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



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I'm using the Lumin app with my TEAC NT-505. It's not as intuitive as the bluesound app, but it is fairly easy to use and syncs up with the streamer right away and I don't have the connection issues that I often experienced with my bluesound node 2.
I love the “Dark” theme on the Lumin app. It’s cool that in the last couple of months they added Dark mode then Black Mode and White Mode. The multi-room support they just added sounds like a cool feature if you have multiple Lumin or Linn devices.
Really curious to know how you make out as I've been seriously considering moving from the Node 2i to the U1 Mini myself recently and this seems like the obvious step if you have a good DAC.
The Teac is definitely intriguing as an all in one as well been hearing good things about that piece.
Well it just arrived late yesterday. I found out that Lumin strongly recommends running minim server on the NAS, so I downloaded that and found my library while waiting on the delivery.

Setup was painless, even easier than the Node. I have it running in on repeat for a few days, but out of the box the sound was very good. I don't want to say too much too soon, but it sounds more dimensional than the Node, or another way to say it is perhaps "less flat". 

Still undecided on the Lumin control app. It's not bad, but not sure if it's as good as Bluos. After fiddling with it a little last night I was starting to get used to it, so time will tell.

Oz


I was going to stay with my Node 2i but the Lumin stayed an itch to scratch.

I went with the D2 as I wanted the intergrated dac, I think the Lunmin Is more neutral and musical especially at higher volumes.

Application wise it seems very old school and in need of a redesign, I’ve decided not to use it and use Roon as the front end.