Any audiophile use computer (MacBook) as your audio streaming source?

@oberoniaomnia 

"Could it be that the DAC in the streamer is better than what you used when using a computer as file source?"

I have owned multiple streamers, from folks like Metrum, Antipodes, Sonore, Mojo Audio, and Small Green Computer, and some of those were server/streamers, but I have never owned a streamer/DAC combination.  The combination of a DAC within a streamer, or server/streamer, is not unheard of but also not common with the equipment used by most on this forum.

There is a lot to unpack here, and the OP should really do more research on this site, as well as looking at offerings by manufacturers, just to see what is out there.  If they need file storage, then they may need a server since many streamers do not offer storage.  If they want to run Roon, they will need something to operate Roon Core.  A computer will do those things, as will a server, but not all streamers.  So, questions include:

• do they need storage for their own music files or do they simply want to stream from the internet, 
• how do they plan to interface with their music, i.e., using Roon, or other platforms,
• is this a first step toward an overall digital playback system that they intend to grow, or are they looking for a one and done solution, and 
• what is their budget and time frame?

There is no roadmap for exactly how to get there but it does help to start with the end in mind.

@randywong ,

I suggest that you read dCS Guide to Computer Audio.

A laptop is probably not ideal. But if you can build a desktop (especially a fanless) with minimal components. For the initial build you can have wireless, blue-tooth, and other stuff. But once the desktop in finally configured remove them physically and also disable the controls in BIOS. Of course, you have to have interest (drive), to make your audio server, which is not only a wonderful experience, but can also sound great. You can then have dedicated players like Foobar or HQPlayer or others to play music. Audiophilestyle forum has ton of people who are enjoying their high end setups with purpose built servers. Point is that I would certainly NOT dismiss computer audio for playback in a high fidelity system. And I just noted a few others that are in agreement with that.

If that is not what interests you, then the streamers suggested above are probably the way to go.

The BDP-3 is largely a computer but one that is built specifically to do one thing.

Streamers are computers. Some brands, such as marque du jour Aurender, make a convincing effort to conceal that basic fact. And they’re right, because who wants a $14K piece of kit with a $69 motherboard at its heart? Others, like Bryston, don’t seem especially concerned.

Admittedly, most - if not all - off-the-shelf computers are unfit to stream digital music. They don’t have a place in a proper audiophile system.

But a purpose-built computer absolutely does. Usually this means a machine you build yourself of thoughtfully selected components, and properly set up and configured OS and software.

A computer lets you run any software you want, and that alone makes a decisive case for using them. You’re not stuck with software cobbled together by a small electronics-focused business that has zero expertise in software development. Someone recently posted about a wyred4sound unit whose driver’s supported-OS list topped out at Windows 8 if I remember correctly.

Or maybe you own tens of thousands of files of rare recordings that you carefully organized on your NAS, but the crappy software in your new dedicated streamer is unimpressed by your librarian skills and refuses to display or play a good number of them.

Speaking of NAS, I was glad to see the same Synology NAS I own in the virtual system of a member who is apparently rather revered in elevated audiophile circles. Yet a NAS is just a computer, right?

On the flip side a computer will output to USB, therefore a person will need a USB DAC with, preferably, a very good clock.

A lot of misconceptions and unchallenged groupthink are floating around computers in the context of high-end audio. If I had a say, I would encourage folks to keep an open mind and take the time to inform themselves on the subject and develop enough knowledge to at least discuss them intelligently. Beyond that, everyone is free to welcome in their systems whatever component they feel works best for them.

Admittedly, most - if not all - off-the-shelf computers are unfit to stream digital music. They don’t have a place in a proper audiophile system.

But a purpose-built computer absolutely does. Usually this means a machine you build yourself of thoughtfully selected components, and properly set up and configured OS and software.

Or, get a Bluesound Node, LPS and nice cables, feed it to a good tube DAC (with really good NOS tubes) and be done and happy for ~$3K (+ $11 a month for Qobuz and SXM for free if you have SXM in your car) - and a nice app to control it all from every phone and tablet in the house.

But a purpose-built computer absolutely does. Usually this means a machine you build yourself of thoughtfully selected components, and properly set up and configured OS and software.

@devinplombier  That’s probably true, but how many people here who are audiophiles and not computer techs are qualified or are willing to undertake such a project?!?  C’mon man, be real.  Sometimes things are just worth paying for.