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

I am using a Roon Nucleus as both end point and core, feeding an Ayre Codex. That combination is a whole universe beyond the Raspberry Pi Day I used a couple years ago and the Bluesound Node and Cambridge CXN 2 (both of which I like as entry level pieces). I was very disappointed upon hearing forum touted pieces from Aurilic, Chord and others. I think to do better than the Ayre/Nucleus combo, one has to go over $5k, to the Ayre QX-8, etc. If anyone wants the best streamer, that's easy - the DCS Network Bridge will transport any DAC to the next level!

larry5729

I’m sure you are hearing different results comparing the two DACs.
However I guess I don’t quite understand the whole Dac feeding another Dac 
thing either. I have a Laptop in my system that streams to a Dac. I realize not everyone wants to use a Laptop so hence the appeal of the Node2i.
Although you can also stream to a Apple TV or Chromecast audio device from your phone or iPad with decent results. 
One last thing Schiit Modi 3 is (IMHO) is a wonderful sounding Dac for very little $$. YMMV. Good luck finding the right combo! 

Teac nt505 will beat LUMIN D2 and costs less and uses same control app. Go with modern dac technology not 12 yr old dac technology. Ymmv

@larry5729

(1) If you use optical out of a streamer, you will bypass that streamer’s DAC. You are only using one DAC.

(2) I don’t exactly know which S2 DAC your have, but even if your S2 supports MQA, it may not be decoding MQA. For example the Pre Box S2 Digital supports MQA only over USB, not SPDIF. It's on the Pro Ject website. So, your comparisons between the Node DAC and S2 DAC may actually be comparisons between MQA and CD streams. You may ask your dealer for a refund if your dealer intended to sell you DAC to decode MQA, or if you made it clear to your dealer that you wanted to decode MQA.

larry5729
When you connect the Bluesound Node 2i to another DAC via its optical or coax output it bi-passes the Bluesound DAC and uses the DAC "down the line"