Apple TV Streaming Sound Quality vs Streamer?

It doesn’t take much to better ATV sonically, and you don’t need to spend more than $500, the price of the Bluesound Node2i

AppleTV resampling to 48k makes highs sound tizzy. It doesn’t sound good. Do yourself a favor and get a decent streamer, like a Blusound Node 2/2i as others have suggested. If you’re going to use an external DAC and don’t need the enhanced wifi of the 2i, save a few bucks and get the Node 2. Node 2i DAC section sounds better than the older Node 2, and the wifi is faster.

I'm using ethernet connect my Node 2, and also using an external DAC so only need the streaming features. Don't need the enhanced wifi and don't plan on using the internal DAC so I went with the older Node 2 and saved $175.

Does anyone know if the node2i will bypass it’s own dac and serve to my Benchmark dac?

Supposedly the main change in the Node2i vs the N2 is enhanced WiFi.  It should still have the same digital outs and therefore connect to any DAC

"Does anyone know if the node2i will bypass it’s own dac and serve to my Benchmark dac?"

Yes, except you'll not get the MQA treatment through Benchmark.