External DAC connection for Bluesound Node 2i (after "Another streaming newbie" thread)

Running the Node 2i through my Oppo BDP-105 sounds marginally better than with the internal DAC. I’m not sure I could 100% pick them blind, but A/B/A it’s pretty clear. I never heard much difference between coax and optical using budget BJC coax and Amazon toslink. Someone tried to sell me a $360 coax and a $600 power cord for the Node, but that didn’t seem price appropriate for a $550 component. Using a basic DH Labs toslink now but never bothered comparing It to anything, and I still use the Node DAC sometimes. Waiting for a Cullen coax and power cord to see if better cables make much difference (to me), but I’ve still been looking for DAC alternatives. I want to hear something different than a standard DAC chip implementation to see what I might be missing. Chord Qutest (FPGA) is at the edge of what I might spend right now, but I’m hesitant to cheap out and then not have the sound improvement be obvious. More wallet friendly options would be Schiit Bifrost2 (Multibit) or Denafrips Ares II (R2R) but I’m not sure if it’ll be a clear sonic upgrade over the Oppo instead of just more convenient. (Because I really need yet another remote.)

Cat, I'm using the Cullen C7. You will notice a difference. Allow a couple of days for breakin.

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Musical Paradise looks very cool. And swapping components is an interesting concept.

I have the N100 and it is toslink only.  I imagine it has a crappier internal DAC. Even a $70 S.M.S.L. DAC sounds much better than internal. The optical is limited to 24-96 and is a match for the $15 level of Qobuz.
It really shines through a better DAC.

@guy-incognito   +1
Same is true with a Benchmark 1 DAC. 

Wifi connected Node 2 with Shunyata power cord for the Node2, Audioquest “Carbon” coax then to Mytek Brooklyn+ DAC which runs off an external “SBooster” power supply with “Signalcable” power chord.
I did one-by-one over the course of 1.5 years and each part made very noticeable improvements in sound. The biggest improvement was the DAC.

All that money in upgrades may have bought an nicer overall streamer combo DAC, but after I learned all the Bluesound software, I like it so much-  I’m not wanting to change to anything else. Bluesound software is great for my needs.
The Mytek DAC was my final upgrade. The Bluesound DAC is very nice when you consider the price for the Node2, but if you are looking to improve the sound by about 20%, the external DAC may be up your alley.