Only $800 to work with streamer/power for 3rd system


I am looking for a preferably one-box or potentially two-box solution that will provide the best sound quality to stream Tidal (ethernet or wireless can work) including MQA and power my existing passive speakers (plus powered sub).  This will be for my office system at work, where I have a solo office in a large building full of other tenants.  So no loud playing most of the time but want good quality, per limited budget.

Speakers will be NHT C1 bookshelf pair with Sunfire SDS8 mini sub.  These are already in house.  Hope to keep the streamer/power solution to $800 total, given the modest speakers.

Other considerations:  Really want 32-bit DAC and MQA capability.  Don't need much power.  Don't need storage or ability to control storage - just Tidal streaming, but want Tidal support natively built-in.  Don't want to use my phone or computer because already using them at work - want the streamer/power solution to handle.  On second thought I guess control app from phone is okay, just don't want to be bluetooth streaming from phone or computer.  Would prefer new, not used, but factory refurbished is okay with warranty.  Won't use other sources, just Tidal.  Don't want multi-channel AVR, only need stereo.

The two options I'm most focused on are Bluesound Powernode 2 or 2i, and the Integra DTM-7 stereo receiver, each of which are single-box solutions.  Other options could be PS Audio Sprout 100 integrated for $600 (or NAD, Marantz, other integrated similar cost?) with a separate streamer, but I'm not aware of a separate streamer for $200 that has a 32-bit DAC and handles MQA.  Yamaha WXAD-10 seemed close but best I can tell (not real clear) I think it has 24 bit DAC and anyway it'd push total closer to $1000 with Sprout.

I am familiar with the Integra DTM-7, as I have the DTM-7 as the HT hub of my current bedroom system, and with its HDMI/Dolby Vision/HDR support it is killer in that role for $650 for a 2-ch setup.  But for Tidal music the sound through the NHT C1's was a little bright and after couple hours slightly fatiguing for me, although doable if that's what I go with for 3rd system (I'd get another DTM-7 for office if that is way I go).  I've since upgraded my 2nd system speakers to Spendor SA1 and they sound great powered by the Integra in system 2, better combination - no more brightness/fatigue.

But now with the NHT C1 speakers freed up for system 3, I'm wondering if I can do better than the Integra for a music-only application for my office.  Has anyone compared sound quality of Bluesound Powernode 2 (or 2i) with the Integra?  Does Bluesound have a warmer sound?  FWIW I know the Integra is class A/B, and I think Bluesound is class D.  Oddly, I think Powernode 2 and 2i share same amplifier and DAC (but 2i includes some new features that I probably wouldn't use - Airplay, etc.), yet What Hifi review claims sound much improved with 2i.  Powersound 2 is $600 now, while 2i is $800.

Or am I overlooking a better solution?  Thank you
kren0006
So big changes are afoot for this office system.

I need to be honest, and admit that I just wasn’t getting the sound quality that I was hoping for.

With that in mind,

The NHT C1’s will be moving to surround speaker duty in my main home theater rig, displacing some Paradigm micro’s, which will become spare speakers for swap in duty wherever needed.

The Powernode 2 is moving on to become the powerplant/source in what will be a new system for me, system 4: The portable system!! I see this as being used for impromptu setups in the garage when I’m working there, or when I travel with family on car trips as hotel room setup, or things like that. Speakers for this portable system will be NHT Absolute Zero bookshelfs.

So what is coming in to Office System 3? Well, what had been the primary speakers in my Bedroom music system 2: Spendor SA1 bookshelfs! These will be huge upgrade over the NHT C1’s. I hope they will give me what I need in the office. I’ll be keeping the Sunfire 8" sub with this setup.

As for amplification, I started another thread to explore that, but the current pre-race leader is marantz pm7000n all-in-one integrated/streamer/dac. AK4490 dac chips and lots of advanced marantz sound quality features, for $1k seems like a real bargain and major step-up over Powernode 2. Looking forward to getting back to Class AB sound.

That’s if I don’t go instead with Hegel H90, also under consideration. It’s 1k more expensive though and I’m not sure about the stream interface -- need to investigate these two options more.

Anyway, It’ll be awhile tile I get the marantz or hegel, but I should have the Spendor SA1’s migrated to Sys 3 in a week or so, and can do some head-to-heads vs C-1’s with the Powernode 2.

I’m also going to try bumping up from AmazonBasics speaker cable to some Signal Magic speaker cables and subwoofer cable, and Pangea power cords, so we’ll see how that impacts things as well.

One thing that has crossed my mind is that maybe I’ll never be truly happy with the sound of any speakers that are not floorstanders and can present a "bigger" sound (reason I'll be going to floorstanders in Sys 2), even though I’m using a subwoofer with bookshelves. The Spendor SA1’s will help me decide that, I guess, and it’s a moot point anyway because my office really can’t support floorstanders space-wise, so I’ll have to make the best of it.