Bluesound Vault 2i, Cocktail Audio X40 or ??????????

I ripped my CD's with dbpoweramp to wav file . I didn't change any settings other than  rip to wav and where to store the files and my Node2i found them without any problem when I hooked it up and built the index.  Maybe dbpoweramp stores in the format needed  for the album art?  I use an external dac which sound significatly better than the one in the node2i not sure about the vault 2i. 

What I understand its the same DAC in node2, node2i, vault2 and vault2i. But the i-version includes other techniques taken from the NAD M51 which is said to have had a "big" positive effect on the sound. 

@djones51 
Can I ask what DAC would sound so much better? Have you had the possibility to a/b test?

Benchmark DAC 3B and I use my wife for blind testing. I know it is not a perfect test but if she asks why it sounds so much better then it works for me. 

The Benchmark doesn't unfold MQA but it does play MQA in 24/96. 

Thanks. Nice test procedure. No arguing there :-)