Will audio streaming devices push out computer audio?

All interesting and insightful comments to be sure. I understand many people will not steam, since they like the idea of owning music files, to include CDs or albums. I myself do, on occasion, buy and rip CDs into my Itunes library. Therefore if I listen to something I like on Spotify, I will try to find it on CD to buy and rip. Still have a computer for this, still have a hdd for digital music files. Also I understand the album or analog Iuv, even though I have had a few turntables and don't like to fuss to extract the great sound, ie cartridge match, tonearm selection, cleaning record albums.
It seems the cost of quality digital streaming is really coming down. In a separate post I ask about the Bluesound products, with a Node 2 at a very attractive $500 price point. Really good turntables and computers as a comparison go well over that price!

Network players have already replaced computer audio for the most part, at least in terms of performance and value; that goes for both streaming content and privately owned libraries stored on NAS devices.

For those of us with sizable collections of non-released material (e.g. live concert recordings) NAS drives & network players won't be replaced by streaming services, but they surely make some sense for the future of commercial releases. My skepticism about the long term health of these companies is a problem not yet overcome. Cheers,
Spencer

Wireless streaming is the way to go for best chance at best sound with low noise and distortion. Wifi or Bluetooth. Source can be any commercial computer capable of running the software needed if connections to streamers are wireless because there is no inherently noisy electrical connection to the devices actually making the sound.

Any newer device with good quality USB support will likely do quite well also especially if the DAC its connected to is newer as well and does most of the work involved to make the sound like reclocking, etc.

There is no reason to not give whatever you can a try and see how it goes. Chances are you will be pleasantly surprised. Plex software can dliver top notch sound quality and  can be installed and used for free with most home computers. Apps that run on phones tablets or other wireless devices are only $5.

@mapman I respectfully beg to differ. IMHE, and generally agreed upon by wide consensus of many computeraudio-obsessed on CA forums, bluetooth audio isn't a serious competitor and barely deserves consideration in a high fidelity system. Wifi is far better than bluetooth, but although the electrical noise is reduced with wifi, wifi is not immune to wireless interference and it's sound quality rarely equals that of the same routers/NAS etc, when connected via a good quality CAT6 or CAT6A ethernet cable (e.g. Bluejean Cable). I've had a number here who tested this with me and none of us preferred the SQ via wifi vs. ethernet.

Also when you recommend "any commercial computer capable of running the software needed" that advice is broad brush and might help a novice who hasn't tried most of the digital concepts regularly discussed here. However, it isn't really going to help a more experienced audio enthusiast take his digital to near the highest levels available today.
Unless you are talking about HQ Player doing 8x DSD conversion etc., it is rare that any windows or mac o/s computer will be part of a top tier digital rig. I've tried most and other approaches discussed in many other threads take the digital game to as Keegan Michael Key would say  "a whole 'nuther level". Cheers,
Spencer

sbank yes its hard to generalize but my point is I’ve found its easy to get ones foot in the door with good quality digital sound these days, probably better than most have ever had in the past.

Of course its always possible to tweak and improve once you’re in the game.

I use wifi in my main system with no reservations. Have dabbled with newer higher quality bluetooth and see promise there but have not put that to the aid test yet. Soon...