any suggestions on what to replace Bluesound Node 2i with

once again, op

you replace the node with the lumin, sound will improve... i think you will get some additional treble and midband energy, better detail, and more openness in the sound, as the node through its dac rca outputs sounds dark, slow, a little slurred, and closed in

for a ht setup, there is not very real stereo imaging anyways but you should still hear a tilt in the frequency balance and some more openess as per the above

whether this is worth 2x 5x or 10x in cost to you relative to the node, only you can decide

i will tell you in standard 2 channel applications so many people use the node 2i as a streamer and they take its digital output and feed it into a nice sounding outboard dac like a denafrips, mhdt, chord, metrum, audio mirror, holo etc etc ... and for about $2 grand total they have a streaming from end that equals one box units from lumin, auralic, mytek that cost 2-3-4x more... of course they have will have 2 boxes and some cabling in between...

+1 to the Cambridge Streamer and then add Dan's mod to it
http://www.modwright.com/modifications/cambridge-cxn-v2-tube-modification.php
$2600 total or there abouts

I replaced my Node2 first with a Bryston BDP3, then with a Melco N100.  Both were huge improvements over the Node2.  Otoh, if your Node2 sounds like an ATV to you, perhaps the rest of your system can’t resolve, or your hearing is shot.  Or maybe it’s a Qobuz thing…

Smoke em if you got em.  Personally, the Node 2i works for me.  I like the interface and ease of selecting music.  With my high hearing loss, I doubt I could tell the difference with a $50K streamer.  BUT...if anyone has one lying around and would like me to test - - just PM me and I'll make sure it gets back to you someday.  

@elsfan 

Thanks. It's not clear to me, as @jjss49 pointed out, whether a power supply upgrade helps very much is one is *already* bypassing the Node's DAC. Indeed, I would bet it is not worth it.