How to improve sound coming from a laptop?


Hi

I am about the get a decent integrated amp for my room and plan to use one of my laptops for playing music.

One is a macbook air 2013 and a windows laptop from 2017 capable of gaming.

What I was originally going to do was to plug a decent USB cable directly from the laptop to the amp.

But, then I wondered what if the usb connection are affected by white noises?

These laptops are not meant for music server!

From internet search, I came across with jitter cleaners and reclockers,

but was not sure if this will help the laptop sound.

Does anyone have experience with using a laptop as a music server or a stream?

Do you recommend any device? under $500-600?

Thanks!
yggy1
Op,
   I use Audirvana and while I can not verify how their software functions exactly, they claim to: shorten the signal path, reserve exclusive audio access to the Wasapi driver,  bypass the laptop audio mixer and ensure bit perfect processing of the stream.  I can verify the sound is better in my system streaming Qobuz through the Audirvana interface rather than the website directly.  Windows 10 Lenovo yoga. 
Another vote for Audirvana, it really can improve SQ. Also, use a decent USB cable and run it through one of the USB decrappifiers from W4S, iFi, Uptone, to name a few.
Forgot One thing OP. I charge my playing laptop while I am at work so can listen in the evening running Battery only. No AC power supply to worry about.