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

@OP in addition to sound quality and aesthetic considerations, I find that a streamer’s software also plays an important role. The BluOS was one of the few day-one supporters for Amazon Music’s new high res streams. For that reason, I consider streamers by NAD and Bluesound highly. I’m considering a Node 2i for myself. Audiotroy put Lumin on my radar as well.

@larry yes MQA sounds better than CD quality to me. With MQA, you are hearing a version of 24-bit content after all. I haven’t compared MQA against 24-bit PCM, but I have compared both high res qualities against CD quality streams. I heard more atmosphere, more realism, fuller base, with the high res content. Because high res content is now widely available, it makes sense to me to have a streamer that supports either PCM or MQA 24-bit content.

I have the Bluesound Powernode 2 with NHT speakers and Sunfire sub and can maybe hear just a little positive difference now after 2 months with Tidal Masters MQA recordings vs normal Tidal through the Powernode 2. But it’s a small and underwhelming difference, and I was hoping for more of an MQA v non-MQA distinction - like I hear with my Teac NT-505/ARC/Spendor setup.

I second the Bluesound Node 2i recommendations and using an external dac.  I have not heard the rest of these mentioned but I can vouch for this product being excellent.  

I actually use the DAC in my Anthem MRX receiver and it's definitely better than the Node's DAC.

I dont think (could be wrong) there's a hill of beans worth of difference in the streaming portions of any of these players. It's all about the DAC and the analogue output stage.

@dtx I would like to push back as to how much streamers matter. Would you be willing to compare your Node against a Chromecast? And would you be willing willing to try to place a reclocker between your streamer and DAC, like the iFi SPDIF reclocker? 

I began streaming Tidal on my computer 8 years ago and wifi’d to an Airport Express connected to my HiFi. Upgraded to a 300 $ streamer and a 300$ DAC. Found it so good that I bought Innuos Zen Mini, which was a significant upgrade in SQ. Moved on with RME Adi-2 DAC, which gave more clarity and better SQ. Then a new Ethernet cable, which much to my surprise was quite significant. 

I am quite impressed with my SQ, when listen to other solutions. Especially the details and the clarity of the music. 

I would any day recommend a good streamer, even though I still haven’t understood, how there can be a difference.