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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
 

What streamer options are you looking at? Thinking I might go with the ifi zen streamer if I go the Ares II route but the Zen streamers does not have proper Qobuz integration so not sure. I am now thinking about ditching Qobuz for Tidal because of this issue. Wish Qobuz would step up to the plate and offer a connect feature like Tidal and Spotify do. 

allanblissett
165 posts
 

I am waiting a few more months to see if a new ifi zen streamer comes out with improvements. 

curiousjim's avatar
curiousjim
5,362 posts
 

@temmple 

I have the newest Node, the N130 and as a streamer it’s really pretty good. They also added USB that can be used as an input (memory stick/hard drive) or an output.  The DAC in it is better than it’s predecessors, but isn’t great by any stretch.  I’m currently running it into a Denafrips Pontus ll and the sound is amazing.  I just ordered the Teddy Pardo LPS for it and hope that makes it even better!

Getting a DAC from Schiit is another option. I have an original Bifrost and it sounds pretty darn good. 
 

All the best.

JD

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vthokie83
1,065 posts
 

The Denafrips Ares II DAC is an excellent starter DAC and a huge improvement over the internal Node DAC. Make sure to feed it via a good USB cable.....like a Supra USB cable, great for the money.....the Supra 2.0 USB sounds very good for about $51, and the Supra Excalibur is teriffic at $140 (both  on eBay, but buy from from Zendada who is the official importer for the USA

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