Which device makes for a better digital music source? Computer or streamer?

I have been into digital since the first CD player (yuck). Over the last 15 years I have used a plethora of portable devices, PCs with various software, MACs… and intermediate and high end streamers. In general,, purpose built streamers significantly outperform PC / MACs / MacBooks.

I, like probably most people, scratch their heads when looking at a streamer and think… yeah, but it is just a PC with a different case. Yeah… no. The performance level of streamers is far superior to computers. The are built from the ground up to isolate from the network, power grid, internal noice, and vibration.

My first good streamer was an Aurlic Aries G2 ($4K?)… the difference was like night and day. The sound went from good for a streamer into the realm of audiophile… then I got and Aurrender 100N ($3.5)… and after auditioning an Aurender 10N (~$10K) I bought an Aurender W20SE ($22K). The Aurender W20SE bested my vinyl system and CD player… both of which are very high end.

I use my Aurender 100N for my headphone system and my W20SE for my main system. You can see my stuff under my user ID. After decades of fooling around with digital it has finally achieved the goal of equaling or besting vinyl (of course you have to choose all the right and compatible stuff). For both analog and digital your first piece in the audio chain must be the best possible of you are not going to get the best out of your system.

I use a 2014 Mac mini w/ Kodi in the living room system and a Raspberry Pi 3 B+ w/ moOde in the basement system. I haven’t heard a compelling reason to change either out. The Mac stores all the music in a shared folder which is mounted in moOde. I control everything from my phone or a browser and can cast Qobuz or YouTube Music from my phone to either setup without a hitch.

The streamer’s job is to send the bits to the DAC intact. Digital errors are fairly noticeable - for some audible examples, have a listen here - link. In my opinion, I think the most important thing about streamers is that they offer the convenience and features you want.

Why not test your Bluesound head to head against the Macbook Pro? Connect both to a system, close your eyes, and have your friend switch between the two. See if you can guess which is which. Try it 10 or 15 times yourself and have your friend write down your guesses, then trade places.

I like Yage’s test. In any event, whenever I've done a laptop vs. streamer audio face-off (err, ear off), the streamer has always come away the winner. More clarity. Better imaging. Better tone quality. Higher fi.

@2psyop 

IMO, both Node and Vault should sound better than a general purpose laptop. Even with a software like Audirvana, mass produced 'stock' laptop remains inherently noisy. The noise generated from laptop circuitry and on ethernet line greatly impacts the sound quality of any streaming setup. Whether you can discern the audible differences between a Node/Vault vs laptop is largely depends on rest of the components in your system. 

Before you go down chasing audio nirvana with a four figure streamer or DAC, optimize your current streaming setup with noise filters if you haven't already done so!