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Jaw Dropping Improvement?

60-something, intermittent earner here (Read “mostly starving-artist with the rare, unexpected windfall here and there.”) who has just acquired a Bluesound Node 2i.  I’d be very interested to hear what external DAC, in your experience-and-opinion gave such a dramatic improvement in SQ over that of a stock Bluesound streaming device as to be jaw dropping...an absolute game changer.  Does such an animal exist for less than $2000 U.S. or are improvements at this price point more in the nature of subtleties?  Somewhere in between?  To be sure these things are subjective but your take on this would give me a running start on researching things here with a fairly tight budget being considered — If subtle-to-low/moderate level “tweaks” to SQ are all I can expect from, say, a Qutest or Gungnir Multibit, I’ll probably stay with just the streamer and be happy.

Thanks in advance.
lg1
larry5729's avatar
larry5729
1,015 posts
 
I purchase a Bluesound Node 2i and the dealer talked me into buying a Project S2 DAC.  When I got it home, I thought it sounded much better when playing the Bluesound alone.  I don't care what people say, but I think MQA sounds great and if you add a DAC the Bluesound will no longer unfold MQA on Tidal.  I also thought when adding the DAC it sounded thin.  There was much better bass with the Bluesound and I thought there was plenty of detail.  This said, I would not recommend adding a DAC.  Unless a $3,000 DAC sounds much better.  
larry5729's avatar
larry5729
1,015 posts
 
I forgot to mention.  I did a blind test at the dealer with and without the DAC and I picked the Bluesound every time without the DAC.  I should have gone with what I heard and not purchased the DAC.  Maybe it was the cheap DAC I purchased.  Another dealer suggested buying a BelCanto streamer.  He said sound quality was much better than the Bluesound for twice the price.  I would have been nice to be able a number of DAC combinations along with more expensive streamers to make the right choice.
anton99
56 posts
 
I run my Node 2i through the Neko Audio D100 MK II (into a Belles Aria integrated amp). The friend who sold it to me to replace the Chord 2Qute said this would pair beautifully with the Belles, and he was right. It's perfect for the streamer.

You can grab a new one for $1500, though Wesley Miaw, its designer/builder and a heck of a gentleman, puts them on sale from time to time for a grand.
redwoodaudio
415 posts
 
It just so happens that the bluesound dac is bad, to my ears at least. If you can find a used qutest, you'll have much better sound. Plenty of other choices though. 
hshifi
572 posts
 
Hello,
I have tested quite a few DACs with the BlueSound Node 2i. The DAC inside is ok and adequate, but not ideal. The Cambridge was good but light on the treble. The Teac mentioned above was very good. It’s right below 2k and has the streamer built in. The Mytek Liberty is very good as long as you add the SBooster power supply. In the end the jaw dropping is probably going to happen depending on the money spent. To start I really believe in a stout power supply. That’s going to give you the weight and bloom. Next is chip based or R2R or both. Last is MQA ready. The Mytek Liberty does MQA. Hopefully I will be testing out the M2Tech young DAC. It is $2400 so I hope it’s unbelievable for that money. Besides the Liberty the Denifrips Pontus is really good at $1700. Plus it has twice the resisters as the Ares and two isolated transformers. 
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