any suggestions on what to replace Bluesound Node 2i with

Can you really here a difference!  Even if you do a blind test.  A dealer told me a Belcanto sounds better, but no one talks about Bellanto.  If so what causes the sound difference?  Is it clock speed.

The Anthem 1120, I believe, cannot use a different DAC. I was recently told by Anthem it doesn’t matter input you chose with the Node and it doesn’t matter what DAC you chose you get the Anthem DAC. I’m probably wrong but I would find out.

Duffy

Can you really here a difference!  Even if you do a blind test.  A dealer told me a Belcanto sounds better, but no one talks about Bellanto.  If so what causes the sound difference?  Is it clock speed.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tJIj0Acq99o&t=245s

the raspberry pi is used here as the case study but the general points answer your query

OP here. After reading the various comments and hearing the T2 I will probably replace my Bluesound with the Lumin T2. Might as well spend the money once and know I have an excellent streamer. I know from the comments that there are cheaper and maybe better solutions. I think for what I want to T2 is probably my best option

Slight tangent. I have a Node 2i I plan to move to a second system after an eventual upgrade (so this is a great thread). I have an SSD I plug into the back of the Node for files to augment what is available streaming. I would like to have all my files still accessible over the network by the Node as well as whatever new streamer I upgrade to. What are my options besides going to Roon or another server? Should I look primarily at streamers with no internal storage and plan on running an NAS? Do any of the next tier streamers have an easy way for the Node to use them as a server. I doubt I'll ever run both systems simultaneously. I just don't want to maintain multiple libraries, I'm bad enough at keeping up with one.