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Bluesound Node 2021 DAC - I sold my Denafrips Ares II

I assembled my system last summer, after 20 odd years in the hifi wilderness. I’ve never been a vinyl guy, so wanted all the convenience of streaming, plus a CDP for my old collection.

I went for the latest iteration of the Bluesound Node - N130, a Naim Nait 5si and a pair of Quad S2 speakers, and Audiolab 6000CDT.

From reading various forums, watching YT videos, you know the script; I convinced my self that I needed an external DAC, as the majority view seemed to be that the BS Node DAC wasn’t very good. As I hadn’t owned hifi since the late 90s (Naim Olive) bi-amped system and Audo Alchemy DDE, I had no reference for how DACs sounded these days.

Anyway, in my new found conviction that I must purchase an ext. DAC, I purchased a Denafrips Ares II. Got it, plugged it in, and didn’t look back. I was content, it sounded good.

Then, about 2 months ago, I was fiddling around inside the Bluos app, with the subwoofer crossover, with a mind to buying a sub to supplement the LFs on my little Quads, and I had the belated brainwave to a/b the Node DAC and the Denafrips. I whipped out some spare ICs and off I went.

OK, I felt like such a fool, really stupid - I a/b’d for literally hours, trying to convince myself that the Ares II was night and day difference - it must be right? The Node DAC is sub-par, not good enough, mediocre, if things I read were correct.

But, in my system, to my ears, this wasn’t the case; I had difficulty discerning any significant improvements, certainly not £800 (£600 pre-owned) worth of difference.

I’m not knocking the Ares II, but in my system, the cost and the difference it made - and the difference between it and the much maligned Node DAC could not be justified sitting in my system at that cost.

Feeling like a complete tool, for rushing headlong in to the DAC game, I re-sold the Denafrips, bought a REL T5x and here I am.

I’m not going to look a further fool and say the Node DAC is the best, but i feel it is criticised unduly, at least the newest version at any rate.

Thanks for reading, I’m not sure this is a cautionary tale, but I just thought the experience worth sharing

 

 

128x128painter24
painter24's avatar
painter24 OP
310 posts
 

@riccitone "Also happy you you’ve added a Rel t5/x to good effect. Was considering one of those for my own next purchase."

I feel supplementing the LFs on the Quads opens up another dimension in how you listen to your music. For all the Quads pleasing qualities, I really couldn't have comprehended how much I was missing until I added the sub; when I did it was quite revelatory.

Back on the Node again; I'm using its "sub out", and it's sub crossover settings at 80hz. This has relieved my amp, and the Quads of all duties at 80hz and below, and it frees up the Quads to do what they do best as small form stand mounts. They sound much more effortless and relaxed in their presentation without being fed all those LFs <80hz, and struggling to reproduce them. 

karlss0n's avatar
karlss0n
6 posts
 

Finally a focused, constructive, well-mannered thread!  Have been using Node 2i for a year with Tidal Connect into Hegel H95 (Coax) and Klipsch Forte II.  Am waiting on delivery of new Verity speakers and shopping for new amp.  After my own critical listening I was convinced built-in Hegel DAC was better SQ than the Node, but may have to rethink.  Hard not to be influenced by the on-line naysayers about Node DAC quality. 

I anticipate sticking with Node streaming since I like Tidal Connect feature and have been happy with SQ, but we always think we might do better.  Looking at Benchmark or Luxman amps, and external DAC, including RME, Benchmark and Pontus.  

 

pinwa
287 posts
 

I have the Ares II, Pontus II, Gustard X26 Pro, Topping D70 and MHDT Orchid.  The simple fact of the matter is that if you pay VERY careful attention each of these DACs sounds SLIGHTLY different but none of them is clearly better than the others on all types of music.  People that claim dramatic differences either have bat ears or are letting the psycho part of psychoacoustics rule their judgement.

jjss49's avatar
Ag insider logo xs@2x
jjss49
6,612 posts
 

I have the Ares II, Pontus II, Gustard X26 Pro, Topping D70 and MHDT Orchid. The simple fact of the matter is that if you pay VERY careful attention each of these DACs sounds SLIGHTLY different but none of them is clearly better than the others on all types of music. People that claim dramatic differences either have bat ears or are letting the psycho part of psychoacoustics rule their judgement.

based on personal experience, i disagree, the difference in sound is quite discernable on a sufficiently high res system

a-b using a dena pontus 2 (os mode) versus mhdt orchid (unmodified, stock ge 5687 tube) -- i can (and did) pick out a vs b each time on blind a-b test, on my system... (we used my ava abx comparator on blind test mode, volume matched) - dena has immediately noticeably more forward, fine grain treble, wider soundstage, stronger deep bass vs mhdt more recessed treble, narrower but deeper stage, grainless treble and mids, slower but fatter midbass weaker deep bass

bluesound node 2i streamer into dacs using rca spdif -- into hegel h390 driving proac d30rs speakers

dhite71
331 posts
 

@painter24 

If you do ever find yourself curious again, I would strongly recommend giving a Schiit Gungnir Multibit a try.  My DAC experience is limited but I have had the Node2i for about 2 years.  I initially used it with the Audio Research GSi75 integrated that has a very well reviewed onboard DAC.  I was able to easily connect my analog RCA and a digital coax at the same time and go between inputs.  There was no comparison.  Then I traded for separates and got a Gungnir in the deal.  I now have Audio Research separates and the Gungnir sounds so good.  Schiit are reasonably priced and offer a 15 day trial.  I also like to buy used and you find them from time to time so keep that as an option.  

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