“Are streamers digitally enhanced?”
In simple terms - YES!
“But what do we know about how streamers or DACs are processing the signal? Is the goal purity or beauty?”
The answer lies in the intersection of engineering, philosophy, and subjectivity in audio. That’s why high end streamers like Pulse embodies their designer’s intention and vision for listener’s values.
Folks like your engineer friend often approaching it from a strictly data-transfer mindset, not an audio-performance perspective. Offering an explanation to a skeptic is like debating color depth with someone looking at a JPEG on a CRT monitor.
That said, for the rare skeptic who’s open-minded, one well-controlled listening session can say more than any technical spec sheet. Once someone hears how a streamer like the Pulse can open up spatial and harmonic information without adding glare or artificial edge, it’s hard to go back.