Point of higher priced streamer?

Sorry thyname, your point doesn't equate here about the old laptop. The reason (which I urge others to try too) is Audirvana 3.5.

The software Audirvana 3.5 bypasses Apple's Core Audio so the "noise" you're referencing is in fact not present. 

As an aside to demonstrate this, I've also tested a direct connection from the laptop using USB to the Schiit Modi 3. I thought the USB implementation should be as good or better since upsampling would be entertaining but discovered that the optical audio out from both the Amazon Firestick & from the 2008 Macbook Pro is superior.

If one looks at the ratings on Modi 3 and its quality of output, it ranks very high with others but I'm quite interested in the Schiit Unison USB implementation which gets great reviews and is their own design on the Modius balanced DAC.

I'd also add that with my custom mono block amps, I'm getting the best ever sound in a couple of decades of listening with various equipment including a former McCormack DNA 300 Rev. A. I've also had in my system, various tube amps from completely redone McIntosh 225, 240, 275 among many others. 

The current implementation I hear now is easily the most transparent and the best using my custom tube amp mono blocks.

I urge others to consider the easy and cheap investment as they see best and allow their ears (if the setup permits) to decide.

As stated, the unifier here is the Audirvana 3.5 software application in both instances via the Amazon Firestick and the Macbook Plus direct connection.

Audirvana offers a 30 day free offer. On this great day, I would urge others to give that a try in their system too. It's outstanding.

Happy listening to all! 

Another offering, as I have some experience with my high end tube amp mono block system.

Implentation can always be an issue for streamers as for DACs. But there is some differentials as a result, in other cases, things are different.

So I just conducted a test with optical audio for my rig going with a) Amazon Firestick through an LG TV and b) 2008 Macbook Pro.

For both, I'm using the superb Audrivana 3.5 software. Via the Amazon Firestick, I have a Macbook Pro laptop that I use and it sends the music data to the Amazon Firestick no 15 feet away.

I use an optical audio device as a bridge to a Schiit Modi 3 which produces great results into the amps.

I played the same song off "Duets" by Kevin Eubanks with Stanley Jordan (highly recommended).

With  remote, I can change the optical audio from either with the push of a button. While my ears are not 22 year old quality, they are pretty good.

For both, outputting at the same volume I could not hear any difference at all. This even though the external laptop is upsampling to 192K while the direct connection from the 2008 Macbook Pro via its optical audio is not.

So, while there are certainly differences with various streamers and DACs, this test shows the quality of streaming can be preserved with a good implementation. 

IMHO, many people are losing out by not taking advantage of the very inexpensive Amazon Firestick and using the optical audio output available through most TVs.

You'll be surprised.

Happy listening folks. 

Thank you @thyname1 and a Merry Christmas to you and yours!
Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night.