Suggest upgrading the laptop with a USB DAC / sound card to improve audio quality - such as Sound BlasterX G6 or SMSL SU-1. my desktop to a G6 with Klipsch The Fives in my office sounds great (to me).
Alternatively and for a stretch, you could upgrade to miniPC (Minisforum) or get a TinyMiniMicro PC (see Serve the Home) or an RPi plus a DAC then use LMS / PiCorePlayer with iPeng.
So many solutions depending upon tech skill, interest and whether you just want to install in rack and forget or tinker.
Suggest upgrading the laptop with a USB DAC / sound card to improve audio quality - such as Sound BlasterX G6 or SMSL SU-1. my desktop to a G6 with Klipsch The Fives in my office sounds great (to me).
Alternatively and for a stretch, you could upgrade to miniPC (Minisforum) or get a TinyMiniMicro PC (see Serve the Home) or an RPi plus a DAC then use LMS / PiCorePlayer with iPeng.
So many solutions depending upon tech skill, interest and whether you just want to install in rack and forget or tinker.