Amazon Music Unlimited is my choice for streaming as it is inexpensive, user-friendly, and can stream 192/24 hi-res as needed. I also stream locally resident files. Say NO to Apple BS, you'll be happier going around any Apple software crap. The Apple hardware is good however. You can stream to a DAC from your apple device using the internet streaming services or locally resident files (not in iTunes or Apple Music) and the results are dependent mostly on your outboard DAC. That said, the computer is not the best streaming device, even with a separate DAC. My choice for a dedicated streamer after much research ended up being the Bluesound Node, with an external DAC using either my McIntosh processor's DAC or a SMSL SU-9 DAC feeding the McIntosh an analog signal depending on the config at any given time. Not going to argue DAC or digital signal technology as there is so much misinformation out there. What is real is that a better DAC can influence the resulting sound, period. The BluOS user interface is the big selling point for us, and the audio is flawless whether streaming or playing local files. The DAC in the McIntosh products are excellent, especially the newest DA2. Can you get better? Well, you can definitely get "different" from other DACs, but after much messing around in this area for a long time, there is no value for me to spend any more on DACs or more expensive streaming devices at the moment. Seriously considered an Aurender and others, but the time I would spend using it would be limited and the difference in audio negligible for me.
Digital music questions
I'm somewhat new to hi res digital audio and I'm looking for some tips. I have been building my system and have purchased McIntosh c2700, which has a DAC built in, a 462 amp, and B&W 802d4s. Using Apple Music, I have been streaming music through a Macbook Pro via a USB cable to the DAC of the c2700 preamp.
The McIntosh preamp states the streaming quality is 44.1 kHz, which seem to be the low end of high-res streaming. I currently have so many subscriptions, including Sirius XM for the cars and Apple Music for my family, and more recently Nugs for concerts, (not to mention video subscriptions...seems it never ends), so I was hoping not to add another paid subscription.
That being said, am I leaving a lot on the table? Would a dedicated streamer sound a lot better than the Macbook Pro? Are there streamers without DACs, so I can use the McIntosh DAC without purchasing redundant equipment? I understand I cannot use Apple Music to get high res audio to the preamp, as they only provide it through Apple equipment at this time. Can I get a streamer that uses the DAC of the c2700 preamp? Finally, do I then need to add another subscription, such as Tidal or Qobuz, to get high res audio?
Thanks....it's a lot of questions, but I'm sure someone here can help!