Upgrade from Cambridge CXN

Node2i does a good job the app interface is easy to use but if you bypass the internal dac you will have to have an external dac that supports MQA. I am going to be selling mine soon and getting the NAD C658 which I imagine sounds very similar  with same  bluOS app but I want to try the dirac room correction. 

thanks djones51. The dirac correction feature  also appeals to me since I don’t have the luxury of building a dedicated listening room. Thanks for your input.

I heard a Cambridge streamer at a friend's recently, not sure if it was the same one you have.  The Node 2i is probably a side step and while it can be bettered by adding an external DAC, you can probably get more bang for your buck by getting an all-in-one like the Lumin D2.  I recently replaced my Node 2i and Auralic Vega DAC (a $3500 DAC when new) with a TEAC NT-505 streamer/DAC and it was a significant upgrade.  I've had DACs with and without MQA and don't miss it in the ones that don't have it.  The NT-505 does do MQA and can also serve as a Roon endpoint.

Hi big_greg.  Thanks for your post.  After reading your post I took a look at the TEAC unit and am very interested.  The unit has been around now for about 3 years and neither it nor its predecessor, the NT-503 seem to be available used.  That probably means people that have them are satisfied with them.   Do you know if there is a bypass for the pre-amp section?  I have a tube pre-amp that I like and intend to keep using it.

Mark,

I'm using the NT-505 with my tube preamp, but am using it as a streamer only.  If you want to connect something to the DAC, you would connect the TEAC to your preamp as a source, set the TEAC's volume to full and use the volume control on your preamp.  Not sure if that's what you're asking.

You can download the manual and see if it has the functionality you're asking about.