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

@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!

I cannot say anything about streaming because i never use streaming...

But it is possible at low cost to have our way in controlling minimally vibrations, noise and interferences, so much that i am glad to use my computer...

It is not certainly the ideal possibility...

But the ratio S.Q. /price play for me... i will not say the exact figure no more because no one believe me and take me seriously if i say that audiophile experience minimal treshold of satisfaction exist at a low price...

If my speakers/room /computer beat  or rival my 8 headphones on all acoustic counts (  better bass,  almost on par clarity and  details, better mid frequencies same  intimacy with more naturalness and a better soundstage filling the room with sound coming around me) it is enough...

Use you computer the right way before giving money...

I will never upgrade...

For the OP question logically i think that a streamer would be better than a well controlled computer but at which price? 😁😊

And anyway i will never use one then it is only my useless impression...

By the way i am sure that ghdprentice is right...It is a good advice for those who can afford it...

The Aurender W20SE bested my vinyl system and CD player… both of which are very high end.

All very useful and educational comments and tips. It is pleasing to know one can spend little and one can spend alot but those at the extremes and those in the middle can still enjoy digital systems. I may try the filters for my own audio rig and share these comments with my computer source friend.

We are both happy with the sound we are getting....

Dedicated music server and a streamer.  The streamer coupled with a DAC is what I use to avoid usd connection but there are many great options. 

I have tried a number of PCs, both custom built using standard components and "audiophile" PCs like the Antipodes. I have tried low powered PCs and high powered PCs. I have used linear PSUs and standard switch mode PSUs (but good quality, such as Seasonic). I have used audiophile USB cards and standard USB outputs, along with audiophile USB cables, and a variety of software such as Roon, JRiver, LMS and others. I have also used quite a number of streamers - SOTM, Lumin, Ultrarendu and OptricalRendu, currently Bricasti M5 (and others).

My conclusions are:

• A decent streamer always sounds better than any PC. This is true regardless of whether it is a NUC powered by a linear PSU, a high end gaming PC, or an audiophile server such as an Antipodes. Adding an audiophile USB card is a marginal improvement, but not enough to make it as good as a streamer.
• If you must use a PC as a source, a high powered PC (eg with an i7 or i9 CPU) with a standard switch mode power supply sounds better than a low powered PC (eg a NUC) powered by a linear PSU. Most "audiophile" servers are just low powered PCs with linear PSUs and a few tweaks.
• USB is not a good means of transmitting audio, despite its theoretical advantages. I  have consistently found that AES or SPDIF from a streamer sound consistently better than USB from either a streamer or PC.

These are the conclusions I have drawn from my listening experience over years. I am not suggesting these are absolute truths, and others may have different experiences. Other equipment may also produce different results. But these are the consistent conclusions I have drawn from my own experience.