node 2i is an excellent unit - does a lot for the money, does it well
- terrific user interface (yes roon is better but you are extorted for more $ on top of a streaming service... how much do you value metadata and integration of stored music vs streamed??)
- roon and mqa capable
- very capable bitstream to feed outboard dacs
- nice form factor well built
- can be one box streamer and dac for those not too picky on sound quality
- can do multipoint/multiroom with ease
that being said, know the limitations:
- onboard dac is obvious weak point - smoothed over, lazy sound, tuned to be innocuous, sacrifices clarity transient response PRAT
- no usb digital output to drive some DACs who perform best using usb in
- gives a false sense of mqa sq due to poor onboard dac - much better used for first unfold, let you outboard dac (or roon) do the rest
- terrific user interface (yes roon is better but you are extorted for more $ on top of a streaming service... how much do you value metadata and integration of stored music vs streamed??)
- roon and mqa capable
- very capable bitstream to feed outboard dacs
- nice form factor well built
- can be one box streamer and dac for those not too picky on sound quality
- can do multipoint/multiroom with ease
that being said, know the limitations:
- onboard dac is obvious weak point - smoothed over, lazy sound, tuned to be innocuous, sacrifices clarity transient response PRAT
- no usb digital output to drive some DACs who perform best using usb in
- gives a false sense of mqa sq due to poor onboard dac - much better used for first unfold, let you outboard dac (or roon) do the rest