You have to assemble the 1s and 0s correctly to produce an accurate waveform to correctly reproduce the music. That is where almost every product, be it hardware, software, or both, will differ somewhat. How different and how much it matters case by case is another story. Just like all the other fine details that go into good sound for discerning ears.
Can This Really Matter?
I hear it again and again, everything matters in the digital chain. So I recently unboxed my new Bryston BDP 3 renderer and it’s connected to my Ayre QB9 Twenty USB DAC. I have a SSD inside a generic enclosure (with a fan) that will power up via bus. I have a twenty cent USB cable running from the SSD to the Bryston. So here’s the question, does the enclosure matter and does the cheap USB running between between the SSD and into the Bryston really matter? If so, it wouldn’t seem practical to spend much money on upgrading these accessories. And if so, what do you suggest?