New Bluesound's Node 2i

I bought a node 2i so that I can get sound into my main rig while I don't have internet here for a few months.  I live in the camp fire area and we are without internet so I thought that I could stream from my phone to the node 2i and into my big rig via toslink into my DAC.  I am really bummed with how bad this thing sounds at least via bluetooth.  I am starting to think bluetooth is just plain bad.  I can't use airplay since my phone can't be on the network and get LTE service at the same time so I have to use bluetooth.  Seems like airplay is always better sounding than bluetooth.  

Older models now on big discount straight from the Bluesound site direct. Claim on the 2i is that they garnered increased performance from working on some pricier NAD offerings like the new C-658.

Interested to see what people think of the sound quality 

I just installed a node 2i in my system. The sound is much more holographic than my previous source (laptop > eitr > metrum amethyst). I’m happy overall with the sound quality, however I made a direct comparison between the internal DAC and my amethyst and the metrum beat out the bluesound - although I’m not that surprised. I think it really depends where you are coming from for your previous source.

One thing to note: the node 2i sounds massively better when wired in my system as opposed to using the wifi. And again the wifi sounded better than airplay or bluetooth. I think the big compromise with streamers like the bluesound is that you have to use their app/streaming software. I don’t mind the interface, just something else to deal with. Also, there was a severe burn in within the first 3 hours, it was actually terrible out of the box and slowly opened up as I sat there.

I also just ordered an aftermarket shunyata power cable for the node 2i so I can report back on that after I listen to it.

I’ve been using a Node 2 as a Roon endpoint in a minimalist second system. The Node 2 benefits from a better power cord. I built a silver PC with Furutech and Oyaide ends. Also, it can definitely sound better through an external DAC. I took from storage an old Marigo Apparition RCA digital cable and a Theta Gen Va DAC with balanced outputs. These feed a pair of Pass ACA 1.6 Class A kit monoblocks. The Node 2 downsampled by Roon from 24/192 to 16/44.1 for the old Theta sounds better that the Node 2’s integrated DAC at 24/192. Nice to know that the Theta still stands up! But the Node 2’s integrated DAC isn’t bad.