I don’t even have a streaming network, but feel compelled to respond. Count me in the "everything matters (sonically)" camp.
That doesn’t mean I have an electrical engineering degree and would enjoy debating this point with every wonk that pops up on these threads. Always a bad sign when the same people post 3-4X with increasing hysteria when no one seems to be paying attention to their assertions that NOTHING MATTERS WHATSOEVER in all things digital. Once is enough, guys.
I have a history of actually hearing small differences due to minor system changes. When I hear, I’m using the only test instruments I possess--ears. So I can dabble with this or that box to do this or that, so long as I can afford the cost. Why not?
I remember the fury unleashed on people like me who heard early ’80s CDs & digital players as sounding horrible compared to any decent vinyl rig. Saying that was like saying there’s no Christmas or Santa or anything but moon rock. People went batshit crazy. Decades later, we all know about jitter; we all know about the influence of power supplies, clocks, other components--things that weren’t known in the early ’80s.
So really, I trust my ears more than anyone shouting from the rooftops that nothing matters in digital sound.
PS: I heard and still hear improvements in digital audio sound by using SPDIF converters in-line before the DAC (to my ears coax sounds best of the various non-USB options). And I recently replaced my main SPDIF converter with a DDC (a SPDIF converter that also reclocks the signal) and immediately heard sonic improvements. I've also heard changes (most positive, but some not) when using audiophile USB cords in those times I listen to digital via USB straight into the DAC.
(ie, everything matters sonically)