too many things like codecs, complexity of code going from software to hardware, and actual harware capability as well as synergy with associated equipment matter here. its nuts. Now i don't know what to buy so far as my next laptop is concerned LOL I was going to get a macbook pro but now that i heard some windows machines having better sound than my old lenovo using the same dacs... i am now confused as to what laptop i should get next.

ALL laptops are far from ideal as music servers. Thermally they aren't designed to run at a constant clock, they are always shifting clock speed to run as efficiently as possible. For watching Youtube videos and then checking your email thats great, it can ramp up the clock to do a 1080p decode, and then ramp back down when idling. For music playback that's not great. You're better off with an Auraliti box, or a CAPS style box which you can buy as a kit for about the same cost as the Auraliti.

http://shop.smallgreencomputer.com/CAPS-v3-Lagoon-KIT-CAPS3-Lagoon-KIT.htm