PD-Creative

Jw944ts,
sorry I seem to be taking over your thread.  But, more news.  I’m listening to the new Node with the Creative board mod and their budget power supply.  Fantastic.  Cleaner, clearer, tighter, more detail and focus than the modded 2i.  Impressive at low volume.  I can hear everything and no shout.  Louder gets me a bigger and bolder presentation while the clean and clear stays.  Nice.  

@wlutke , dont be silly...your comments are interesting; now, if my interface ever arrives, I will share my thoughts....UPS seems to be stuck in Germany for 10 days......frustrating!

More upgrades.
Streaming the NODE with the Sbooster LPS and Orchid DAC puts Spotify comfortably in audiophile territory. I thought that not possible. By comparison, the Node 2i and new NODE in stock configurations with the Orchid DAC are hifi-ish at best. The PD Creative upgrade with SMPS swings them toward the hifi high end. A quality power supply like the Sbooster tips the scales. I find real satisfaction in the quality, substance and engagement.
I got the Bluesound RC-1 remote on a whim and glad I did. On Spotify it can pause, skip, mute and control volume. That’s really nice because the RC-1 volume adjust is much finer than on the pre. I set the volume on the pre to limit the max output. It safeguards visitors (and maybe party me) from over doing the volume. The push of a preset button sends me from Spotify to a Tunein Radio station. Returning to Spotify still requires the Bluos app.

@wlutke Thanks for sharing. It looks like you compared the modded versions of the node 2i and new node. Is it worth moving up to the newest node even if I have the modded 2i?
-Alex

rareace,
That’s a good question.  In the unmodified form I prefer the more musical sound of the 2i.  It has (subjectively) more body.  With modification and smps on each I much prefer the NODE and would definitely move up in that scenario.  The NODE sounds more refined, it’s balanced top to bottom and the added resolution and focus are obvious, no looking back.  So, yes, I would upgrade from the 2i.  The Sbooster took it to a new level.  Caveat one is there’s more energy on the top and bottom. Less glare, less boom, just more.  I took the sub down a couple of ticks and put a mellower tube in the DAC for the highs.  Perfect.  Caveat two is the noise floor dropped so low that I catch myself cranking the volume without realizing it.