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Bluesound Node2 with outboard DAC

Has anyone used the Bluesound Node or Vault for music streaming connected to a good outboard DAC and respond to how good the combo sounds. I see the Bluesound has great connectivity and streaming options with a good user interface. Curious if using with a good dac is worth the money. 
I'm using Ayre 5xeMP preamp,  Mark Levinson 532h amp and Revel Performa floorstanders. Cardas interconnects.  
Currently using OPPO 105d as my music player and streamer,  don't like it disconnects from my tablet app control a lot and hoping for better resolution. I use Tidal HiFi for streaming and usb hard drive for stored music files. 
Appreciate relevant replies. Thanks Audiogon group
lnitm
vinylzone
288 posts
 

Bluesound Node 2i here. I recently added an SMSL VMV D1SE, mostly because I wanted to locate my digital gear across the room from my analog gear and preamp, and the D1SE provided balanced outs.  I didn't really expect a difference, but I got one.  Mostly, I notice I can listen to the Node all day now if I'm too busy to deal with vinyl, where before I got listener fatigue after about 3 hours.  Badly mastered digital recordings are still bad, but I think there's an improvement with well mastered digital recordings.

I did not do a side by side comparison so I'm reluctant to describe any differences other than the listener fatigue, but that and the balanced outs made me very happy with the purchase.

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fastfreight
827 posts
 

I had a Node 2 and used it with it's internal DAC and as a streamer. Upgrading to an Auralic Aries Streamer made a big improvement, and I think you have the other equipment to hear it!

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