In the case of the microRendu, I can tell you that the UPNP/DLNA connection to it is as good as USB but it mostly rely on the quality of the chip/development inside the device.
I know this unit tends to overheat and it can create some problems (we have one at the office so I know it ) but in the case of USB devices I have, I rarely got this issue.
Other than that, I strongly recommend you to try with a USB device to judge for yourself if you have the opportunity to do so (always with Audirvāna as aplayer of course )
He means to try a direct USB connection, if, for example, you have a laptop available.
I found UPnP/DLNA to be much more reliable with “wired” Ethernet (most of my Ethernet run is optical fiber) than with Wi-Fi.
I have a microRendu, which does get quite warm, but it’s designed to have its small case dissipate the heat from its chipset. The microRendu is purpose built to send a low noise, low jitter signal over the USB connection to the DAC, so this may be a reason to prefer it to connecting a garden variety computer via USB.
Other advantages of Ethernet are that copper Ethernet uses built-in isolation transformers, while optical Ethernet of course provides total electrical isolation. If you get to 10G optical Ethernet switches, their spec mandates a very very low level of jitter to conform to standard (and ensure reliable operation), so again that’s advantageous from an audio perspective. There are some very inexpensive (under $130 US) good 10G optical switches available. So optical Ethernet to a 10G switch to a good quality copper Ethernet cable (I like the Ghent Audio JSSG360 version) to a microRendu to your DAC should make for a very high sound quality reliable connection.
There is always the question of how AS and its remote will work with a given system; that you may just have to try for yourself.
I also have found through experience that wired is more reliable than WiFi.
The optical switch is also an interesting option. Currently my home LAN is copper and my router and switch are copper. Where in the network does one do the conversion to optical?
I am still using the legacy Audirvāna because I hate the subscription software approach . Are you finding AStudio a distinct improvement?
Not a valid comparison, due to the subjective nature of the comparison… “Sounds Better” is intrinsicly tied to the realm of your playback scenario and biases and subsequent interpretations…
The internal noise generated in a computer platform will affect all digital-audio streams… This includes all of the output buses… The question is: to what degree? Bus controller/signalling noise and other down-stream noise potentials must be considered in this game, among other noise source potentials… Generally, the simple USB connection remains as the least problematic (in regard to noise potentials) means of digital-audio signal transmission. Especially a USB 3.0 → USB 2.0 transmission flow over short path-lengths of good quality cabling.
Not quite a fair comparison, You need more devices in your Lumin set-up which cost some extra money.
A fair comparison would be to compare your Lumin set-up with your MacBook USB into an USB reclocker like the Innuos USB (Phoenix USB - Reclocker - Innuos) and then into the Chord DAC.
Pretty valid in my room with my system and my ears/brain… So now it gets down to my system vs yours… Toss in some $$$ and other nonsensical BS and we got ourselves a great dog fight… Which I will have none of… Have a great life…
Valid test imo , valid opinion imo
It’s all subjective after all but for one person on here to cry foul offhandedly is strange considering they have more untested opinions than probably anyone on this forum.
I’m thinking that @matt might have been messing around with you, 3700usd reclocker better make a wicked margarita as well as sound fantastic.
So you are liking the lumin mini it’s seeming? What services have you used with it so far? A lot of the R guys use lumin and my dealer is a big fan (in his personal system) Did you ever consider the Holo Red ?
You would need two in order to convert first to optical then back to copper, unless you wanted to go to the extent of buying a Fitlet3 with optical Ethernet input option, then install software to turn it into a UPnP/DLNA endpoint. (This is what I plan to do when the Fitlet3 I have ordered arrives.)
Regarding sound quality, yes, I found Studio/Origin to be a step up subjectively.
@OffRodeIf you are referring to me… you are mistaken that I have presented my system as better or superior sounding to any other system in this context or any other context on this forum, I have not… I have presented rationale for a simpler USB digital-audio transmission scheme, rather than the complexities of a general Ethernet system employing multiple components with many connection point potentials for inducted distortions/corruption of the primary digital-audio bit-stream… That is all… the rest is false hyperbole that you float to fit your narrative.
When did you get your new streaming device, do you now have some actual experience? Perhaps I’m completely wrong USB is the only method of moving data I know, I know…………
I now return the topic to the golden bulldozer…… carry on sir I shall step aside and make room for your golden theoretical proclamations of the truth.
Adding: your treatment of @Ddude003 is just more of the same, please stop running people off the forum with the negativity. It’s ruining the community.
@OffRode …The subjective assessments of sound quality of individual playback systems may have value to some that need to validate their own perspectives regarding the sound-quality of their systems, but that is all it is worth… You are telling me that none of the rhetoric espoused in this thread regarding: “Does DLNA/UPnP get the best out of Audirvana?” is debatable, and does not deserve juxtaposition? … WOW…
The only thing that matters IS subjective assesments. When I play through my home system, at my ‘average’ SPL, all is good, I wallow in the lushness, clarity and power. Agoldenear would hate it, because hea probably wouldn’t be able to hear the innermost thoughts of the composer at the precise time of recording ( paraphrasing there )
Lighten up all, have a good day. The world’s going to hell in a handcart, the SQ of our systems is pretty low on the scale of what matters.
) but in the case of USB devices I have, I rarely got this issue.
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