Any advantage to Bluesound Node 2i Versus Streaming from PC


I'm trying a loaner Bluesound Node 2i streamer which salesperson said will sound better than streaming from my PC.  I doubted this since both are just feeding a digital signal to my Amp.  It's just zeros and ones right?   I have the Bluesound connected with a decent (not high end) digital coaxial cable to my Lyngdorf 3400.  The PC is connected with a cheap USB cable to the same Lyngdorf.  The sensitivity of both inputs is set to 0dB.  The bluesound is set to fixed volume and the PC volume is set to max.  I am playing Tidal through both input devices.  I am trying to discern if there is any difference in sound quality.  When played through the amp the bluesound volume is a whole lot louder than the PC.  I have not found a way to level match the two inputs for comparison.  The bluesound sounds good and is a lot louder per any particular volume setting on the amp.  Does this mean the Bluesound is sending a better signal to the amp?  Is the  coaxial cable a better medium to transmit the  audio signal?  Is this the reason it's louder?  Could the Tidal feed through Bluesound be better than the Tidal Desktop app on my PC?  I need some help as I have to decide by Saturday whether to keep the Bluesound or return it. Other than sound quality there are only minor advantages to owning the Bluesound which don't warrant the purchase.  My amp has a built in streamer but no built in Tidal (which is the reason I'm using the PC.)
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Showing 3 responses by oddiofyl

I have a Vault 2i... it sounds great via coax to my DAC....  Sometimes I will mirror my PC to my TV and run Qobuz on the computer .  I honestly can't tell the difference as it sounds great via the Vault or USB from the PC.   The coax is a decent quality cable , the USB cable is generic....   both sound awesome .
I really like my Vault 2i, love it in fact but I really like being able to use my PC to play Qobuz.   I mirror the PC to my TV and I use a Rii brand Air Mouse / Keyboard to control the PC from my chair...  its awesome plus I can browse Audiogon or do anything else on the PC and see it on the TV while I listen... 
One thing I forgot to mention, unlike a PC is the Node is silent , like my Vault.   The fan noise of a PC can be annoying at lower volumes

I use my Vault's streaming capability more than I ever thought.   I was totally against streaming until I tried one..   Its got a pretty good interface imho