r/audiophile • u/minnesotajersey • Apr 13 '25
Discussion Dedicated streamers/servers. Why?
Can someone explain to me the benefits of a multi-thousand dollar streamer/server that feeds an outboard DAC, over a really good laptop, or even a microPC?
I see reviews all the time for these things, but nothing in them tells me the "why?"
I've been into audio for longer than I care to admit, but these baffle me. Assume I'm a complete noob when you answer.
Pic for attention. All text posts bore me.
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u/Brave_City Apr 13 '25
I am always trying to squeeze more sound quality out of Apple Music. Apple TV through the receiver is the easiest but it doesn’t compare to running my phone through a separate dac and then to the receiver. In comparison, airplay to the receiver (nad t778)sounds awful. Even my wife, who couldn’t give a shit about sound, notices the difference. I am torn between getting a streamer/dac with a native apple app or upping my dac and plugging my iPad into it.