Bluesound installed DAC - music killer?

Bluesounds have amazing quality for the price. You probably have a bad unit or weak cables.  I have been running a Bluesound Node 2i for a year with high End Nordst Cables. Last week I upgraded to a DirectStream with Kimber XLR > Schiit Freya+ > Parasound A23 Monoblock > Sonus Faber Sonetta VIII

So with the DAC and XLR cables a $6000 upgrade. Of course this is an improvement over the Node 2i but most people couldn’t justify the extra $6k bc the Node 2i sings so good. 

Ever since NAD started offering components featuring both BluOS and Dirac Live, I've been hoping for the Lenbrook folks to offer an upscale BluOS network player (preferably without a DAC) that was both Roon Ready and featured Dirac Live with either the NAD or BluOS label.
Like a Super Bluesound Node 2i with Dirac Live, with or without a DAC, but definitely with digital outputs.  In fact, I've been looking for anybody that offered such a player that featured Dirac Live that was also Roon Ready. I don't know of any at this time.

Minidsp SHD Studio has Dirac Live and you can use roon with it. They are in the process of getting roon ready certified.

Also upgraded a BlueSound Node 2i with a Chord Qutest (paired with a PrimaLuna Prologue Premium Integrated and Unison Research Max-2 speakers).  Compared this combo in my listening room with the $3500 Naim ND5 XS2 streamer and couldn't tell any significant difference if any at all.  Super happy with my choice.  Also agree that the Node 2i is great bang for the buck.  Enjoying the music!

The streamer in the bluesound is not that great either.  If you budget is up to it, looking into a comparable streamer with you your chord dac will bring more dynamics, openness, clarity...