have a hard time accepting that the rendu is going to make much of a difference over my direct connection from my imac via usb."
I run both, a direct connect DAC to my computer and streaming over the network to the microRendu. Both sound outstanding. There is NOT a huge night and day improvement from one platform to another in my experience comparing my two setups. Of course this assumes that the direct connect computer setup is reasonably well thought out and not a botched up mess. Some folks are just all thumbs when it comes to computers so in those cases I would expect the network streamer to sound so much better.
This may be counter to the rational and what you read in the audio press, but the press will always favor, elevate, and hype audiophile brands & products that generate ad revenue over DIY computer based sources (or even DIY streamers).
In defense of reviewers, it probably doesn't make sense for them to review any DIY setup including their own as each individual system will consist of different configurations of Mac, PC, Windows, Mac OS, Linux, player software, etc. And you're not likely to see PCs and Macs advertised in audio magazines. Same goes for DIY streamers based on Raspberry Pi or other small generic computers. If it's not a "box" with an audiophile brand on it that a magazine can advertise and a reviewer can simply turn-ON and review, you're not likely to see much praise written for it. In fact, you'll usually see just the opposite.
BTW, the microRendu does not require a designer LPS power source (or ultracaps) to sound outstanding. You can certainly add one if you have extra cash burning a hole in your pocket but I have better places to allocate finite funds. Maybe a $1000 USB cable! ;-)
Just my 2-cents worth.