It’s a good question. I lack the technical knowledge to comment on why. But, I can comment on what. And, the difference is pretty easy to hear - and it was validated by a dealer who carries the Node, but not the streamers I have. I brought them in to audition on their system.
Perhaps it’s similar to cables. Why do digital cables, speaker cables and analog interconnects sound different? Heck, why do power cables sound different? Though some doubt these differences, an audition reveals otherwise (I acknowledge the presence of confirmation bias). But, the differences I hear were pretty clear - and confirmed by someone who didn’t want them to be there. In audio, everything seems to make a difference. Unfortunately....
Perhaps it’s similar to cables. Why do digital cables, speaker cables and analog interconnects sound different? Heck, why do power cables sound different? Though some doubt these differences, an audition reveals otherwise (I acknowledge the presence of confirmation bias). But, the differences I hear were pretty clear - and confirmed by someone who didn’t want them to be there. In audio, everything seems to make a difference. Unfortunately....