Do I Really Need a Dedicated Streamer?

Thank you @jl35 and  ​​​​​@soix .  Very clear and appreciated.  

I tend to disagree with @jl35 a little bit on this.  While I agree Tidal/Qobuz will sound better than Spotify given good enough equipment, my improvement with a streamer over the iPad was so large I have to think you’d still notice a significant improvement even using Spotify.  Just a semi-educated guess given my experience.  FWIW. 

@dunkin you have asked a question and you got answers. But you continue to doubt that a dedicated streamer will be an improvement.
 

Why did you get a DAC? You could have run an adapter from iPad to RCA and feed your McIntosh…iPad has a DAC in it. No need for Chord Qutest. 
Also…by your logic if I have a lawn mower I don’t need a car…I can just drive that thing to work…it’s got wheels so I’ll be alright. 
 

All jokes aside, purpose built streamers will execute their task better than a multi purpose smart tablet or computer. All the unnecessary crap that can compromise the performance is removed. You can be the judge if this by trying a WiiM streamer. 
But…you can continue to not listen to what we’re trying to explain to you and continue to use your iPad and I guarantee you no one on this forum will give a 💩. 

Thank you @soix. I will try that ad it makes sense.  Thank you.

Actually @audphile1 While I was getting some kind answers, but I was getting a lot of advice about changing from Spotify to something else,  and having freedom to move around my room choosing music.  I was not asking those questions.   

I am interested in understanding the why using a dedicated streamer over using a PC or iPad is better…(not why Qobuz is better than Spotify…)

Some kind folks have answered about their experience using a streamer, and that music sounds much better this way.  I believe them and appreciate their time to answer my question.  Full stop: Thank you!!

I still do not understand *why* a dedicated streamer is better than a computer, technically.   Seems to me, they are "running" the same file.  ( I am not a tech-person). why is "serving that file from a streamer better than from my PC?  Same files, same USB cable....

And yes,  I have a DAC because I did not like the sound of the built-in DAC in my Amplifier.  But the DAC is hardware. I know that a dedicated-engineered DAC is better than whatever DAC chip is slapped into my Apple product.  

But to me, the streamer is serving or "playing" a file to my DAC…just like the iPad would be sending that file into the same dedicated DAC.   Why should the streamer be better?

Again, I appreciate the answers and the advice.   Thank you