Do I need a streamer?

sns, 

You are probably correct that someone with your skills could build a dedicated system that performs extremely well. Most of us don’t have your skills, so the standard question remains “will a dedicated streamer outperform a “standard” computer based streamer?” I would suggest it would 

@whitestix streamer is probably the wrong term, I would have thought the term renderer is more accurate what you’re after.

A renderer connects to an LAN to convert TCP/IP into something a DAC can translate to produce audio or a digital output like USB, AES3 TOS. I agree with @fuzztone , the MAC needs to be some distance away from the audio system, but it can control what is fed to the renderer.

If you have Audirvana, you can select the renderer to playback whatever is on your MAC or ipad IOS app from Audirvana.

There are many ways to reduce noise to the renderer, depends on:

a) where the music files are stored
b) what noise mitigation filters are used & where
c) this is for convenience, what control points you use, Ipad?
d) The playback software (established as Audirvana OK one of six)
e) What power supplies are used and where
f) AC Power topology

Safe to say, any place where music is stored on a computer, the noise is going to BAD, unless you have the cash to spend on a JCAT XACT S1, Taiko extreme or similar server. I haven’t bothered with either, since their storage solutions are too small.

Ethernet transmissions can be filtered, depends on the $$$ you want to spend.

Then there’s the renderer itself. Lumin and Linn have been building them for years, so the noise is reasonably under control in these, the less noise that feeds the renderer, the better to overall SQ.

ifi audio have a new ’Streamer’, quite a versatile device, have not heard it. One bright note is that is has a copper to optical media converter, so ground loop is gone. Does common mode noise vanish with optical..... well that’s the debate, common mode can re-appear again at the other end of the optical chain, depends on the design.

Pi2designs punches way above it's price point. I have the pi2aes hat for raspberry pi but you can't get it anymore. Was very budget friendly until the chip shortage.

Here is a complete package similar version. Kind of pricey now compared to the hat/pi but still very good. 

+1 @vthokie83 Exactly. 

DIY route is certainly not for everyone. All this has been steep learning curve for me, and continues to be. The cost premium one pays for off the shelf dedicated streamers is well worth it if one doesn't want to get bogged down in technical details. There have been those moments when I regretted my choice, luckily they've passed! Plenty of more knowledgable computer guys willing and able to help has gotten me past some rocky cliffs.