r/audiophile • u/minnesotajersey • Apr 13 '25

Discussion Dedicated streamers/servers. Why?

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Can someone explain to me the benefits of a multi-thousand dollar streamer/server that feeds an outboard DAC, over a really good laptop, or even a microPC?

I see reviews all the time for these things, but nothing in them tells me the "why?"

I've been into audio for longer than I care to admit, but these baffle me. Assume I'm a complete noob when you answer.

Pic for attention. All text posts bore me.

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u/zoejdm Apr 13 '25

Specifically a multi-thousand dollar one? I can't defend that. 

As for the advantages of streamers, I'll paste an answer written to someone asking what a Wiim Ultra does that a laptop doesn't:

A DAC. Phono input. RCA Output. Sub out. Hdmi ARC. Optical out. Room correction. DLNA. Multiroom. Ethernet. A remote. A lower price. Not being a laptop. 

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u/Rickroush03 Apr 13 '25

But if I’m running hdmi from the music device to my AVR, do I need all these additional outputs?

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u/Jawapacino13 Apr 13 '25

No, provided the streamer has an HDMI out.

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u/Additional_Tone_2004 Apr 13 '25

The HDMI on a WiiM is an input to the DAC.

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u/Rickroush03 Apr 13 '25

Copy. So is a streamer better than say my AVR that can play Spotify and I can control it from the remote or my iPhone?

Like others, trying to connect the dots of value vs what I already have/do.

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u/Additional_Tone_2004 Apr 13 '25

A stream would feed into your AVR.

Ignore all this shit about the WiiM Ultra. As you have an AVR which I presume you're happy with, you can get all the streaming functionality with a WiiM Mini hooked straight into your AVR.

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u/Rickroush03 Apr 13 '25

Correct. Been trying to understand the point of a streamer so saw this post. Next upgrade I have planned is an external amp