Right as the realisation has dawned on me that most of my listening is now done via streaming and not though physical software anymore I’ve spent the last couple of months sorting out the way forward. This now includes a Acer Chromebook 14, feeding a Sabaj PHA3 and Audio Technica ATH-M40X headphones. (also HD600 phones but they need refurbishing as the headband and foam has decayed on them over time).
Downstairs, and when there is no need for headphones, I have an old Denon Budget amp feeding a pair of Totem Dreamcatchers with a Google CCA for streaming. I have had problems with the CCA but having recently hardwired it to the hub this seems to have resolved those issues.
I have used Google Play for a few years now and enjoyed it, the catalogue is very good and the sound is ok, however, I am in the middle of a trial Qobuz hifi subscription and just added UAPP on my One+ phone to help with using the two apps.
So my question is do I go up to the high res Qobuz? The catalogue on Qobuz is ok but there are some glaring misses which means I probably need to keep Google Play. With my setup am I really going to make any benefit from the hi-res Qobuz?
Also is it worth looking at a usb dac? do they make much of a difference? I could also add a dac from the CCA if need be as well. Sadly I don’t think I’ve ever really bothered with separate Dacs at any point in my listening so I don’t really have much experience with them.
I still have my Michell Orbe SE but sadly due to dogs and Grandkids little fingers it is packed away safely but this will be added again at some point (I hope).
Still pissing about with this. I genuinely wish you could simply view all Ultra HD titles, search by record label, or genre even - It seems put together by non music lovers.
For your computer I’d get a USB DAC. The Cyrus one is £49 at Richer Sounds. The Chromecast is probably fine, you’d have to spend a few hundred quid to better it, and that is better spent elsewhere.
As for streaming, just go for the system that is CD quality that has the library you need. Sod high resolution, it’s just not worth the bother, the recording quality is what matters, not the specs.