bits is bits

@jeffbij 

And thus the design of the streamer, components used, etc. can effect sound quality regardless if the 1s and 0s are the same.

+1   Excellent explanation.  Eg:  My first generation streamer.

My Auralic Aries was introduced in 2014. It came with its own stock 16 vdc LPS.  It sounded terrible when compared to playing the same song via Tidal vs on my CD transport - using the same DAC. 

Being a tweaker, my 1st mod was to swap out the flimsy cheap stock DC umbilical cord (to the stock LPS) with a DIY version of 20 awg pure copper OCC solid core wire.  The improvement in SQ was a substantial - and I mean substantial.  My 2nd mod was to replace the stock Auralic 16vdc LPS with a better quality one.  Again, another big jump in SQ.  My 3rd mod was to add a USBe Perfect signal regenerator to the output of the Auralic streamer.  Another big jump in SQ.  The music was even more refined - with a blacker background.  The 4th mod was to add a DDC between the streamer and DAC.    With these 4 minor mods, the same streamer now outperformed my CD transport - by far - using the same DAC.  The other components in the system remained the same.

A high-quality streamer will have all of these improvements built-in - plus much, much more.  Better design, better firmware, better parts, quieter circuitry, better power supply, better EMI protection, etc.   In other words, a high-quality streamer will address all of the factors that @jeffbij addressed in his post.  

- - - 

Over the years, my entire digital streaming chain has been substantially upgraded.  I stream only.  I don’t miss my CD’s.  A 96 piece orchestra sounds magnificent.

@parkergetdean 

ok so a bad streamer would be bad at sending data consistently to the DAC?

... Yes... although I would use the words "bad streamer". Typically you get what you pay for.  A $90 WiiM Mini is a quality product if you are judging it based on what it costs.  Just like a $2000 streamer typically will meet expectations in that price category.  It is all relative.

- Noise mitigation (will let you hear more)

- Enhancements (higher end streamers/rendering devices tend to do some dsp enhancements to for some common audiophile attributes, make it more 3D, etc...aka streamers may not be purist devices)

- can be a better asio driver

Etc

The streamer itself doesn't or shouldn't alter bit packages via all the enhancements listed above, therefore, volume leveling, dsp etc. Those enhancements are found in the software and one can choose to disable them. Streamers differ in their ability to minimize RFI/EMI, provide stable and precise clocking and quality of their interfaces, meaning USB, I2S, etc. Beyond the components/parts used, proprietary operating systems, music player apps are just a couple of the measures taken in order to further sound quality beyond what a general service computer can provide. The impact of streamers in providing highest level of sound shouldn't be minimized, they act much like preamp/line stages in the audio system in that they are like the heart of the system, digital data requires care, this is stage where bits are no longer simply bits. What's good enough for general service needs isn't good enough for streaming audio at levels to compete with  all analog sources. Getting continuous and accurate wave forms from digital isn't that simple.

How is a digital bit represented. It is done via an analog electrical signal.

A very simple test to see if there is a difference in digital sources is to get a $20 fibre optic cable and hook it up to directly or most likely indirectly via a RJ45 to fibre converter. Cost of something like that can be $40+. I have 3 of them from $40 to $150 but mine also function as network switches.

If your system is resolving enough (and also your ears) I would bet that you will hear a difference. The reason being that whatever analog noise BEFORE the DAC gets filtered out by the glass fibre cable. Glass cannot carry this analog noise.

My latest convert was someone with a great MBL system costing around $200k. He put a $20 fibre cable into his ROSE streamer and bang, loved the improvement.

My suggestion for anyone to try this is to get a used Sonore OpticalRendu ($800) and a $40 network switch. Or if you have some spare cash, the Lumin U2x streamer which has direct fibre input. I use ROON for the OpticalRendu.

BTW - my digital sources BEFORE the DAC and the fibre is very noisy and cheap. I have them far away from my audio gear in another room.