This is a famous test from Tom's Hardware I think everyone should reference from time to time:
Most hi-fi audio is stored in digital form. With advancements in lossless compression, bit-perfect ripping/streaming, HD audio formats, multi-terabyte storage, and PC-friendly DACs, has the PC earned a place among high-end audio gear? At what price point?
www.tomshardware.com
I don't even want to summarize because it's fun to just read through, but very basically a test subject who owned a 70K stereo system couldn't discern between on-board PC DAC and a super expensive DAC if volume was precisely equalized.
Here are the test subjects' usual stuff if interested (I found it interesting) :
View attachment 340397
Here's a great quick reference on why it's necessary to volume match sources (page 8 of same article) :
Most hi-fi audio is stored in digital form. With advancements in lossless compression, bit-perfect ripping/streaming, HD audio formats, multi-terabyte storage, and PC-friendly DACs, has the PC earned a place among high-end audio gear? At what price point?
www.tomshardware.com
.