External DAC?

Are you wanting some improvement in the sound, or are you trying to maximize your system’s performance?  Do you have a set budget?  If you are trying to maximize your system, then please let us know what components you are using.  Generally, adding an external DAC of a value the same, or above the cost of your all in one streamer/DAC will improve the sound, but lots of great and and not so great gear at these price points.  You would most likely use the USB out.

I have used my Vault 2i with several DACs over the years.  Sounded great with each one,  plus the great thing about a DAC is it can decode all of your digital sources 

A DAC will have a lot to do with your overall sound,  make sure you demo at home e if possible no matter what your budget

External DAC will make an improvement, likely. It depends which Node you have (you didn't specify) and which DAC you get. Reason being that Bluesound has improved their DAC over the years, so which external DAC you get will matter vis a via beating the DAC in the Bluesound. I have not found connection method to matter nearly as much as which DAC is used.

Wow. Please continue. And THANK YOU!

I have a climate problem where I live and I have a small man cave, which is great for listening with a floating floor. Lots of sound absorption. And I have a Cary SL I 80 amp,heating my room in the winter time and currently I am using a NAD C 316BEE amp to my pleasure, to run very efficient Cornwall IV heritage speakers. I have a SVS micro 3000 sub which I don’t really need to use anymore, as the NAD has become a good pairing, (even better than a Marantz Model 15 that I have on the selling table, perfect shape but just too much power relating to 102 db Cornwalls)…and my Bluesound node is the latest version before the X came out.

so, I think I read that some EXTERNAL DACS, are good headphone jacks as well?

I have no knowledge that DACS are so worth the money, and a tech from Crutchfield asked me the question “Do you really think you can tell the difference?”… which has me stuck listening to all the “experts” on YouTube, further muddying my thinking… last I heard this latest Node I have, is pretty good. It stands in as my preamp, and I love its interaction with my eArc and Apple Airplay2 for TV.

I am listening… I appreciate your help. I know I have some nice components and just need suggestions.

Typically you will get a “wow, that sounds better’ every time you double the cost of the component (single function box like streamer, preamp, DAC, etc.) But you just can’t buy component, you must do your research and get the best of class and one that caters to your tastes (detailed vs musucal for instance). I have experienced this really great improvement since the average cost of my components were $200 to now fifty years later where the average cost of my components is $20K. Yes… it goes on forever.

Having said that, it is also a function of all your other components. Unless they are not resolving and problem free enough you are not going to hear much of a difference.

Looking at what you are running right now… maybe you will hear a difference maybe not. 
 

I have to ask. Do you not hear a big improvement with the Cary?