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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
gadios
94 posts
 
Yes please do report back. After reading this thread it seems many people are not all that sure what they have, how it works or if it
really works well. Reviewers seem to like Lumin. Does it work with Amazon Prime? My next buy was slated as the Innuos Zenith MK3 but as cheap as I am and as fast as improvements are coming, I may pick up someone's 2i and wait for even more for even less. 
dernst
5 posts
 
Sorry, use the Audioengine B1 Bluetooth as source for streaming but don’t use its DAC run through Audiolab MDAC+
mofimadness's avatar
mofimadness
5,075 posts
 
@dernst...you said you moved from a Node? Even an original Node hooked up via it’s digital output to the MDAC+ is going to be way better than streaming Bluetooth from a phone?  All the B1 is, is a Bluetooth receiver. Sure you have a Node?
ozzy62's avatar
ozzy62 OP
3,229 posts
 
I agree, any Node should handily beat a Bluetooth device.

Oz
wassaicwill
62 posts
 
Stock rPi USB out measures extremely well and I love mine. That said, I recently bought a used Krell Connect that is amazing, but I'm using the krell DAC out, fully balanced differential etc. Probably a bit out of your range even used. 

I've read good things about Lumin, Audiolab, and Technics streamers, and have them all on my "to try" list. Good luck!
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