streaming and audiophile stereo

OP - this is a hot topic, as others have suggested, if you search this topic you’ll find a lot of threads, guidance, discussion.  I am on the digital journey and here are some suggestions, humble learnings, and I’m still tweaking, taking some chances.

Know your system before you select a streamer / DAC.  If you’ve got a highly revealing system built around hearing every last micro detail, buckle up, everything in your digital chain will change, influence the sound in ways that will matter to you. If you have a more laid back system, one that plays well with poor recorded tracks, albums, this type of system will somewhat mask some of the warts that can surface in your digital chain.  
 

Synergy is absolutely key, many Streamer / DAC companies design their equipment to work best with their own products, you can pair a great streamer and DAC but if they aren’t designed to maximize each others potential, design you might not love the results.  Synergy also applies to the first point, take McIntosh gear, it has a signature sound that will play well with other equipment, mask some deficiencies in ways some other gear won’t, I make this point as it isn’t all about price, McIntosh gear is not low end, cheap gear.  It’s not to say McIntosh gear won’t shine with higher end Streamer / DAC’s it will, it is more forgiving than other higher end gear.
 

Interface - App development - a streamer is only as good as the app that supports it.  If the app stinks, you are unlikely to have a great experience with your streamer, even if you love the sound.  Read up on the app, the support, how often it’s updated, it’s an often overlooked feature that is critical.  
 

MQA - as others have stated - it’s not an indication on if a Streamer or DAC are quality products.  It’s more like a Home Theater Receiver saying it decodes Dolby Atmos.  There are $ 200 receivers that do and $8,000 that can.  
 

How you plan to use the digital set up is important as well - are you planning on streaming Qobuz / Tidal, playing CD’s or pulling FLAC or other files from your network.  You’d want to know that to allow you to choose a digital front end that does what you want it to do, focusing on having it do best what you plan to use it for the most.  
 

I’ve had the Node 2i, Lumin, Auralic, Krell, Parasound, MHDT, Anthem and probably some I’m forgetting, either DAC and or streamers.  Separates and  all in one solutions.  There differences and how apparent they were really depended on the rest of the gear.  In general, the differences in digital are subtle, they aren’t huge differences, swings.  That said, if you match the digital end with the rest of your gear those subtle differences are very noticeable, apparent.  Safest path is an all in one streamer / DAC from a company that has a great app, functionality with proven support, updates.  Aurender, Auralic, Lumin are standouts - products using Bluos which is the most mature platform.  
 

Good Luck! 

MQA is a scam, in light of modern high speed Internet and Quboz. It’s also lossy. The worst thing for me is that it locks you into their apodizing filter and I’ve found others perform better to my ears.

I think it's good to stay simple rather than try to blow out your budget.  How about a Rogue or ARC integrated to start you off?

Also, consider the room.  :)

@twilightround  - I'm in agreement with those who suggest a measured, simple approach. If you want to get the most out of Tidal, you have a couple of options. You don't mention your budget, so I won't suggest gear (I wouldn't, anyway; each situation is unique and you're the one and only determinant of what's good) - but my approach (after trying some integrated products) is to go with separates so that I have more choice; in your case I'd advise getting the best streamer (for you) and then find a DAC that fits your system and budget - and don't let "perfect" be the enemy of a system that you'll enjoy. I find that I don't really need a lot from the streamer, and I'd rather not be bound by a streamer/DAC combo - especially since DACs seem to be constantly improving (as is their price:performance ratio). I listen to Qobuz (AFAIK there's only one MQA file in all of Qobuz - but it sounds fine on my system) via Roon, and (even though I think Roon has only achieved about 65% of what they could do with their software) it feels like a seamless input.

About MQA (presented as an economic streaming alternative (some might say that it's no longer valid given current broadband, but maybe they're forgetting that the vast majority of the world can't afford or doesn't have access to it) as well as a way to support a type of authentication), the streamer doesn't necessarily have to play a part, as you can pass it straight through to your DAC. Unless you're experiencing negative symptoms (redundant?), I don't think there's a need to worry about extra devices beyond those two. I'd suggest that you avoid wifi/BT links unless absolutely necessary (and if you absolutely need BT, go for gear with the latest audio standards).

Work with companies that allow returns (30-60 day trials), and since you're partial to tubes you might want to run some DDG searches for tube-like DACs. And consider the qualities you like the most re: detail (and in what ranges), staging and warmth/musicality. 

Re: DAC/Preamp, the ideal would be that your system is able to work beautifully with the DAC's analog output. I like simplicity, so in my case I'd just try other DACs until I get a match (but I'm also using a SS system that has lots of flexibility, so that's much less of an issue for me).

Best of luck with this - and I hope it's the "luck" that brings even more out of your system.

What's a Quboz?

@erik_squires  lots of scams in the industry, MQA being one of them, audiophile Ethernet another. Yet people want to believe it and therefore believe it.