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Bluesound Node2 with outboard DAC

Has anyone used the Bluesound Node or Vault for music streaming connected to a good outboard DAC and respond to how good the combo sounds. I see the Bluesound has great connectivity and streaming options with a good user interface. Curious if using with a good dac is worth the money. 
I'm using Ayre 5xeMP preamp,  Mark Levinson 532h amp and Revel Performa floorstanders. Cardas interconnects.  
Currently using OPPO 105d as my music player and streamer,  don't like it disconnects from my tablet app control a lot and hoping for better resolution. I use Tidal HiFi for streaming and usb hard drive for stored music files. 
Appreciate relevant replies. Thanks Audiogon group
lnitm
uberwaltz's avatar
uberwaltz
13,381 posts
 
Absolutely!
I have been streaming Tidal and Deezer via my Vault2 for about 18 months.
I learned very quickly the onboard DAC is the weakest link by far on the unit.
I have output by spdif to a number of integrated amps with onboard dac vastly superior and the sq was impressive.
However to get full MQA unfolding you do need to use the onboard Bluesound DAC or send the signal to a DAC that has full MQA capability.
Unfortunately none of the DAC I have used have been MQA capable so I have been limited to 24/96 even on MQA masters titles. But this is still a very impressive quality and is now my main listening medium.
Latest dac is an Esoteric d07.
mahler123
3,253 posts
 
+1
My Vault 2 is toslink connected to a first generation Mytek Manhatten, and my Node2 also toslink into an Oppo 105.
I don’t do MQA.  Both DACs significant upgrades over the included Bluesound DACs
lnitm OP
139 posts
 
I have read that Toslink cable only support 24/96 resolution, not 24/192 and HiRes files. Anyone confirm This? 
uberwaltz's avatar
uberwaltz
13,381 posts
 
I do not think it is the toslink cable itself that is limited to 96, rather I think some early versions of the input and output sections were the limiting factor to 96.
However no digital expert here by far.
I have always used spdif output and that shows up on my dac as 24/96 because my dac does not support the full MQA unfolding which is the only way you would get 24/192 through a bluesound product or to use its own onboard dac and output via single ended analog outputs to your amp. But to my ears I found the sq to be inferior by far compared to a good outboard dac. 
gdnrbob
4,441 posts
 
I visited Audioconnection last year and Johnny was demoing the Bluesound Node/Vault for another customer. He played the onboard Bluesound DAC and then switched to an Ayre Codex. The difference was noticable-for the positive.
So, Yes, using an external DAC will improve sound reproduction.
I use both the optical and USB outputs.
B
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