I’m using, quite successfully a SMSL SD-9 streamer connected to a Musician Pegasus DAC. I’m getting Tidal MQA which the MQA is decoded by the SMSL streamer, and the decoded signal feed to my DAC which doesn’t support MQA. I’m controlling the streamer with BubbleUPNP which supports access to Tidal and Qobuz. The SMSL Streamer only costs 399, and has excellent sound quality. Further downstream is a Wyred4Sound STI-500;integrated amplifier and Magnepan LRS speakers. Overall a great sounding system.
For those that have separate Streamers & DACS
What are some of your favorite streamers/servers strictly from a sound quality perspective? Please assume a stand-alone DAC. I've read such a variety of opinions on streamers and was interested in opinions from those that have tried different streamers on with their DACs.