How are most audiophiles going from streamers to DACS

  avoid bandwidth limited optical and go USB

I've tested all of them and have gravitated to I2S

what part of "his streamer only has coax and optical outputs" are  you all having trouble with?

I started with the Node2i, connected via both Coax and Toslink to both a  Sony AVR and then a Marantz unit that were "supposed" to support Hi Res.  Both companies tech support knowledge about HiRes and connectivity was pathetic.  I ended up with a NAD t758 v3i - with a
BluOS module (with WiFi dongle/Bluetooth dongle) installed.  The dongle connects to the module on the NAD via USB.  Runs all Hi-Res streaming services including Tidal's MQA (let's not debate that here, it's more hype than actual performance worthy) via the BluOs android app.  I also stream digital files from my PC - those files were my library of SACD's and DVD-A's that were converted to FLAC files.  Easy breezy.  Speakers are all Klipsch including a pair of Atmos.

and

Actually the optical/toslink issue, unlike many sonic preference sin audio, is not a matter of opinion. It does not support high res

all inputs on the DAC support 24/192. I don't know if the Node outputs 192 but that is not a Toslink limitation.

Not in the original standard and rarely supported. And part of the reason is the pulse spreading in the plastic optics.  Its also a very old standard and since it is almost exclusively used by TV manufacturers, the focus has not been on improving it for high end.

As to USB, the real issue here is not "what magic cable should i thrown money at?" but "how do i get good sound?"  Which really begs a different solution.

Herman...
"I don’t know if the Node outputs 192 but that is not a Toslink limitation."

Just a point of clarification, I have my Node 2i hooked up to a Cambridge 851C I’m evaluating. When I use coax, the Cambridge DAC shows 192k. Then when I switch to optical, the Cambridge DAC switches to 96k. The Cambridge upsamples to 192k max.

A streaming DAC is a better solution.

no cable means no data conversions are required for USB/COAX etc. Very short signal path with i2S.

Hard wired connection by ethernet and use an etherregen with LPS and/or audiophile network switch with LPS (e.g english electric or bonn8).

happy days!