Quote Originally Posted by montesquieu View Post
I used a HifiBerry Digi+ board in mine, output to an Audio Note DAC.

The Mac into a proper, self-powered USB interface sounded better.

There are no limitations at all in using a laptop into a streaming device via USB (they run off DC after all) the issue is the quality of the USB interface. (Including the ones in many supposedly 'usb' DACs.)

Using Audio Out via headphone jack is a different matter of course which is where PC laptops in particular acquired their bad reputation - Macs are better of course as their sound capabilities have always been streets ahead, PCs have generally required additional hardware to match what Macs do OOTB.
I agree that most PC sound boards are rubbish which is why I have gone for upgraded boards in the past (both internal and external). Apple pcs are better in this respect but (in my experience and opinion) still not good enough.

I will concede that Mac's are easy to use and that has some appeal to certain users but on sound quality, I think the latest batch of pi boards are far superior. Yes, there are better streamers, but you have to spend an awful lot more for a small improvement.

Geoff