Chord Qutest

I'm sure you are experiencing break-in. I owned a Chord Qute EX and it was one of the smoothest and organic sounding DACs I've heard for under $2000.
  Keep music or a break-in disk running thru it for about a week.

My take on the earlier QuteEX model is that the presentation was forward. In fact, that's why I sold it; I like a mid-hall experience for classical music.
  But, I must say music sounded so smooth and natural.

Doesn't the blue light and red light/filter change automatically depending on sampling rate? Or can you change it manually?

OK, so there is much more flexibility with the Qutest over previous models.
I've read that each filter on a DAC needs break-in time. How many hours are on your unit now? I'd guess you should go for 200 hrs. on each filter that you use.

This review is in agreement with you regarding the playback of poor quality digital. This DAC seems to be very revealing.
https://www.avforums.com/review/chord-electronics-qutest-dac-review.15073

So, you've been using Tidal/Roon as your source. Have you tried any other sources such as CD or downloads? Trying a source using S/PDIF would be a good experiment.
I'm guessing you're using USB out from a PC; have you tried different cables? IME, different cable designs can change sonics dramatically.
If USB, are you using some type of noise reduction, such as an i Purifier?

It's great that you've found a way to make the dac work for you. It seems like everybody loves ROON.
   My only advice is to audition different cables, many online dealers have trial periods.

Oh yeah, cables are very important. My Dac and PS Audio transport do well with Audience PC's; low noise floor, wide and deep soundstage. I have a small Audience power conditioner for digital and a Blue Circle for analogue. Currently using a Cerious Technologies SPDIF coax. 

Very good move getting the Hot Box.

@frozentundra , I've been thru a few DACs since the Chord. I now have an Audio Note 2.1 Signature...love it. 
I still play CDs since I have a very large collection, mostly classical. I stopped playing audio files from my Mac due to the fact that Audio Note doesn't use USB, it's an option. Crazy, right?

I researched streamers and will be purchasing the Bluesound Node 2i. I'll do the 30 day trials and I'll also be able to stream from my Mac.