Streaming 102

@joeyfed55  - I’ve been through a similar journey. Initially I had a Node 2 (prior to 2i) but wondered how much better it could get. I ended up buying a Mytek Manhattan II DAC w/network card. I got a little bit of a deal during early COVID days - just north of your $5k target. I really couldn’t believe the difference. The Node sounds good but the Manhattan is just amazing. Soundstage, space between instruments, being able to understand lyrics I’ve been listening to all my life (think REM). 
 

The Manhattan II is being replaced by a unit that will act as a Roon core - my unit is just Roon compatible. I am very happy with Mytek, but my point is broader. I would strongly encourage you to sink the additional cask into digital - for me it was well worth the effort. 
 

Matt

I think you need to do some comparisons on your own to get a sense of how much difference a new DAC or streamer might make.

Do you have a CD player? If so, the first step is to compare a CD with the Qobuz stream of the same version. Do this with a few of your favorite CDs. I'm streaming through my ASUS laptop into a PS Audio PerfectWave MK II DAC and I can tell you that the Qobuz stream sounds virtually identical to a CD played through the same DAC with my PS Audio transport. I wouldn't expect a stream to actually sound better than a CD so I'm comfortable that my streaming setup is giving me good SQ.

If you get the Schiit DAC it will be easy to compare the new DAC with the one built into the Node. Again, try it and see how much difference it makes. I'm going to bet that it will be hard to tell them apart but please report your results if you do this. Each time you upgrade use your CD player as a reference to see how much difference it really made. This is a great way to bring yourself back to earth when your confirmation bias is telling you that the several thousand dollars you just spent has brought the lusty audio fairies into your listening room.

I'm skeptical that most audiophiles can actually hear the difference between an expensive streamer and a Node if they participated in a blind test. The other thing to consider is that the Node has one of the best operating systems of any streamer available. Even though my laptop is doing fine as a streamer I'm going to get a Node for the file system and its ability to handle Roon.

I stream a Bluesound Node 2i with a Topping D70 DAC using Qobuz. Really like it. I could spend more on a streamer and DAC and it might sound better than CDs or vinyl, but I’ve spent enough and that’s good enough for me.

For my money, there's hardly a better value in HiFi than the Bluesound Node2.

Expect to spend at least 5x-10x more for an equivalent feature set with better SQ.

Sure, the new Lumin P1 looks wonderful. At ~$10K, it ought to. Although it doesn't even use the top of the line ESS DAC chip (two ES9028PRO instead of one or two ES9038PRO chips).

If you're convinced you'll hear a significant difference with a separate, dedicated DAC (compared to the one built into the Node), then there may be no need for a new streamer.  Just pipe the Node 2 into the DAC. 

Another option would be a new integrated streamer/DAC/pre-amp to replace the Node entirely. Possibilities:

Bryston BDA 3.14, Matrix Element X, Exasound S88 (or the new S82 when it's out), Cambridge Edge NQ.  These all have different strengths/weaknesses relative to each other.   I have the Element X, which is the least expensive of these options at ~$3400.  The Edge NQ seems to offer the best feature set and usability.  Bryston has the longest warranty.  Stereophile gives the S88 an A+ rating;  I've never heard it, but suspect it would be the best of the bunch for sound quality (or if you ever want to venture into multichannel sound). For whatever it's worth, the Element X and the Exasound S88 both use the ES9038PRO DAC chip.

If you do want a separate, dedicated streamer then I'd agree the Sonore products (ultraRendu etc.) are worth a look. They are Roon-ready and also can function as  HQ Player network audio adaptors.

mrdon

If you are using a Ethernet connection to your Node, that is hardwired.  If instead you are using the Nodes WiFi, then you are not hardwired.  
 

OP

do you play SACDs?