Inner workings of dLNA

[tanmayj]

Hi,

I've noticed that in these two conditions:

1) Playing an MP3 file directly from a USB Stick plugged into my receiver
2) Streaming exactly the same MP3 Track from my phone over WiFi using dLNA

The sound quality is different. The dLNA playback seems slightly lacking in punch and volume as compared to direct USB playback.

Hardware: Onkyo TX-NR 616 on latest firmware, Samsung galaxy S2 phone with the 'Onkyo Remote' App being used to stream the audio.

I want to know if dLNA technology does something to the audio (like compressing it etc.) before transmitting it, because it most certainly degrades the sound.

I also checked using Samsung's AllShare dLNA application, same result.

Any inputs welcome.

 

[haisaikat]

Suggest this reading first

Technical Overview

In short, if target playback device supports the format of source then usually the media (mp3 in your case) is transmitted as is. However in this case lower quality playback can result due to either network transmission error since you are transmitting over wifi or due to auto bitrate limiting (i.e if your source file is 320kbps and your streamer -- your phone in this case is downgrading the bitrate by default). So you should better try with other streaming softwares like Logitech MEdia Server by installing them on your pc and streaming similarly over wifi.

 

[Shivam]

I have been using 16/44.1 to 24/96 flac files the results are similar, from USB, wired LAN and over wifi (dlna).

 

[rsponline]

Is it possible that Onkyo receiver has separate DAC chip for Direct USB playback and for DLNA playback?

If this is true then sound quality can differ.

 

[Vijay_s]

Complete Guide to DLNA and UPnP

Computer Audiophile - The Complete Guide To HiFi UPnP / DLNA Network Audio

Mostly quality based on the device profile of the player used to stream the Audio. Jriver have an audiophile profile to stream the music.