I have a question I so far haven't found an answer to in searching the Internet.
There are numerous devices that have a USB port to play MP3 files. But what I'm trying to understand, is if the quality of the sound produced is inherently different (better or worse or the same) depending on the individual device played, and how many devices it goes through to output sound ?
(Please, no discussion of compressed versus non-compressed sound formats. That's not what I'm interested in. I run 192k to 256k bitrate MP3s at 44 to 48khz. Roughly equivalent to CD sound.)
I can play MP3 files through a USB flash drive on my ethernet-based Roku Ultra device, that is connected via HDMI to my television. And the audio of my television goes to one of my two receivers, via an Optical Cable. Would I get inherently better sound if I played the same files directly from another type of a device, such as a receiver or dvd player with its own USB port?
(Keeping in mind that in my subjective opinion, playing the same files directly from my Samsung TV's USB port to my receiver doesn't seem to sound as good as from my Roku Ultra device.)
I'm just looking for best way to play my sound file collection to one or both of my receivers if there's a better way. Though I'd prefer an optical drive with a USB port to a receiver as the optical drive would cost much less.
There are numerous devices that have a USB port to play MP3 files. But what I'm trying to understand, is if the quality of the sound produced is inherently different (better or worse or the same) depending on the individual device played, and how many devices it goes through to output sound ?
(Please, no discussion of compressed versus non-compressed sound formats. That's not what I'm interested in. I run 192k to 256k bitrate MP3s at 44 to 48khz. Roughly equivalent to CD sound.)
I can play MP3 files through a USB flash drive on my ethernet-based Roku Ultra device, that is connected via HDMI to my television. And the audio of my television goes to one of my two receivers, via an Optical Cable. Would I get inherently better sound if I played the same files directly from another type of a device, such as a receiver or dvd player with its own USB port?
(Keeping in mind that in my subjective opinion, playing the same files directly from my Samsung TV's USB port to my receiver doesn't seem to sound as good as from my Roku Ultra device.)
I'm just looking for best way to play my sound file collection to one or both of my receivers if there's a better way. Though I'd prefer an optical drive with a USB port to a receiver as the optical drive would cost much less.
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