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Bluesound Node 2021 DAC - I sold my Denafrips Ares II

I assembled my system last summer, after 20 odd years in the hifi wilderness. I’ve never been a vinyl guy, so wanted all the convenience of streaming, plus a CDP for my old collection.

I went for the latest iteration of the Bluesound Node - N130, a Naim Nait 5si and a pair of Quad S2 speakers, and Audiolab 6000CDT.

From reading various forums, watching YT videos, you know the script; I convinced my self that I needed an external DAC, as the majority view seemed to be that the BS Node DAC wasn’t very good. As I hadn’t owned hifi since the late 90s (Naim Olive) bi-amped system and Audo Alchemy DDE, I had no reference for how DACs sounded these days.

Anyway, in my new found conviction that I must purchase an ext. DAC, I purchased a Denafrips Ares II. Got it, plugged it in, and didn’t look back. I was content, it sounded good.

Then, about 2 months ago, I was fiddling around inside the Bluos app, with the subwoofer crossover, with a mind to buying a sub to supplement the LFs on my little Quads, and I had the belated brainwave to a/b the Node DAC and the Denafrips. I whipped out some spare ICs and off I went.

OK, I felt like such a fool, really stupid - I a/b’d for literally hours, trying to convince myself that the Ares II was night and day difference - it must be right? The Node DAC is sub-par, not good enough, mediocre, if things I read were correct.

But, in my system, to my ears, this wasn’t the case; I had difficulty discerning any significant improvements, certainly not £800 (£600 pre-owned) worth of difference.

I’m not knocking the Ares II, but in my system, the cost and the difference it made - and the difference between it and the much maligned Node DAC could not be justified sitting in my system at that cost.

Feeling like a complete tool, for rushing headlong in to the DAC game, I re-sold the Denafrips, bought a REL T5x and here I am.

I’m not going to look a further fool and say the Node DAC is the best, but i feel it is criticised unduly, at least the newest version at any rate.

Thanks for reading, I’m not sure this is a cautionary tale, but I just thought the experience worth sharing

 

 

128x128painter24
riccitone
229 posts
 

Well, I think that sounds like a GREAT system. Have to say, synergy is a big part of things. May even supersede needing any particularly expensive or separate pieces in the chain. Puts a smile on my face that you mentioned the Quad S2’s. Ive got them, and feel they’re terribly overlooked. Outstanding to me in every way, and they just keep surprising me! Got them at the end off a Creek Evolution 50a and Topping D70s dac, Allo Digione/Rpi.

Sorry, not really in thread with the discussion! But happy you like them too. Also happy you you’ve added a Rel t5/x to good effect. Was considering one of those for my own next purchase.

mahler123
3,367 posts
 

Pehare

 

I would doubt that the Node will sound as good as the Cary, but if the Cary has digital inputs, then you can run the Node into the DAC of the CD player and do your own comparison 

baylinor's avatar
baylinor
1,424 posts
 

I don't know anything about the NAD, but  I had my own experience with the Ares 2. It is now on my secondary system and hardly played at all because I have a separate listening room which makes it nearly impossible to listen to music anywhere else. The reason for moving over the Ares 2 really has little to do with sound, but rather convenience. It has no remote. And from a captain's seat in a dedicated listening room it becomes a pain to operate. It's that simple. So I got the Gustard x26 pro and its remote operates the filters and NOS setting if preferred. And basically every CD can use different adjustments. So it's wonderful, my ears stay in prime position in the captain's seat to adjust the sound instead of moving over, adjust manually and get back to the seat to figure out if the adjustment helped. And I don't miss the R2R at all, the Gustard on NOS is at least as analog sounding as that. That's one of the advice I got from this site but the R2R isn't all it's made out to be in my ears. But I do love Alvin at Vinshine, to my experience he is by far the most personable person I ever dealt with in online audio. So much so that I also bought a Jay's cdt2 mk3 from him too.

baylinor's avatar
baylinor
1,424 posts
 

Sorry, the Node DAC.

jbhiller's avatar
jbhiller
1,437 posts
 

@painter24 , 

Good job trying things out and being open and neutral. I respect your conclusion too--you limit it to your ears, your system and your experience. As others note, so many here chime in without ever hearing anything they are talking about. 

There are others still who seemingly don't care about how something sounds.  Why?  Because they believe you/I cannot tell much with our ears and brains--they think it's subjective. So, they buy based on test results and stats. 

I've chosen lesser expensive or respected gear before.  That's a great spot to be in.  The other side--when you say, darn it I have to have this because it sounds soooo good--stinks because you have no way out of the purchase. 

By the way, I owned 3 (count 'em, three) Nodes over the years.  Damn fine product.  The DAC inside is good and probably better than many of us give it credit for.  I have to remember this is a $600 product.  It does just fine if not great for that price, considering its feature set and overall build quality. 

Now, I'd be curious if you can hear the difference by adding in a second REL T5i. :). I bet you can!

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