Do I Really Need a Dedicated Streamer?

Much of the increase is due to the digital components increased quality within a dedicated streamer and dac.  This includes better clocks, power supplies, galvanic isolation which all can produce a much better musical presentation.  This would include better resolution, imaging, soundstage, transients, and lower noise floor.  Basically all the things @akg_ca stated.  Bits aren’t bits, there is electrical noise and jitter that are added to an output signal coming from an iPad or iPhone.  Whether your rig is transparent or revealing enough to hear that added noise is also a valid question. I run usb from my MacBook Pro but use a ddc and DAC to ameliorate those issues.

@akg_ca 

+1

i have a $22K streamer for my main system, worth every penny. I have requisite supporting equipment to make its additional quality well worth it.

My head phone system has a $3.5K streamer providing content. Also well matched. You can see my systems under my userID. 
 

‘’I’ve used, IPhones, iPads, Macs, PCs, and streamers of all investment levels.

A streamer is not just convenience it's a purpose built device for streaming music. Unlike your Ipad that is all it does which should make it a lot quieter at the very least. BTW you really should ditch Spotify it doesn't sound very good in comparison to Qobuz or Tidal.

@dunkin what’s the rest of your system and what chord dac is it?