Replacement/upgrade for Bluesound and Chord Mojo 2 streamer/external DAC combo

Yes one at a time.  I used Chord Mojo 2 originally to replace my Mojo 1 for my headphone setup, which i then turned for desktop use prior to selling to boost my Bluesound.  When i heard improvement using Mojo against the internal bluesound DAC, it stuck in my home audio set up ever since.  I wasn't keen in changing the digital source for now as technology changes quite fast and i am quite happy with the easiness of the BlueOS app (I used AudioLab previously and the app was just painful) and the Chord mojo combination, sound signature is to my liking already.  This upgrade was just a marginal step on improving the setup with minimal costs and I am not keen on trial and error for now.  So far the power supply upgrade has been quite fruitful relative the the cost, so i would stick to it for now until the itch comes back.

My digital progress has followed a similar path.  I started with a stock Node 2 then upgraded to a Node N130 with the LHY linear power supply kit already installed.  The difference between the stock power supply and the linear power supply using the internal DAC was quite noticeable and well worth the upgrade to anyone considering it.

Then I added a Chord Qutest DAC using the coax SPIDF output from the modified Node N130 using an old Audioquest video (75ohm) video cable.  I would have to say that the improvement using the Qutest was noticeable; however, not as massive an improvement compared to upgrading the power supply.  There was improvement in the details that I've noticed in material that I know well.  Recently I upgraded the digital cable to the Audioquest Carbon and the improvements were much more noticeable.  The mid and high frequencies are more clear and well defined.  Snare drums sound like snare drums, etc.

I've been debating an upgrade to a newer (and hopefully better) streamer but have decided to stick with the Bluesound Node for the foreseeable future.  As stated in many posts, the OS makes a huge difference and the BlueOS does everything I need and want it to do.

Plain_fan:

 

Have you upgraded the power supply on the Qutest?

Update:

I have since made a few minor upgrades to my setup since last time.  Thought i share my experience here as i always had these questions on my mind whether how different setup and cabling would contribute to a system

1. Replaced Chord Mojo 2 with Denafrips Venus II

2. Nordost red dawn power cable into Accuphase

3. Nordost blue heaven power cable into Denafrips

4. Nordost blue heaven BNC/RCA and Cardas Clear USB from Bluesound Node (upgraded LPS) into Denafrips

5. Nordost heimdall RCA and red dawn XLR from Denafrips into Accuphase

6. Nordost red dawn 2 RCA from Node into Accuphase

7. Wireworld chroma twinax ethernet from router into Node

8. Wirewold stratus 7 feeding into LHY audio LPS

I’ve tried different mix and match of different cables and sources:

- red dawn XLR vs. red dawn RCA vs. heimdall RCA from Denafrips to Accuphase

- blue heaven BNC/RCA (RCA on Node end and BNC on denafrips) vs. cardas clear USB

- blue heaven PC vs. red dawn PC into Accuphase

- blue heaven PC vs. stratus 7 into denafrips (at one time a Gotham 85055)

- Node vs. Denafrips to Accuphase, using red dawn RCA

first impression:

- Denafrips brings wider soundstage, darker background, separation of instruments

- XLR cable amplifies the above, might be just the higher sonic gain that an XLR cable in general

The rest, surprisingly no noticable sonic difference between different combos:

- digital coaxial vs. usb

- different RCAs feeding into the Accuphase

- Here is another kicker: i switched between Node vs. Denafrips back and forth (red dawn on Node and heimdall on Denafrips).  What i thought initially was different, after some time, both seem to blend in.  There are numerous times where i thought i was listening to Denafrips, turned out input selector was on the Node and vice versa.  

All cables have some airtime, bought them second hand so cable burn-in is a non-factor.

Off course, it’s subjective to my ear, but for general listening/music the difference is really subtle.  Maybe if i sit down, listening to selective tracks then i can hear uplift here and there but i would need to dedicate my time and ears just to find those.  It could also be my cabling choice leaning towards a single brand, or just my mind playing tricks when i first heard this.  Glad i did not bought these brand new.

On the bright side, the back of my system are pretty much uniform in red color cables