Cheapest way to enhance SQ with digital streaming

@tksteingraber Not sure what you mean by after streamer. Streamers generally do usb straight into dac, if you converted usb to fiber you'd have to have fiber input on dac. Generally, fiber is used to convert ethernet to fiber, this goes into server/streamer or separate server or separate streamer.

Now if you're talking server, you can do FMC AFTER server ONLY by using separate streamer (examples my Opticalrendu) which has fiber input, usb output to dac. Without separate streamer FMC can only be done UPSTREAM of server/streamer.

I think people get mixed up by all the different words applied to streaming equipment. Servers are most common of streaming equipment, vast majority have streamer built in, if one is using usb or another port direct into dac, this has built in streamer. Streamers are a separate computer that is placed downstream of server and just prior to dac, steamers also called Roon endpoints, usb renderers. Streamers have their own  operating system since they're computer, this allows them to communicate with the Roon Core installed in server, why they're called Roon Endpoint, they also convert ethernet or optical to usb, reason they're called usb renderer.

Three theoretical advantages to separate streamers, one is removing Roon endpoint duties from server, means less processing by computer within server which means less noise produced.  Two is ability to do FMC after server, noise produced by server can be completely eliminated. Three, the usb rendering process is generally filtering and/or reclocking of usb creating improved usb rendering vs. what may be untreated usb coming directly out of motherboard on server, result is better feed to dac, cleaner, less jitter.

 So, one has option of keeping it simple, using general service computer or computer optimized for music, this is called the server. take usb straight to dac. The other way is more complex as I've tried to explain above.

@sns Thank you for your great explanation.  Very easy to follow and makes clear sense of it all.  Still learning a lot about streaming music.  Appreciate your efforts.  My current set up is:  Router-FMC-fiber optic-FMC-Macbook pro with AQ jitterbug-asynchronous DAC.  Adding the fiber made a big difference and it sounds very good.  I was inquiring if fiber could be added between the Mac and DAC.  Seems that my next step down the road would be to replace the Mac with a dedicated streamer with fiber input like the opticalrendu.  

@tksteingraber I’d think installing the fiber stuff after the MacBook would be more effective. Second, the Jitterbug is not a DAC — it just reduces jitter and, frankly, it sucks. It ruined the sound coupling it with my Dragonfly Red, and speaking with an industry insider AQ knows it sucks and is reworking it. And yeah, a dedicated streamer annihilates using a noisy computer as a source. Noise kills digital sound, and a general-use computer is extremely noisy. Just my $0.02 FWIW.

@soix thanks for your input. Yep realize the JB is not a DAC just a jitter filter. I was just listing it was on my MAC.  The dash above is the connection change.   The JB has worked for me much better than iFI purifier and does make the Mac sound better with blind tests. (Nothing like adding the FMC’s and fiber cable) I can see how the JB wouldn’t help out in other set ups. Agree the next step up will be a dedicated streamer down the road. Right now pretty darn happy with my Mac with Amarra.

Did this today and I am loving this simple upgrade.