Considering Zu Dirty Weekend over my current B&w 702s2

@soix

Another thing to consider if you’re using the DAC in the Node would be to upgrade your DAC and digital cable. The newer R2R DACs tend to have a more natural and organic sound that may yield the improvements you’re looking for

This is an excellent recommendation. No doubt that going from the B and W to Zu speakers is a pretty different direction. However, I strongly suspect that the Node DAC is a weak link bottleneck hindering the current sound quality. Certainly worthy of consideration. I also agree that a high quality digital cable makes a notable difference.

Charles

Thanks Charles and Soix. I’m using a Schiit Modius dac with balanced mid-tier Analysis Plus XLRs everywhere. Not ruling out what you say and I will definitely look more into the role my DAC is playing, but thought I’d give you those details in case they give you more to go off. 

Ah.  Good to know.  Schiit DACs aren’t known to be sterile sounding nor are your interconnects or amp so I’d look elsewhere.  Given all the info I think trying new speakers makes sense, and the DWs will certainly sound very different. 

I went from Wilson Watt Puppy 8 to Zu Def Supreme and although on paper a step back, it definitely isn’t. Zu is very different but in a good way. Superbly alive and really engaging 

The Zu DW and B&W are two different sound.  The Zu are dynamic and lively vs B&W warm sound.  Zu is best match with tube amps like @rar1 stated with the Prima Luna.  The Zu D&W is a 12ohm speaker that needs little to drive them. One syatem I heard that I thought sound amazing was a Klipsch Forte with a Decware Zen Triode.  These high sensitive speaker doesnt take much for.them to sing.