To the OP, this is how I use my system daily. A laptop USB -> to a Gaia DDC, then out via I2S (or coax) to DAC. It works quite well.
Of course when you use a PC, for best results you MUST have it where the OS doesn’t mess with the output. For example, exclusive driver mode with Qobuz or Tidal. Doing so, the results then (with the USB isolation and reclocking of the DDC) are sonically as good as any streamer I have heard.
Otherwise, if the OS messes with the files the results are less than stellar.
I need the test aspects a nb can provide in my system, and having worked in OEM nb development for over 15 years I happen to have some engineering samples laying around and put them to use ;) But the main reason then I’d use a streamer instead is for example, some of them can realtime upsample at high quality (eg, Lumin). It’s a bit buggy but can sound great for example, feeding DSD (or 8x PCM) to a PSAudio DS DAC for example.
But of course we can also use something like HDPlayer on the PC, something I should get off my slow b*tt and see about finally ;) But meanwhile having offline upsampled some PCM test files to DSD and to 8x PCM for a test to same DAC I can verify it can work fabulous sent through the PC chain (using Foobar player).
PS we are now N America sales and service for Denafrips, working with Mike Lee. The service aspect continues from before but the sales part is new. Adding the Denafrips line to the site as we speak. I would wager that nobody knows Denafrips in N America quite like we do by now, having done service support for several years by now. Looking forward to some great times ahead :)
TK TEKAudioSpecialties.com
Just a link to a quickie phone vid in my friend's super system a few months back. Streaming with the Lumin on upsampling out. We were shaking down a pair of new TK Ultra_EXB7 in there, redesigned (and fabulous) monoblock amps. Also using a super good, highly improved DSD DAC. He also has the full loom of AQ Dragon cables. Some might get an idea at least: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1oo83-tRKe80WWLKD7nkJda-nH12l7vc_/view?usp=sharing