Next Best Upgrade for Tidal MQA?

@jjss49 yep, will test it out myself, just interesting to see the comments from the “professional” reviewers.

@invalid I am 100% with you - just need to decide what route to take.

I still might mess with a device that cleans up the network though - they are relatively inexpensive.  That Uptone device has a generous return policy - seems like a no brainer to give it a shot.

Someone messaged me about bluesound node 2i upgrades.... In UK fidelity audio do this...
https://www.fidelityaudio.co.uk/bluesound-node-2--2i-336-c.asp

I went for mid upgrade but have been mightily impressed

Such agendas! You have a listener using an AVR as a preamp asking for the obvious upgrade path and people are suggesting network tweaks, cable upgrades, their favorite DACs.

Come on people! The obvious upgrade is a preamp, as the sane posters have suggested.

Reasoning: the preamp in the AVR is tuned specifically to the amps in it. It may sound OK as a preamp, but it’s intended to be mated with the amps in the AVR. Manufacturers do not invest as much in making the preamp section of an integrated amp work with many different amps, because they are together. The bypass is great as a convenience, but it’s not intended go give the requisite synergy with just any amp. Get a real preamp and see how that sounds!

@jji666  Haha, thanks!  It seemed obvious to me that the preamp was the way to go, but wanted the benefit of the forum's collective knowledge and experience.

I think I'm down to 3 options:
(1) Brooklyn Bridge 
(2) Parasound JC2
(3) Prima Luna EVO 400

RE: the Brooklyn Bridge - this would replace my Liberty/Node 2i.  It would be the next step up as far as ESS DAC.  I am also unsure that the Node 2i can pass a 192khz MQA file through to the DAC right now - does anyone know?  I've read in places that it is limited to 96khz, so perhaps I would also benefit from the higher quality MQA unfold with the Brooklyn Bridge vs. other Preamp options?

I guess I should also add to the list the Manhattan II with Network Card, although that would be a bit of a stretch.