External DAC connection for Bluesound Node 2i (after "Another streaming newbie" thread)

https://www.musicalparadise.ca/store/index.php?route=product/product&path=61&product_id=97
I just received my Musical Paradise MP D2 MK iii. Using right now with my node 2i. 
First impression is really good so far. I like the deep layered texture it provided. It sounded so smooth and not harsh. It so smooth that it lifted the edgy treble from the Node 2i without losing the details. 
I am using just the stock tubes. It is a Tube DAC btw. You can roll your tube even your DAC chip of choice! And it is also easy to roll out capacitors to your liking. I am using akm 4997. And would probably upgrade my caps to jupiter copper.

Running the Node 2i through my Oppo BDP-105 sounds marginally better than with the internal DAC. I’m not sure I could 100% pick them blind, but A/B/A it’s pretty clear. I never heard much difference between coax and optical using budget BJC coax and Amazon toslink. Someone tried to sell me a $360 coax and a $600 power cord for the Node, but that didn’t seem price appropriate for a $550 component. Using a basic DH Labs toslink now but never bothered comparing It to anything, and I still use the Node DAC sometimes. Waiting for a Cullen coax and power cord to see if better cables make much difference (to me), but I’ve still been looking for DAC alternatives. I want to hear something different than a standard DAC chip implementation to see what I might be missing. Chord Qutest (FPGA) is at the edge of what I might spend right now, but I’m hesitant to cheap out and then not have the sound improvement be obvious. More wallet friendly options would be Schiit Bifrost2 (Multibit) or Denafrips Ares II (R2R) but I’m not sure if it’ll be a clear sonic upgrade over the Oppo instead of just more convenient. (Because I really need yet another remote.)

Cat, I'm using the Cullen C7. You will notice a difference. Allow a couple of days for breakin.

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Musical Paradise looks very cool. And swapping components is an interesting concept.

I have the N100 and it is toslink only.  I imagine it has a crappier internal DAC. Even a $70 S.M.S.L. DAC sounds much better than internal. The optical is limited to 24-96 and is a match for the $15 level of Qobuz.
It really shines through a better DAC.

@guy-incognito   +1
Same is true with a Benchmark 1 DAC.