Sound quality differences in streamers

The best sounding streamer that I ever had was the Bryston BDP3 which had a terrible user experience.  For a few hundred less a Melco N100 sounded very close.

Then for around a third of the price of a Melco Cambridge Audio got me about 95% of the sound.  Currently using a Wiim Pro for $100 while rehabbing in my basement post knee surgery.  It’s maybe 90% sq of the CA.

  Worst streamer I ever heard also cost $100.

  So my take is budget streamers into a good FAC can get you most of the way to audio heaven.  Throwing more money will usually make it better but the asymptote kicks in a lot faster than say for speakers or turntables 

If the unit is just transferring zeros and ones to a DAC can there be differences in say a $300 WiiM and a $3000 dSC streamer?

And there is the ignorance, it is not just transferring "1’s and 0’s".

Doesn’t common sense tell the ones who have heard this nonsense that streaming music is no different than sending a word document there must be something else happening? That maybe those of us who have spent many thousands on streamers did it because the music actually sounded better? If there was no difference between a multi-thousand dollar streamer and a $300 Wiim how is it possible all these streamer manufacturers would stay in business longer than a few months? Because we are all fooled? We have nothing better to do with the money? Audiophile's like to pay thousands for a fancy case? Only a fool would believe that. 

Hans can explain it as well as anyone: Watch some of his videos: That is not "proove it" but explain why digital sound is complicated, this first one is not about streamers but filters, and the second explaining that digital is not simply "1’s and 0’s". 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PSsKdAcwUL4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B-StTplQZys

More importantly prove it to yourself: go to a dealer and ask them to proove to you that expensive streamers sound better. Honestly I don’t know why people keep asking this question about streamers being the same or not over and over.

Words are cheap, and useless- the proof is in the listening- go listen. 

In my experience, which is primarily related to using Roon, the answer to your question requires separating the server from the streamer since they perform two separate functions.  In the case of using Roon, the server runs Roon server, or Roon Core, which manages music files, streaming services, and the audio devices on your network.  The streamer operates as a Roon endpoint, which clocks, processes, and transports the digital signal to a DAC where it is converted into an analog signal.  In some cases, the server and streamer exist in a single chassis, like with the Antipodes K50, the Grimm MU1, and others.

I have not heard noticeable sonic differences in the servers that I have owned.  However, I have heard meaningful sonic differences in streamers, with the best sounding streamer I have owned being the Sonore Signature Rendu SE Deluxe, which is currently in my main system.  If I didn't already have the Sonore streamer, the other one I would try is the Innuos Pulsar.

Streamers vary greatly in the amount of noise generated from within, noise is the enemy of resolution/transparency. In researching and comparing streamers you'll find much difference in the lengths some makers go to lesson noise. Every single component on motherboard can contribute to a lower noise floor. Proprietary operating systems and linear power supplies also contribute greatly to lower noise floors. Streamers set the resolution/transparency floor for the entire streaming chain, extremely important component, perhaps the most important component in the entire chain.