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Upgrade Internal DAC of Node or go with Atoll ST120.

Looking at upgrading to a external DAC for my Bluesound Node or picking up a all in one streamer/dac like the Atoll MS120 or ST200 or another brand all together. My price for all in one would be around $1500 and DAC only would be $1000. I stream via Qobuz. Big question would be what option between these two would sound best. 

temmple
temmple's avatar
temmple OP
120 posts
 

Any input on what setup on my list would sound best? Prefer a more neutral sound.

 

 

--DAC/Streamer Options—

Atoll MS120 or ST200

Lumin D2

--DAC only with Node—

Soncoz SGD1

Aune X8

Ares II

mahler123
3,467 posts
 

I have a Node2 and also Cambridge Audio CXN 60. I don’t know the Atoll. The CA would fit your budget, offers Chromecast and AirPlay, has been very reliable and sounds audibly superior to the Node. It does a great job with Internet Radio and has a good app.  I have found Nodes to be unreliable so I would just go with a new machine and get it out of the equation 

temmple's avatar
temmple OP
120 posts
 

I am really trying to decide between the Lumin D2 and the Atioll ST200 but hard to find any comparisons online. 

temmple's avatar
temmple OP
120 posts
 

One last shot here before I pull the trigger.

Lunen D2 or Node with Denefrips AresII DAC? Just looking for the best sound quality.

parker65310
212 posts
 

I have a Node 2 with an MHDT DAC (has an output tube). It sounds excellent, but the streamer is the weakest link in the signal path. Instead of a new streamer I’m buying a Teddy Pardo external power supply kit for the Node 2 that I’m told will only take maybe 20 minutes to install without any special tools. Everyone’s experience is it greatly improves the Node 2 SQ. I highly recommend this route.

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