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Best quality connection from Network Streamer (BluSound Node II) to Preamp (MC C2700)

Hello, 

This is my first post so I appreciate anyone who takes the time to look at this and provides any feedback. 

I just bought a McIntosh C2700 preamp and would like to connect my Bluesound Node II as a network streamer. I wanted to see what you all thought the best possible way to connect it to my preamp would be. 

I guess the first question is which DAC will I actually use. 

  • Bluesound has a 32-Bit, 384kHz DAC
  • McIntosh C2700 has the DA2 which is a 8-channel, 32-bit 24-bit/192kHz DAC

The Possible connection types that are available between the two units are:

  • Analog Stereo RCA (Fixed or Variable)
  • Coaxial RCA
  • TOSLINK digital optical
  • USB Audio 2.0*

I really appreciate your all's help on this issue. 

zcook79
jjss49's avatar
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jjss49
6,612 posts
 

short answer, you have both units, so you should try all the possible combos and listen, decide which you like best -- also, iirc the node 2i does not support usb 2.0 digital out to an outboard dac, only spdif out

my guess, having had a node 2i (but not your mac unit) is that the best sounding way will be rca coax digital out from node into the digital input of the mac

the onboard dac in the node 2i is unremarkable, to put it nicely... that was the major improvement they made when they released the node 130 (that and giving users a usb out to drive another dac)

carlsbad2's avatar
carlsbad2
1,825 posts
 

Neither DAC is great and you will likely soon buy a standalone DAC.  Experiment until then. 

Jerry

2psyop's avatar
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2psyop
1,643 posts
 

I agree with jjss49 and carlsbad2. I have a Node 2 and used the internal DAC, then moved to a Schiit Bifrost DAC, then to a Bifrost 2 DAC, then to a Denafrips Pontus 12th DAC and it was an uptick in sound performance with each step. I also upgraded the power supply in the Node.

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