Any Advantages To A Streamer In My Situation

Hi @neonknight,   I would expect most everyone here will say a nice dedicated streamer will hands down beat a computer used as a streamer.  And, like many, I to used a Mac Mini to run roon core and stream when I got started in digital.  Today, I have auditioned many different streamers in my systems, and they all sound better,  and they all sound different, at different price points.  Members who state they use this or that and do not have issues are correct, but they often have not tried better streamers.  From Wii to Bluesound, to low end, and to high end, they all get better.  What gets better?  Everything.  Bass, timber, quiet background, soundstage, resolution, you name it.

Which makes me wonder, how much does the computer have to do with sound?

Lots.  why?  Noise probably number one. computers are just plain noisy, as they run multiple functions.  Streamers are optimized for sound.

I believe I would still have to use the Nuc to store Roon, and stream Qobuz.

Yes and no.  For Roon, you do need a Roon Server.  Mine lives in my Grimm MU1, which is also a streamer.  So I have eliminated a separate device, power cable and interconnect.  The Grimm does a fantastic job running Roon, and also Serves roon to my second, better Streamer and DAC as it is on my network, just like your NUC. Many Streamers run Qobuz natively, and do not need Roon at all.  I personally like Roon so I use it always.

Also,  with the conversion that the DAC does and its reclocking, does it also negate any benefits of the streamer?

This depends on the connection used from the streamer to the DAC.  USB from the streamer will eliminate the clocking in the streamer and rely on the clock in the DAC.  AES or Coax will cary the clocking from the streamer to the DAC and bypass the DAC's clocking.  It is all about where you have a better clock and what sounds better to your ears.  With my Grimm MU1 into a Tambaqui, I like AES.  With my Auralic Aries G2.2 into my amazing Master Fidelity Nadacs, USB is clearly the way to go.  Many times the preference is determined by cable quality.

Finally, as you use Roon,, you have selected a software to organize and select your music.  Most higher end streamers have their own proprietary software.  Auralic's is Lightening.  Innuos' is Sense.  Aurender's is Conductor.  They all do a fine job of organizing and playing music, but are all different.  Most like what they are used to.  I like Roon, but many love their brands software.  If this is the case, you don't need Roon.

Pick a brand and try it.  You will soon know if you want to use their software or want to use Roon.  And if you have Roon, you can use it with ANY of these brands.  You don't have to use their software to use their streamer if they are Roon Certified.

Early on I directly experienced the effects of relatively small changes within computers/streamers. I started with laptop then went to a series of three Mac Mini's. First Mac Mini started stock and then I began to optimize via disabling various functions in operating system, result was small gains in sound quality. Next Mini had more powerful processor, went deeper into optimizing operating system, this to extent of going into DOS to disable even more functions, result better sound quality. Third Mini, even more powerful processor, extreme optimization of operating system, modifying to two hard drives, later to two solid state drives, conversion of Min's internal switching power supply to linear power supplies, this with two different iterations from different manufacturers, again all this resulted in sound quality upgrades, linear power supplies having the greatest effect.

And so I directly experienced via diy all the things commercially available audio streamers do to convert and  optimize what in most cases are general use computer motherboards into high quality audio streamers. In general what we're trying to eliminate is noise from all devices in streaming chain, operating systems devoted to only provide functions necessary for streaming music files, quality linear power supplies, optimized interfaces are just a few of the things differentiating computers from audio streamers. And there is so much more, depends on how much money one is willing to spend, look at the latest offerings from Taiko to get an idea of how far we can take it! A quality streamer is absolutely integral in getting best sound quality via streaming.

Consider a Roon Nucleus. It will have the Roon core, allow you to stream Qobuz, and will provide storage for any files you have. No need for the Nuc.

I've been telling my brother to get a streamer.   Tonight he was over and I demonstrated the difference between a PC and a dedicated streamer in my second system.   

I used my PC and Vault 2i to stream the same album on Qobuz.   I cued them up so they were a fraction of a second apart and hit play.  Toggling back and forth between the two the Vault was clearly better.   PC was via USB and Vault was with coax.   Night and day difference that any non enthusiasts can hear and appreciate. 

My main system has a N200 which replaced the Vault.  Also a step up.   It should be though at 4x the price.