As far as I know, MQA will go over any digital connection - it does not need SpeakerLink to operate. SpeakerLink is balanced digital.

MQA operates perfectly well over a standard SPDIF connection.

...also slightly confused as the DSP8000SEs don't have an optical connection?

Sounds like everything is operating as it should. To check - play a known MQA source and then press display on the system remote a few times and the speakers should display MQA and the sample rate.

Cheers,

Steve

Main: 861v6 (LPS), 808v6, UHD722, DSP8000SE Anniversaries, DSP5200.2HC, DSP7200.2, SW1600, Sky Q, Cambridge Audio BD, Roon, M80
Office: 861v4 (LPS), 818v3, 800v4, HD621, M&K S150P, DSP5500HC, M&K MPS2810 sub x2
Son's system: 861v4, HD621, DSP6000.2, DSP5200HC, DSP33
Spare: MCD, 100 Series, 200 Series, 500 Series, F80s, C15s.