Any audiophile use computer (MacBook) as your audio streaming source?


I rarely see any audiophile talking about streaming audio digital sources from a computer. I understand MacBook can accept native lossless formats form all the various platforms, and it can store unlimited music files in any format, so supposedly it’s the best source, and the digital file is the most purest before it’s fed to the dac. Anyone compared the sound quality of computer vs other audio streamer? 

randywong

Oh boy, you have some research to do.

Yes, I used a macbook years ago, and it was trounced by an audiophile streamer/player. I have since upgraded my audiophile streamer/player to a better audiophile streamer/player and music sounds even more natural. Adding quality cabling to all components raises the level even higher. 

Don't be fooled by what you read regarding 1's and 0's, and a lossless data stream etc. and "bits are bits". All the sound quality improvements are in the design, the output stages, power supplies and reducing electrical noise. Use your own ears. 

But technically my streamer/player is still a computer, actually more than one computer in a single box, just engineered to control and play music only. 

The challenge with a Macbook, along with any other PC is the potential for ground loops via USB and noise from the power supply.  Fix those two issues and they can be excellent.

Many high quality DAC's now are galvanically isolated USB inputs, so that's often not an issue.  The next issue is if your charger creates too much noise.  easy to tell by unplugging the charger from the wall and listening. This also eliminates ground loop issues, which may only occur with non-portable PCs.

They are all computers, but some more optimized than others.

If your preference is to use your MacBook, and not switch to a purpose built streamer, then inserting a DDC in front of your DAC for galvanic isolation and reclocking could provide noticeable benefits.  You could try this one, which can also be used as a streamer, but there are also less expensive options like this one, or this one.

Another option is to use a networked endpoint as the interface.  The PI2AES is an option that can be improved with a power supply upgrade and maybe Fibre Optic networked isolation.

https://forum.hifiguides.com/t/streamer-ddc-showdown-pi2aes-vs-sotm-sms200-ultra-neo/15025

 

 

 

I used a MacBook years ago. It isn’t even close in sound quality as a dedicated streamer. I had run on battery, shut down all apps… etc. no where near a good streamer. I recommend Aurrender. I have owned and auditioned in my system a number of different ones from $2K to $22K. In general, you get what you pay for… the more you invest (not arbitrarily) the better the sound. My great vinyl leg, CD, and streaming sounds the same. That is what the state of the art is today at most price points.