Bluesound Node2 should play your thumb drive. So should your 6 year old laptop
in your OP, your “ digital“ player is Audioengine. That means you are probably using Bluetooth. Bluetooth is lossy, hardly the best in digital replay. I have noticed a trend here where posters complain about “digital” and they are referring to Bluetooth. That would be like me complaining about analog but instead of using a Mike Fremer system I am using my parents $29 turntable/receiver/speaker system they bought at KMart in 1969
in your OP, your “ digital“ player is Audioengine. That means you are probably using Bluetooth. Bluetooth is lossy, hardly the best in digital replay. I have noticed a trend here where posters complain about “digital” and they are referring to Bluetooth. That would be like me complaining about analog but instead of using a Mike Fremer system I am using my parents $29 turntable/receiver/speaker system they bought at KMart in 1969