What's a really great Streamer/DAC box for just streaming Tidal?

Hi Dave/Troy,

May I ask why the Bluesound Node 2i will not perform optimally through USB? You would be bypassing the internal DAC (which sounds decent) of the Node 2i to the better Qutest DAC. Provided you have a really good USB Cable (iFi Gemini, Audioquest or Curious) going into the Qutest I don't see why the combination would not work as well as suggested. 

The blue sound nodes usb connection is for memory sticks input only.

Audiotroy thanks for clearing this up. I did not know that. Doh! I have both the Chord Qutest (main system used with Sony Vaio laptop, Audirvana + Fidelizer Pro and iFi gemini cable) and the Bluesound Node 2i (living room system) and never experimented with using both together. 

To the OP, I guess I just wasted your time. Sorry! 

chip if you really want to experience what your Chord can do, listen to an Innuous Zen you can upconvert PCM files to approximate high res and accomplish much what the Mscaler can do and you get a Roon core to boot.

The quality of the signnal being feed to the dac makes a huge difference. 

Dave and Troy
Audio Doctor NJ Innuous dealers

Thanks for the suggestion. I did chance upon a forum where someone had the Innuos Zen + Qutest combination and he was very very pleased with it. The Innuous has been on my wishlist since then and all the more now that you've brought it up. However, I'm quite satisfied with the sound I'm getting from my Sony Vaio laptop (gasp!) with Audirvana + Fidelizer Pro for the time being.