Point of higher priced streamer?

Yes, very hard to tell apples from oranges.

https://archimago.blogspot.com/2013/02/high-bitrate-mp3-internet-blind-test.html

If something is in the Internets, it must be true 🙄

My more concise opinion is that

a) yes streamers can sound different but it’s only because they do a better/worse job of jitter and/or noise reduction. If they are intentionally coloring/modifying or unintentionally maligning the day itself then they are should be excluded from all consideration. (Amarra software used to monkey with the source data that some seemed to like).

b) and thus more directly to the OP’s question - there are much more effective and cheaper ways to deal with these issues than trying to do it all in a single highly overpriced box, which generally don’t do it very well anyways. And gain a lot of flexibility to boot.

Ironlung,

You seem to think that your MCSE level or similar networking experience renders other people not knowledgeable however, your posts are nothing but deflections of the fact that bit perfect non transcoded delivery is child's play if what is desired.

I think my M.A.Sc. (EE) and a few years of PhD before I decided I liked making money, not to mention sitting on the original AES67 technical committee gives me the skills and background to understand the issues quite well though I would rather pull off my finger nails than sit on a committee like that again.

When someone starts questioning others’ credentials, and worse, starts throwing theirs around, it usually means they can’t win the argument on substance alone.