Uber, is your Ayre close to a TV? Also, have you considered output from an older video focused streamer which (generally) used to offer Optical Outputs? Current / latest units have moved to HDMI out only; some may offer USB (micro) out. 
David

A good friend (thx Robelvick) who has just got the Amazon on trial too has offered what seems to be at least a working solution for now.
He used a Lightning to Camera ( female USB) adapter right out of his iPad and then any decent USB audio cable.
This basically mimics using a MacBook as a USB audio source.
Says it streams 24/192 quite happily that way.
Of course this literally ties the iPad to the rack as now it is tethered by cable but if SQ is up there I can live with that for now.

Oh also he has an Audioquest Jitterbug inline too.
@uberwaltz - I will have to check Qobuz out!  Thanks for the recommendation!
BluOS supports HD Amazon. Once you have the latest software on your control device ( I didn’t) ....it allows all supported Resolutions. The Bluesound Node 2 or 2i  are relatively inexpensive, especially in the used market. Initial observations are that it sounds at least as good as Tidal.....perhaps somewhat more dimensional and detailed and more “Alive” sounding.....Tidal can be somewhat soft and a little laid back sounding.......
Cheers.....
Finally got Amazon streaming in my main rig.
Looks like the Ayre does not have an internally powered USB audio input which is most odd!
So it relies on the source to provide the juice and an iPad just does not cut the mustard for that so that option went out the window. Thx Ayre!

So I moved a Chromecast Audio puck to the main rig and fed that via mini toslink adapter into a toslink input on the EX8 and at least that is working.

In fact it sounds pretty darn good I have to say.

Nice to have options.....