Replace Dell Laptop with Streamer? Which one?

I just purchased a Mytek Brooklyn as my first step into the digital world. I connected my old Rotel 991AE as a transport and CDs now sound amazing. In the interim I'm using my all-purpose  Dell Windows 10 laptop through an upgraded Audioquest USB cable. It is connected to the server with ethernet cable not wifi. I was disappointed how murky and two-dimensional the Dell laptop sounds compared to the CD transport or my turntable. I was hoping to be blown away. Even when I access Tidal MQA files (the Mytek confirms this) the sound is not impressive. I know the Dell is not intended to be a audio device but will purchasing a good quality streamer make a drastic improvement over my laptop? I sure hope so. So what are your recommendations for a moderate cost streamer? I will primarily use it for Tidal streaming as I don't have a large digital library. I would like to use the MQA functionality of the Mytek.  Is there much sound or functional difference between an Auralic Mini versus the Auralic Aries for the additional price? Should I consider the Bluesound Node 2? Any other suggestions under $1,500?  I will not go through the brain damage of connecting a dedicated streaming computer and Microrendu despite how many people recommend that approach. Thank you.