Digital streaming options for my system are confusing

Something worth mentioning if you are going with the Bluesound ecosystem. The Vault is a better option if you want to digitize a CD collection AND stream music. When I bought the Node 2 I had many CDs ripped with ITunes which created file folders and album artwork (metadata) that Bluesound would not see. I had to place artwork into many of those album file folders and properly label the artwork. https://support1.bluesound.com/hc/en-us/articles/200271926-Why-is-some-of-my-Album-Cover-Art-shown-a...

Ok, so I did do the album artwork thing when I burned my CD’s. Does that have any impact on anything unless I have a laptop/tablet open when I play? Seriously, Im just a 48 yr old trumpet player trying to make things easy for everyone and sound really good to me when I have a few moments to myself.

The Node 2i has both analog and digital outputs.  The simplest connection is rca cables from the analog outputs of the Node to any input on your Mac.  You now have music playing.
This connection is using the internal dac of the Node and allows hi Rez audio files to be played via MQA decoding from Tidal.
A separate digital only (just the 1’s and 0’s) connection using a digital cable (could be optical or rca) to your Mac’s built in dac will also play music but will not unfold MQA files from Tidal.
You can have both connected at the same time and switch source inputs on the Mac to see which you prefer.
Neither choice has anything to do with the amplifier output.

So standard RCA are still easy and better? 

The reality of this is that the Node is a good device, we have the Node and have done extensive tests vs the higher end Innuous products and there is really no comparison.

The integrity of the data in the Node is not the same as what you get out of an Innuous even their starter Zen Mini will be a superior product and if you add in the cost of a Node plus a vault you are at the same money as the Zen Mini.

When you factor in the ability to upconvert your data to high resolution via Roon, and add in that Roon and Tidal will also give you MQA first level unfold to 24/96k as well, and you also get a dedicated Roon Core, you have a much better solution all in one solution then a Vault +Node.

However with that being said you have a $500 Node 2i going against a $1,400.00 Zen Mini if you don’t add the Vault.

One of the OP biggest concerns is sound quality and ease of use and yes without a shadow of doubt the Zen Mini plus a good USB cable going into the 6700 will give the OP the best possible digital stream.

The Node will only allow 16bit 44k digital with the Zen you can get 24bit 192k upsampled digital for all sources which means the OP's storred CD's can also benefit heck the OP can probably store his entire collection on the Zen Mini as well.

One of the biggest pluses of the Zen plus Roon is using it is so simple and can be played back via any Android or Iphone or Android or IOS tablets.

In terms of a user experience nothing beats Roon, and Roon is completely intuative and offers a much more indepth music surfing experience than the blue sound OS, another plus with Roon is the ability to talk with music devices thoughout your home which includes a $35 Google Chrome which you can connect to other devices throught the home for an integrated solution also Sonos devices can be controlled via Roon as well.

Dave and Troy
Audio Doctor NJ Bluesound and Innuous dealer,