Any audiophile use computer (MacBook) as your audio streaming source?

I am using a laptop via high-b/w USB into Cambridge DAC/Pre directly into my monoblocks, and I am unsure if this can get any better than listening to 24/196 lossless music. The limitation is the resolution availability of music across Tidal, Apple, and Amazon, which can only provide up to 24/196 lossless files (max for 99% of the music). Maybe they will get to 392 in the future.

I think it may have more to do with how good the output stage of your DAC and the DAC converters are vs. the stream source. It is going 1’s and 0s from the machine to the DAC, and then the DAC converts it to analog, so I would think the DAC’s output stage, along with the DAC itself, is 99% of the sound.

I am running a laptop with an SSD drive and nothing running but the Apple Music app, feeding Cambridge DAC/PRE with full TaraOne interconnects balanced into the amps with TarOne into the speakers via 6’ cables. Linn Klimax 500 solo monos with Cambridge 851C Azur DAC/Pre. My weak link seems to be my speakers.

So, the question is, should I spend $4k on a top-of-the-line Cambridge music server or just use what I have set up? Or should I go with a dedicated music server instead of streaming via the computer to the DAC? Also, I can stream all lossless via iPad set at lossless to the DAC via Wi-Fi.

Linn also makes a great DAC/PRE... again, the output stage matching with the amplifier input, along with DAC.  I think finding the best matching DAC/PRE/AMP is where 99% of the sound from digital is at.

@jimwsong1 If you've identified your speakers to be the weak link in your system, then why would you spend $4k on a DAC instead of new speakers?

@devinplombier Because the speakers will cost around $30k+, whereas $4k for a DAC is more accessible for the immediate.