Do I Really Need a Dedicated Streamer?

@dunkin you have asked a question and you got answers. But you continue to doubt that a dedicated streamer will be an improvement.
 

Why did you get a DAC? You could have run an adapter from iPad to RCA and feed your McIntosh…iPad has a DAC in it. No need for Chord Qutest. 
Also…by your logic if I have a lawn mower I don’t need a car…I can just drive that thing to work…it’s got wheels so I’ll be alright. 
 

All jokes aside, purpose built streamers will execute their task better than a multi purpose smart tablet or computer. All the unnecessary crap that can compromise the performance is removed. You can be the judge if this by trying a WiiM streamer. 
But…you can continue to not listen to what we’re trying to explain to you and continue to use your iPad and I guarantee you no one on this forum will give a 💩. 

Thank you @soix. I will try that ad it makes sense.  Thank you.

Actually @audphile1 While I was getting some kind answers, but I was getting a lot of advice about changing from Spotify to something else,  and having freedom to move around my room choosing music.  I was not asking those questions.   

I am interested in understanding the why using a dedicated streamer over using a PC or iPad is better…(not why Qobuz is better than Spotify…)

Some kind folks have answered about their experience using a streamer, and that music sounds much better this way.  I believe them and appreciate their time to answer my question.  Full stop: Thank you!!

I still do not understand *why* a dedicated streamer is better than a computer, technically.   Seems to me, they are "running" the same file.  ( I am not a tech-person). why is "serving that file from a streamer better than from my PC?  Same files, same USB cable....

And yes,  I have a DAC because I did not like the sound of the built-in DAC in my Amplifier.  But the DAC is hardware. I know that a dedicated-engineered DAC is better than whatever DAC chip is slapped into my Apple product.  

But to me, the streamer is serving or "playing" a file to my DAC…just like the iPad would be sending that file into the same dedicated DAC.   Why should the streamer be better?

Again, I appreciate the answers and the advice.   Thank you 

 
Actually @dunkin while you were getting kind answers you continued to not absorb the information that was being provided to you and you continued to ask. 
 

Let’s try this…

Dedicated streamers:

1. Better power supply - lowers noise

2. Isolated network from audio chain

3. Hard-wired to network - minimizes the EMI inside the unit caused by wifi receiver 

4. audio grade digital clock - reclocks the digital signal to reduce jitter on the digital output ensuring as clean a signal as possible to be sent to DAC

5. isolated USB output to minimize jitter 

6. Purpose built and designed firmware for better processing of signal in digital domain prior to feeding DAC. 
 

7. high resolution streaming with bit rates higher than the 16/44 redbook CD

8. no non-purpose tasks that the OS needs to run - focus is solely on ingesting the  feed from streaming services and converting it to signal that your DAC would understand  

The degree of improvement varies based on hardware and software design. Objective is to get the cleanest possible signal out to your DAC. User experience with the native software is a user preference and priority. Tethering your iPad to your DAC is not a thing with streamers because the tablet becomes your remote controller. 
 

iPad …

built to serve many purposes which it performs equally well. It’s a jack of all trades, master of none. It does everything at once without regard for minimizing jitter on its output because it doesn’t care…it isn’t built to be a streamer. This goes back to my lawn mower example. 
 

But somehow I feel you will continue to woodpecker this until you annoy yourself and everyone else. 
 

Good luck!

If you want it to sound good you do need a decent quality streamer fs a Mac,or windows computer and of quality with LPS power supplies 

and a DDC or Reclocker helps if you have a $1500 or under streamer.,

even helps your dac in many ways.