Any Bluesound Node2 owners

The Node 2 is really good on its own for its price point, especially if you got a good deal used.  I still have one that I use in my bedroom.  Enjoy!

If you use the RCA outs to your Denon, you're getting the full MQA unfold.  The Bluesound app will show the MQA icon next to the track.  If you're listening to Qobuz Hi-Res tracks there will be an icon that says "HR".  I don't think it will show you the sampling rates.

I prefer Qobuz because as long as your DAC supports the sampling rates, there's no proprietary encoding.  I'd prefer not to have my bits and bytes folded and unfolded.  It's also cheaper and better suited to my listening tastes (mostly rock and jazz).  Tidal does have a larger selection, but there's not much you can't find on Qobuz.

Geez, the guy doesn't even have it yet and you're all telling him to go out and buy power cords, magic cables and expensive DACs before he's even heard it!  Do we have any idea what the rest of his system is?  Is it good enough to resolve all the magic stuff he needs to add to it?  It's fun to spend other people's money.

To the OP, listen to it for a while and make sure that the streaming experience is for you.  If you enjoy the Node 2 and find that sonically it's not as good as the rest of your components, don't waste your money trying to polish a turd.  Not that it's a turd, it's not, but it's only capable of so much. 

Get something better.  For what you'd spend getting an external DAC and fancy magic cables that may or may not make any difference in your system, you can get a much better streamer / DAC.  There are streamers from Lumin, TEAC, and others that will outperform the Node 2 + a DAC.  

I know because I've been down both paths.  Adding a better DAC can improve the sound quality, but it will only take it so far.  I noticed zero difference using more expensive power cords and interconnects. 

Buying a better streamer / DAC (in my case the TEAC NT-505) took things to a much higher level than any add-ons I tried with the Node 2, which include using an Auralic VEGA as the DAC (originally a $3500 DAC), and the DAC in my Sony TA-ZH1ES headphone amp which is also very good.

I'm not sure why people seem to think that the streamer itself doesn't matter in terms of sound quality.  Why not just get a Roku or use your smart TV to stream into a $2000 DAC?

I do agree that if you can, hard wire it.  I also agree that MQA is a bit hyped and prefer Qobuz' hi-res files over MQA.