Sound quality differences in streamers

@paqua123 

About logging in. I have a desktop, laptop and three iPads. I use Audiogon daily. I end up logging on to one of the devices maybe once a month while using them all constantly. Sounds like you are doing something that makes it difficult. Are you closing down your browser completely between uses?

Assuming all things being equal, yes, significant differences. Most good quality streamers do not have a DAC. They are simply stand alone. If you have a good DAC you don't want to buy one with the DAC function. You want all the effort and cost to have gone into only the streamer function. 

Also, lots of memory to store ripped files is becoming less prevalent as streaming can sound just as good as stored files or CDs, so there is no use for storage. 

But it depends on the rest of your equipment. My rule of thumb is that if you purchase best in class and synergistic components then investment levels typically look something like this. 20% speakers, 15% amp, 15% preamp, 15% DAC, and 15% streamer. Or better 25% speakers with the rest split equally among the components. 

The point of the above is that each component is equally contributing. 

This is because careful and thoughtful design and top notch subcomponents get you insulation from electrical noise, and vibration, and stable power...etc. from the start to the finish. 

I have owned DACs and Streamer from a few dollars to over $20K. The differences are obvious at every level.