The discussion here between @david_ten and @fuzztone is interesting because
of the changing nature of digital technology and terminology. For example, the term “integrated amp” , now sometimes called “digital amp”now routinely refers to what I would call “integrated amp with included DAC “. If someone is writing about an integrated amp sans DAC, they now start referring to them as retro amps. Similarly, streamers are specialized computers (usually Linux) for networking and music reproduction.
I tried Googling the definition of a music streamer, and there doesn’t seem to be a standard . I should add that for me, a definition isn’t a gold standard unless it’s been endorsed by the Oxford English Dictionary. In the present Information Age, the use of terms, particularly tech terms, changes so fast that the OED can’t keep pace.
Certainly any bog standard computer can do what a streamer does. I therefore think that PCs should be included in the streamer definition Whether it does it as well is another matter.
Back to the practical matter—the OP wanting to explore streaming— assuming he has a PC —it’s the first place to start. I would buy a program such as Audirvana Plus, which I have and still use. This basically tries to turn off all the stuff in the PC that isn’t essential for streaming and music reproduction, and also provides a graphical interface for searching the collection. I don’t use Tidal so I can’t comment on Tidal integration.
Will it sound like analog? The OP can always fry some bacon in the background if he wants that experience. However, if his DAC is up to it, he might try some High Resolution and/or DSD files and be amazed at what he has been missing by using an expensive needle slashing it’s way through a slab of petroleum to extract music.
Eventually he might tire of having a PC in the equipment chain. I know I did. Streamers, in the commonly accepted use of the term as employed by @fuzztone, eschew a lot of the b.s. that come with PCs, and since they are dedicated audio components tend to sound better that optimized PCs, but ymmv
