Just installed a bluesound node 2i , quality not so good

jolida fx tube dac 500-600
border patrol 800
chord 2qute 750
metrum octave or amethyst 500-800
topping d90 700
neko d100 750
rme adi 2 900
ayre codex 900

all under a grand used, all excellent (used prices shown)

Is the advice here really that the OP should buy a $1000+ DAC in order to boost the sound quality of a $550 streamer? Wouldn't it make more sense to: 1) return the Bluesound and get a more high-end streamer/DAC? or 2) buy a really good DAC ($2000+) with the thought of eventually upgrading the streamer? or 3) work with the bluesound and try to improve its sound quality with the current system (since it generally gets good notices out here for what it is)? 

(And why is this thread in the Speakers topic?)

Listen to the music on it for awhile, you may find you like it. If not, return the 2i and get your $550 back if your receiver's streamer/dac rocks, its good to have options..

Have any of you saying the DAC in the Bluesound is soooooo bad ever actually switched between the internal DAC and external dac while listening?  

Yes many times, coax digital connection into my Lyngdorf ( at the time) was vastly superior to the analog connection.

Is the advice here really that the OP should buy a $1000+ DAC in order to boost the sound quality of a $550 streamer?

Not at all, I did say a $250 DAC would work wonders, plenty around in that price range, check Drop.com for some true bargains.

I switched back-and-forth between the bluesound node built in Dac to two different dacs.
An orchid dac for about $1100 and an older Peachtree dac which was originally $500 but which I got used for $100. In both cases the external dac was superior to the streamer, but the orchid was light years ahead. 
To my mind it totally makes sense to spend much less money on the streamer then on the dac.  These have become relatively stable while streamers are changing quite rapidly, still. So by going with separates, one can invest in the stable one rather than the changing one. Otherwise one spends a lot more on something that would quickly  be compromised by change.