Actually, the OP is right. Because iPods always came with Wolfson DACs, and because of Steve Jobs' sensitiveness on the matter, Apple devices always come with very well built analog audio pipelines.
My Macs, iPods and iPhone's audio outputs always rivaled my Hi-Fi amp's (an Akai AM-2850) and desktop sound card's (an ASUS Xonar D2X) without any extra equipment.
So, while Apple devices are expensive, they don't skimp on such things. Instead they silently pack an entry level high-end Hi-Fi subsystem inside and be done with it.
I can confirm that the DAC on the 2021 M1 Macbook Pro is absolutely fantastic.
You can also rely on the fantastic quality of the Apple USB-C to 3.5mm adapters [0] as "Neutral, clear, clean and very precise. Basically as audibly transparent, good-sounding and clean-sounding to my ears as a device could be...".
My Macs, iPods and iPhone's audio outputs always rivaled my Hi-Fi amp's (an Akai AM-2850) and desktop sound card's (an ASUS Xonar D2X) without any extra equipment.
So, while Apple devices are expensive, they don't skimp on such things. Instead they silently pack an entry level high-end Hi-Fi subsystem inside and be done with it.
Or you can get a Sony Hi-Res media/music player.