Pass-through Roon Endpoints

My experience is that you get what you pay for. 

Started my streaming journey in 2014 with a Bluesound Node N100 (the original plastic cube) and paired it with a Bryston BDA1. It was an enjoyable pairing, but this hobby being what it is, over time stepped up my game, and each time I felt the money spent was a worthwhile spend. Among the pieces that passed through were a Node 2i and Chord Qutest, a Melco N1A (great sound, horrible app), and in 2019 picked up a Roon Nucleus used first as a server streamer feeding the Qutest via USB, and fixed up both the Nucleus and Qutest with upgraded power supplies, Sbooster and Ifi Ipower Elite. Each step improved the SQ. An English 8 Switch entered the picture and stepped things up again. By 2022 a Bricasti M5 took over as Roon endpoint joined shortly after by a Rockna Wavelight DAC. Today I have a Rose RS130 as my Roon endpoint feeding the Wavelight via I2S and added a Melco switch into the mix as well. This is not to mention upgrades over the years to amplification and cabling. My one constant has been my speakers, a pair of Thiel 2.4s which I picked up in 2012. There has been joy experienced every step of the way.
 

@scottlfinsf

My observations based on your latest post:

The Wiim Pro and the Bluesound Node (2024) are both solid pieces of kit. You have found that they provide very similar SQ used as streamers feeding an outboard DAC, which makes sense given their price points. In my opinion well within the same order of magnitude.

My experience is that HiRes (especially as the rates get higher) and plain vanilla WIFI are problematic. If wired ethernet is available, it is typically the better way to go, but it isn't always practical to serve all locations in a given household with wired ethernet. Two workarounds I've employed are as follows: Mesh WIFI, with a Mesh WIFI Access Point feeding my stereo system via ethernet cable (you can check out my virtual systems page, where a Visio diagram spells the whole thing out). Employment of power line ethernet adapters. Here your mileage may vary, because I've found that some parts of the house are serviceable in this way, and others not so much. All things being equal, Mesh WIFI in my experience is the better way to go. 

Now getting back to component sound quality in general and streamer sound quality in particular, my experience are that improvements in SQ relate to 2 factors: evolution of the technology over time and the quality of the components. With respect to level of quality and the price you pay for steps up in level of quality is pretty much a logarithmic scale. Again back to my own experience, a brand new Node 2i  set me back around $430. A preowned Bricasti M5, which is simply a Network Bridge, but with much higher SQ in my opinion, cost me more than 3X what I spent for the Node 2i. My current Rose 130 outperforms the very competent Bricasti M5 to my ears, which well it should given the price difference.

In the end it all comes down to your ears, your preferences, your pocketbook and what you are willing to spend. There are No RIGHT or WRONG answers.