Question for those of you laptop users...

Just want to add that this laptop has fingerprint authentication, which brings it up faster.

Coincidentally, last night, first time laptop in music system

I have an HP Laptop with B&O audio integrated.

https://www.hp.com/us-en/laptops/2-in-1s/pavilion-x360s-convertible-laptop.html

It sounded great last night, so I just searched and found this

https://corporate.bang-olufsen.com/en/partners/consumer-eletronics/hp

wireless; YouTube stream (free), out headphone jack, adapter to rca to tube amp.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SgBTG_HOvMQ&t=2672s

I imagine like the old days, the headphone jack will get problematic when it's spring tension gets loose. 

OP,

not trying to take over your discussion, these questions seem related,

my office slim desktop, also HP, has intel integrated video and audio (also no fan noise wanted here)

1. usb out, adapter to rca, direct to amp for audio?

2. what about the audio drivers on the motherboard?
no matter what, they control the sound quality?

AUDIORealtek High Definition Audio

• Driver Details
• ProviderRealtek Semiconductor Corp.
• NameRTKVHD64.sys
• Version6.0.1.8536
• Date9/11/2018

• Device Details
• Device IdHDAUDIO\FUNC_01&VEN_10EC&DEV_0867&SUBSYS_103C82F2&REV_1000\4&29D87F5&0&0001

3. what about a dedicated audio card rather than intel integrated audio?
motherboard realtek drivers still involved?

I can install a half-height audio card, pci express x16 slot. It's not about cost, they are inexpensive and I can do it myself,

IF worth doing.

Frankly I want to avoid the 'IDEA' that things are better, I hope to get 'definitely worth doing' information.

If you’re really looking for better sound, switch to a Qobuz subscription (you can try for free) and get an iFi iPurifier 3 to clean up the signal coming out of your computer — it’s still noisy despite only being used for music.  Best of luck. 

I use USB C out of my laptop to USB B into a TEAC DA-AI101.  I also loaded Teac's DAC software to my laptop.