any suggestions on what to replace Bluesound Node 2i with

@hilde45

Some say that there are implementations of the Raspberry Pi that are better than other options.

The Raspberry Pi 4’s wired Ethernet doesn’t share the USB bus like in the previous versions. Otherwise, if you used a USB DAC with a Pi 3 B+ and streamed the file over the network using a physical connection (like my setup) you’d encounter random drop outs. There is a fix - reducing the link speed to 100 Mb/s - but it requires some technical knowledge.

Otherwise, I honestly can’t tell the difference between something streamed from my Pi or played from the Oppo UDP-203 with VanityHD board. They both sound equally good over the Benchmark DAC3.

op needs to be more precise... is he replacing the node 2i being used as streamer and dac (e.g. using its analog rca outputs) or is he seeking just a streamer upgrade only...

case 1 makes sense, maybe get a better outboard dac put it downstream of the node

case 2 may be $ spent with limited sq upgrade

The title said I am replacing the Bluesound so I am looking for a replacement, not a DAC. I will use to stream Qobuz
My dealer suggests either Lumin T2 or Lumin D2
I can spend the money on the Lumin T2 but I was looking for other options before buying. I already gotten a lot of good suggestions to check out 

If the issue is sound quality and not other user functionality then suggest trying an external USB  dac with the Bluesoimd streamer for comparison before dropping $4500 on a new streamer/dac.

@mapman +1 My bluesound streams via an excellent analysis plus cable to an R2R tubed dac with various upgrades and a good quality powercord. I would like to A/B the Bluesound with another streamer, but I suspect it would be hard to tell a difference.

But, OP, you asked for opinions about Lumin and I'll confess to not having experience, there. Whichever streamer you do get, if you get a chance to compare it with your Bluesound -- keeping the DAC the same -- I'd love to hear from you what kind of improvement you hear when every other variable (including the room) does not change.