I’ve have similar experiences with my Apple 4k tv streamer (DAC via HDMI) beating many dedicated streamers when using the Youtube and tidal app on it. sure its only cd quality but it seemed to best the Roon Nucleus and an Aurender A10 I had and sold. Only a dedicated and optimized Mini PC was better then all the rest. yup admitting a Apple tv box streamer is better then many others was a hard hit to accept. Not to mention its by far the easiest streamer to use, granted you have a TV in the same room. I love the fact I can use voice search to find tracks.
Still on the market for a good/easy to use streamer. looking at HiFi rose now.