MQA files from Tidal - Streaming throuugh NAC 272 BluOS analogue MQA v's PC v's Naim

I've seen lots of comments and opinions regarding the access of MQA audio through Naim equipment which, being non-technical, I've found confusing. I'm a musician and music lover, always looking for the best musical listening experience, so I thought I’d conduct my own listening test.

My normal set up is Naim’s Tidal embedded service (Hi-Fi subscription) via NAC-N 272 with XPS DR and NAP 250 DR all Naim cables to PCM Five 24's. I stream HD music via my NAS and stream digital from a PC (set to optical output 24 bit 192k) I love the musical quality and have always measured my enjoyment in terms of time spent listening, in short not wanting to turn off and watch the TV or do something more productive.

I tried my Tidal service via my media PC using the Naim 272 DAC, the PC reported the output to be a 'Master' file. I don't know how the Naim DAC dealt with this, and frankly I don't care, did it sound different?

Definitely a difference in the listening experience, I got tired of it fairly quickly initially and reverted back to the all Naim affair. I also tried the standard Flac V's the MQA equivalent via my PC. Over time, I found myself listening more and more to the PC set up. After a few months I now find myself searching for MQA music on the PC via Tidal, listening more frequently and longer. So my verdict - I enjoy listening to MQA files via the 272 DAC more than the all Naim iteration of Tidal.

The big bug-bare is accessing my PC to select music, I use my iPad or laptop to access the media PC (no keyboard or monitor) via Team Viewer and it's a pain in the back-side, nothing like the experience that the Naim GUI provides.

So, I got hold of a 2nd hand BluOs Node 2 (via ebay), to see if the Optical/Analogue output options could replace the PC. I have now been comparing for a few weeks. The Node 2 reports to only output true Master files via analogue. Set the digital out to MQA and the Node 2 no longer reports MQA output in it's GUI. The NAC DAC deals with things on both settings.

So how does it impact on my enjoyment of the music?

In 5th place is the Node 2 Optical out to NAC Dac option (in both output settings MQA/Standard)

4th place is the PC playing non MQA Tidal files

3rd place is the all Naim Tidal affair - Wow!

Close 2nd place is the Node 2 analogue real MQA files into the NAC

Very close 1st place seems to be the PC optical to NAC Dac playing 'reportedly' MQA files (but it’s not very convenient to use)

To be fair 1st 2nd and 3rd are all very close for me but the PC and the Node 2 cost me a fraction of the original investment. It pains me greatly to say it, but the edge that the all Naim affair provides is convenience rather than musical enjoyment.

My conclusion is more of a question to Naim, can they deliver me better musical enjoyment through an all Naim solution? My personal experience and tinkering around leads me to believe that there is an opportunity.  My confidence in the Naim brand suggests that they can do much better and squeeze me a lot more enjoyment out of my current investment.

Would be interested in any similar experiences?