"Mark Lewis" wrote in message
...

I am buying a laptop to use with a hifi eg iPlayer or YouTube through line
out to amp.

Would a low end 300 quid Dell give the same results as a more expensive
laptop or are there quality issues with the choice?

Could be.

AFAIK the audio interfaces almsot all contemporaneous laptops are based on
the same short list of chips which cost under $1 or so.

These chips have progressed over the years from being terrible to being good
enough.

What would be a good choice of laptop dedicated to that use ie plugged in
most of the time to the hifi?

See how the existing internal audio interface works with an open mind.

If that doesn't work out you have a long list of really pretty good USB
interfaces at reasonble prices starting with the Behringer UCA 202.

I know of no audible purpose served by worrying about USB transfer modes. If
the $300 devices featuring this technology has audible benefits, I'd like to
see a DBT illustrating that fact.