If you have a ‘nice’ or somewhat ‘complete’ system, I feel everything still matters.
I use an AppleTV to airplay a few SiriusXM channels from iPad. I’ve optimized this little arm of the system with an iFi spdif purifier, an EVP footer and a top weight. It’s almost funny how much these things improved the AppleTV. Like you said, it has its flaws…BUT I can still hear almost as much change and difference between DACs as I do when using my nice CD transport. Just not to my systems full abilities but still listenable and enjoyable.
Specific Node/Airplay question
I know very little about digital and don’t have much interest in it; I bought a Bluesound Node 2i a few years ago to try Tidal but canceled the subscription shortly afterwards. The Node sat unused for years. The other day I learned I can stream Apple Music over the Node; SQ wasn’t great, but it’s coming from my phone, so I wasn’t expecting much. Here’s my question… if I only use my Node to stream Apple Music from my phone, does having an external DAC make a difference? Or, is the music so compressed, that it won’t matter? I’m asking because I’m shopping for a new preamp and considering a McIntosh c2300. But there are C2500s (built-in DAC) for the same price and the c2600 (better DAC) for a little more. The C2700 is too expensive and I don’t plan to ever “up” my digital game; I’m a vinyl guy and this digital stuff would likely be for my wife.