Streamer That Supports Qobuz and Amazon Music?

I have never subscribed to any streaming services.  I use a Windows 10 laptop that plays all of my locally stored wav / flac / mp3 fles, via JRiver’s media center, and it sounds great (if the music file was created via good mixing and mastering).

The above brings me to my question, and maybe is an option for @12many:

Wouldn’t any low cost (used / renewed, etc) PC / IOS box be able to act as a streamer from any streaming service?  Wouldn’t you be able to login to Qobuz, or any other streaming service, with any crummy computer, and have excellent sound quality?

And the more simple the computer the better (I would think?), because it will probably generate less electrical noise and less mechanical noise.  And if using to perform only streaming services, then no need for a powerful video card (which would likely add electrical  noise).

Yes, a traditional, dedicated streamer is designed for that singular purpose, and should have very good sound quality.  But streamers are glorified computers.  And your own personal computer can do the same thing, and with a couple of tweaks, can probably match the sound quality of popular streamers, without breaking the bank.

Am I missing anything?

Can any Windows computer or Apple computer (supposedly having better sound quality than Windows) perform the streaming services from Qobuz and the rest?

@seymour-krelborn 

You are correct. You can use any computer as a streamer. I have used, many PCs and MacBooks. I have used different software, tuned the PC to be quiet, and run MacBooks on batteries...also iPads, iPhones etc. However, none of these generally even compare to the cheapest purpose built streamer... like a Bluesound Node (I have one) or WiiM. The PC or MACs are noise generation machines not built to protect the sound quality. 

So, while they work... and will sound good at the most elementary level, if you are going for a good sounding audio system you want to get a purpose built streamer... even if it is only an budget Blue sound. 

I have used streamers from $350, $3K, $5K, $10K, $13K, $15K and in my main system now I have an Aurrender W20SE ($22K) and each has sound quality better than the tier below. My current one equals my outstanding vinyl rig. 

So, yes, you can do it... but if you are interested in sound quality, you should get a dedicated streamer. 

@ghdprentice 

I agree that a PC or or MAC or linux computer will not be ideal for sound quality.  But I noted in my comment "and with a couple of tweaks, can probably match the sound quality of popular streamers, without breaking the bank."

The above can be accomplished via a digital-to-digital converter, which would be doable within @12many’s $1,600 budget.

In a review from The Absolute Sound, Robert Harley wrote:

"I know a longtime industry veteran who travels the world setting up and fine-tuning state-of-the-art systems. He carries with him his laptop loaded with music—and an Alpha USB. Whatever DAC is on hand in the system is greatly improved with the addition of the Alpha USB. He wouldn’t think of doing a setup without it."

The DDC that Robert Harley reviewed would exceed @12man’s budget.  But there are DDC’s at budget friendly price points that get excellent reviews.

All streamers, at any price, are feeding DACs data that originated from someone else’s computer.  So as long as the last hop to the DAC filters out the noise, and re-clocks the data, then any crummy computer’s USB output should sound fantastic.

I posted my comment because I did not know if streaming services allowed for general-purpose computers to be compatible with their services.  You answered that question (thank you).

@12many could purchase a Singxer SU-6 DDC, and use it with an old computer that is collecting dust.

For $120, he can pick up a renewed Windows 11 computer from Amazon.  But it has only 8GB of RAM and 256GB SSD.

For $160, he can pick up a renewed Windows 11 computer from Amazon, equipped with 16GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD.

From the reviews that I have read, and from youtube videos that I have watched, a good DDC does wonders for virtually any DAC, using any PC’s USB output.

The only question mark is how important an AES/EBU cable (or TOS, etc) is, because the pricier ones can break the bank.

Dealer sent me home with the node icon I got it working wired but bluesound format seriously sucks compared to roon and I can’t get the unit to connect thru WiFi so it’s going back.

Dealer sent me home with the node icon I got it working wired but bluesound format seriously sucks compared to roon and I can’t get the unit to connect thru WiFi so it’s going back.