Bluesound Node130 LPS upgrade...

@bassbuyer 

Excellent point about my max budget earlier... I would say $2.5k, and have seen a used  Aurender N150 for sale on the 'Gon from what looks to be from a reputable hifi store. I have also looked at Innuos too - it is definitely worth consideration, too.

Yes.

After a few months of using my N130, I ordered the Teddy Pardo LPS kit.  It was easy to install and it made a noticeable improvement in the sound.  Still have it and use it on a separate system in an unused bedroom.

I’m chiming in late to this 10-month old thread and offering my experience here in hopes of helping anyone else considering an LPS upgrade to his Node.

I’ve owned my Node N130 for two years and mostly used it for streaming background music, leaving my more serious listening to my really nice analog TT rig.  But in the Spring of this year I got the bug to improve my streaming setup, as I had been reading how good streaming has become.  I was prepared to move beyond the Node and go separate Streamer and DAC, but I really liked reliability and ease of operation of the Node.  And, it was wireless, which solved a functionality challenge of streaming in our extended/renovated home.  I did buy a used DAC in April as my first step.  Here is my current setup:

  Spectrum 1G Coax service/ Arris Surfboard Modem/ASUS Zen Mesh Router   

  Wirelessly Stream to Bluesound Node N130     

  Teddy Pardo Limited Edition Linear Power Supply Modification to Node N130   

  Triode Wire Labs Digital American 2 Power Cable 

  Weiss 501 DAC               

  WireWorld Platinum Starlight 8 USB from Node to Weiss 501 DAC 

  Stack Audio AUVA EQ Component Isolators under DAC

Now, I am also running a very good preamp with this setup, and the rest of my system is quite good, full and revealing.  But, let me just say.......WOW.  This is really, really good.  It’s definitely not quite as good as my analog rig, but it’s in the neighborhood.  Suffice it to say, I do not feel a want or need for anything more from my streaming rig- it has everything I need. 

This is certainly not an inexpensive way to obtain good streaming results, but it shows just how good this Node N130 is when used as a streamer-only.  Thanks to rick_n , macg19 and knownothing for their posts/observations which gave me confidence to pursue this path.  I could go on for pages noting my detailed observations, but I’ll spare folks the lengthy commentary.  This streaming setup has everything for me:  proper balance, timbre, detailed imaging, soundstage, microdynamics, really good depth, etc.  I listen mostly to well-recorded Jazz and Classical.  Hope this helps someone.

@rtilden  You should get a Wi-Fi extender or Mesh system and run a decent Ethernet cable from that to your Node.  It’s not all that expensive, and it bypasses the Node’s Wi-Fi receiver and many find this provides a meaningful improvement.  Glad you’re enjoying your streaming more!

soix- Thanks for the suggestion.  I read diligently about benefits of doing as you indicate, and I 'thought' I understood that pretty much across the board, wireless was sonically equivalent to the best wired connection.   Glad to know otherwise.  And it's not difficult for me to try. 

I do have the ASUS Zen Mesh System with 2 Mesh nodes (extenders), in addition to the ASUS router.  One of the mesh nodes is in the same room as the hi-fi system, and it would be easy enough for me to move it near the Node N130 and connect via Ethernet cable.  Aesthetically, it's not as elegant for me, and that's why I didn't give it more consideration when I did my research.  That's still much easier than running Ethernet in my attic and attempting to fish down masonry walls from my modem to my Bluesound Node.  A couple questions for you:

1. Do you have a particular Ethernet cable you like?  My default would probably be      DH Labs or Triode Wire Labs, but I would like to know if you have a favorite.

2. I really hope to avoid yet another rabbit hole, but I seem to recall reading                  these Mesh Nodes (extenders) benefit from their own Linear Power Supply.

3. If No.2 above is true, what about another LPS for the Modem?  And what about        yet another LPS for the Mesh router feeding signal to the Mesh node extender?  

4. Depending upon the answers to these, I might just reconsider the attic work, as        it's probably less hassle and more elegant to bite that bullet.

These are questions I had some months ago but thought I had satisfied myself    not to bother with them.  I will be glad to hear some real experience talking.  Thanks for any further thoughts.