Streamer wanted

@docknow I respect what you say above, and relate to your descriptions.  Makes me anxious to try some options.  I could see galvanic isolation keeping analog noise from propagating.   I've just been so impressed with the sound I am getting from FLAC data and Qobuz going through laptop to USB to DAC.  Thanks for sharing your experience.

One thing that's never mentioned is that laptops run fine off of battery power.  No AC issues. For less than $1500 you can have a truly high-end Windows laptop, that is absolutely overkill at getting bit-perfect datastreams from network servers to an external DAC.

I have mine set to "continuously on," keep the lid shut (no display noise), run Windows remotely from a phone or tablet, and happily do Office, browse the net or social media while listening to pristine sound.  I've yet to be convinced that a dedicated streamer would improve the sound quality.  When I hear it, I'll accept it, but with fully balanced electronics and cabling, I turn the volume sky high and there's nothing but blackness from which stunning music emerges.

Audiophillia is centered on constantly improving the system, and I'm a full-fledged member, but getting digital data to a DAC is not endlessly improvable.  We may be past the point of solved.