Help understanding the digital signal for audio

Hi I think there is confusion.  I have a bluesound Node 2i which is a streamer and also has a dac.  I go coax digital out of the node 2i which bypasses the inboard dac.

So would a more expensive streamer do something different than what the node 2i is doing?  Like less jitter? 

Thanks

Better sound as determined by ears. There is no reason to know why unless you are building one.

You can improve the 2i with a better SPDIF cable depending on what you got.

S/PDIF is sensitive to the jitter of the source, though better DACs handle jitter in the source a lot better today than they used to.

Asynchronous USB however should be immune to source jitter.  Assuming your streamer has relatively high jitter, a better streamer, or one that uses asynch USB would lower the jitter and potentially sound better.

I have been working on upgrading my digital systems for over twenty years (audio for fifty). Currently my digital systems are on par with my excellent turntable. 
 

Each component matters. The streamer, DAC, Preamp, and amp must be at similar levels to maximize the output. 
 

Typically it is said that if you are using a USB connection the bitstream is retimed by the DAC. It is more complicated than that, but a good way to look at it. Through the connection you have (SP/DIF I assume)  your bit stream is not retimed. Meaning in an elementary way you have your cheaper unit doing the timing. Try the USB connection.

Can you benefit from a better streamer, most likely yes. I have used many, my recommendation is Aurender… the best you can afford. I have had cheap streamers, $4K, $8K, and $22K streamers and they matter. Like the turntable the better the quieter the source, the better your system can sound.

Denafrips Venus 2 Dac buffers and reclocks all digital inputs.