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Moving up from a Node 2i

I want to keep it between 1K and 1500.00, closer to a grand if at all possible. I don't care about onboard DACs, since I have a keen liking for mine. What is out there for a streamer, new or used, that will sound better than the Node when outputting to an external DAC? I like the functionality of the Node, don't want something with a sketchy user interface. But honestly, I think my old Allo Digione (Raspberry Pi) might have sounded a little more organic and fleshed out than the Node.

What say ye, Audiogon?

Oz



128x128ozzy62
mahler123
3,362 posts
 
I went from the Node2 to a Bryston BDP3, which costs about 7 times the Node2 and unlike the Node2 does not come with a DAC.  The Bryston blows the Node2 away when both are fed to the same DAC, but at that price difference, it damn well better sound different.
what kind of improvement can Ozzy get from spending $1500?  Probably substantial but I can’t really vouch
mofimadness's avatar
mofimadness
4,992 posts
 
I have the Node2i and use an external dac and it sounds really nice in my system.

+1...same here.
jond's avatar
jond
5,847 posts
 
I wish Inous made a Zen Mini sans CD ripper for those of us who've already ripped their CDs.
soix
9,585 posts
 
@jond — if the Zen Mini turns out to be the best streamer for the price, does it really matter if it has a CD drive?
jond's avatar
jond
5,847 posts
 
Not really I guess I just hate the idea of buying one with a feature I would never use. I am happy with my current streamer, an Aries Mini, but since Auralic discontinued the Mini long term I will have to make a move. The Zen looks very interesting.
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