Physically connect a Bluesond Node 2i to a downline, stand alone Chord Qutest DAC

ddude003, Thanks, I’ve tried that. With (manual) level balancing, still same SQ. Both very good, but from past experience with Qutest vs other DACs I would expect the FPGA 'Chord sound’ from it compared to a more standard Burr-Brown implementation as in the Node 2i.
Either the Node’s DAC is as good as Qutest or it is passing data to the Qutest in a way that hampers the latter somehow.
It’s not ’different but equally good’ but the EXACT same.
I would expect SOME difference.
Based on this experience I could sell the Qutest and be happy. But the FOMO part of me feels that Qutest is not fully singing with the Node 2i as transport.
Others report clear differences with the same streamer & DAC combo.
Wondering if I’m missing something.

@hilly230
My experience with the Bluesound Node2i / Chord Qutest combo is that the Node2i via its analog output using its own DAC produces a polite (some might say forgiving), warm sound that leans to the dark side; by comparison, with the Qutest the sound is richer, more detailed, and the sound stage is both wider and deeper, and may I dare say more ebullient.
In my system it's a very noticeable difference.
Given that you have already experimented with trying different output voltages, my next thought would be to look to the interconnects, especially the digital interconnects. The quality and character of the interconnects can make a big difference.

jazzman7 I've always been a cable sceptic, but this might send me down that rabbit hole. Got a digital coax cable you recommend?

@hilly230
My personal experience with 75 Ohm digital coax cables connecting Node2i to Qutest are limited to Tributaries and Transparent. In both cases those cables are terminated with RCA connectors, using an Audioquest RCA to BNC adapter to mate with the Chord Qutest.
The Tributaries Delta Digital cable is decent, but as mentioned in my earlier post from 2 years ago in this thread, felt it was outperformed by a smidge by an Audioquest Vodka Toslink cable. Since that posting I acquired an entry level Transparent coax cable which to my ears outperforms the AQ Vodka Toslink. Today my Node 2i resides on my desktop connected to KEF LSX speakers via the aforementioned Toslink. My Qutest still resides in my main rig, but connected to a Roon Nucleus via USB. If I was shopping for a Coax cable today, among the brands I’d consider would be Transparent, Wireworld, Audioquest and DH Labs.
On a budget, DH Labs in my experience offers very good price performance. If you don’t have a local dealer to work with, where you can maybe borrow and check out some different cables in your system, you might want to reach out to the folks at The Cable Company. I’ve had good dealings with them, and among other things, they have a cable lending program. Good luck. Hope this helps. And do let me know how things work out for you.

I’m starting to doubt that digital outputs from the Node 2i are bit perfect.
Some processing is going on in there before the digital output.
Otherwise, how to explain the extreme (in my system, to my ears) similarity of Node 2i internal DAC and Qutest feeding off the Node?
When I A/B test Qutest against other DACs using USB and UAPP, the differences are obvious.
But everything downstream of the Node 2i sounds the same (in my limited experience)?
That seems plain wrong.
Nothing against the Node, it’s a fantastic product. Just puzzled as to why my precious Qutest, which is meant to be a pretty significant 'upgrade' to it, sounds EXACTLY the same as its internal DAC.