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Bluesound node 2i DAC VS Vincent SA-T7 DAC

Got a question for you DAC experts. I’ve been running the bluesound node 2i for about a year now and I’ve been really pleased with it. The software could be better but for $550 I thinks it’s hard to beat. Fast forward to about 4 months ago when I added the Vincent SA-T7, their flagship preamp. I had been using the RCA connectors but today decided to try the toslink connection. Ok so the bluesound’s dac’s sampling rates are 32-192khz. The Vincent’s are  24-192khz. Am I correct that a higher sampling rate would be the better DAC? Is the rate changed once it goes through the Vincent? I left the rca’s in place so I can toggle between the two for comparison. I don’t know if it’s placebo or not but to my ears the toslink is better. It definitely is louder than the rca’s. I’d like your opinions on this and thank you in advance.
superstoked
lowrider57's avatar
lowrider57
5,417 posts
 
The TOSLINK digital should sound better than the analogue output you’ve been listening to.
The streaming services such as Tidal and Qobuz play back files with sample rates of 16/44.1 (cd quality), 24/96, and 24/192. The Vincent will play each natively without resampling. The stream is clocked and processed by the Vincent and you’ll hear music at the same resolution that the streamer is outputting.


jjss49's avatar
Ag insider logo xs@2x
jjss49
6,612 posts
 
search bluesound node 2i

much discussed about SQ of its internal DAC
rocray's avatar
rocray
1,448 posts
 
Hi superstoked, I’m not an authority on DAC’s by any stretch of the imagination, however I run a Node 2i and a Node 2 in both my systems. Within the last couple of months I dipped my toes in the external DAC waters. I run an April Music Stello DA100 Signature in the main system,and a Beresford Bushmaster in the secondary system. Both are not top of the line,and both older DAC’s. That said,I’m still very happy with what they have to offer. I noticed more detail,and definitely a much,much larger holographic soundstage on both. I can only imagine how much better a newer,and higher end DAC would sound on either system. Like you,I was running the Node products via rca analog out. I was very happy with the SQ.( Ignorance was bliss!) Keep using the DAC in your pre,since you have that option. 
   Best of luck!
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