How To Connect a DAC?

Yes- there isn’t enough information going to your subs to make a difference.

designsfx

OK, got it!   I didn’t understand what @audiotroy was suggesting.  Worth a try!

The 3 has digital coax and USB outputs. USB is new with the 3 and will work as both an in and a output. The RCA’s, Optical or the XLR’s are the analog outputs that go to your amp.

All the best.

My active speakers are BeoLab 8000’s. My room is 20’ x 40’ with mostly hard surfaces, but also broken up by furniture, protruding bookshelves, etc. The only option for treatment is ceiling absorbent panels.

Is there a rug on the floor?
Or a couple of indoor plants?

I’m cautious because others have said that adding an Aires II to the NODE made no difference. I know it’s a risk that I will get little or no improvement. I’m in a smaller city with only a Best Buy nearby

If they have said that adding the Aires II it made no difference, then why consider it? Why take the risk?
There has to be something with greater certainty of SQ success to pursue.

When I do not know what that is, I usually try and go slow.

In this case, you are considering investing money in “hope”, which against the evidence of the reports that said it made no difference.

I have a Bluesound Node as well and had the same question--I was going to try and connect my Ifi Zen DAC V2 to see how they compared. I emailed Cruchfield customer service and they said that my DAC cannot connect to the Node. You might need a Touslink with another DAC. Keep us posted.