Munich 2018

[RebelMan]

Last week in Munich, Mathieu clearly acknowledged that the SQ can improve with a better source whatever better might mean. But less jitter is better and less noise is also better. And better cables is also better.

Perhaps in theory, but like you said what is better?  As for jitter and noise less is better but not always relevant.  As for cables... don't get me started.

In my 8 years with Devialet amps (D-Premier, D250, D800) I have tried a large number of sources for extended periods (most of them I owned). Accuphase, Theta Digital, MSB, C.E.C transports to name a few, laptops and desktops running Windows, MacOS, or Linux with JRiver, Audirvana, Amarra, iTunes, Roon, HQPlayer and Bughead (maybe more). Also professional playback devices such as the Merging HAPI with Ravenna 67 protocol. 

I tried all inputs on Devialet over and over again with the exception of HDMI which most of us don't have any more anyway. 

Also many ethernet cables, USB cables, AES/EBU cables, etc from off the shelf products to high priced audio brands. 
I can only say that they all sounded different, sometimes the difference was little sometimes huge. 

Let me just say, in my experience, the MacBook didn't make the shortlist. In fact, it took me quite a struggle to achieve computer playback that matched my MSB transport with CDs. Finally, I exceeded that level so I could sell the MSB but it was a lot of trial and error and also thanks to a friend from the studio world who helped me with both advice and lending me quite a few pieces of hardware to try. 

Is my system the best possible? Surely not. There are extremely good one box streamers/playback devices as the Auralis G2 (I liked the sound in Munich a lot), Totaldac, dCS Network Bridge and others that I have not tried in my system.  

Zoltan

If you've been in this hobby long enough chances are you will have traveled many roads looking for audio bliss.  While such travels broadens one's experiences they do not preclude the travels of someone else and therefore NO conclusions can be drawn other than they were just different.  Unfortunately, many, perhaps most, audio travelers are unaware of the realities of the trip and are too often easily persuaded by myths and untruths.  Well, this hobby isn't a religious one, it is a scientific one.  

Far be it from me to dispute anyone's opinion about their experiences.  Though their experience may lead them to conclude one way or another that doesn't necessarily make the conclusion true even though it seems true to them.

To say that a MacBook is "A perfect laptop computer." implies that is all it is good for, that it is not suitable for use as a primary (audiophile grade) source device given all of your experiences.  I am here to tell you that is not true, not just because my experience contradicts it but also because real data supports it.  I do not use a MacBook in my system only because it is too impractical for my needs so instead I use a mac mini.  And not only is my Mac an outstanding source device there is NONE better.  My Mac has ZERO mods and there are ZERO adapters in the signal path.  It uses a robust ethernet based configuration and a simple USB DAS.

If you prefer an expensive, elaborate, convoluted, multi-stack system as your source device then who am I to argue?  The reality though is it isn't required nor is it necessary to achieve the best performance.  In my experience the simplest circuits make the best sounding ones.