Is it worth it? DAC question

You’re likely to get a meaningful upgrade with the iFi, but you’ll likely need a decent SPDIF digital cable to run from the Node to the DAC to be able to realize the advantages.

I recommend ignoring advice from anyone who has speaker cables that are more expensive than their speakers and who recommend a digital cable more expensive than the DAC

Take the RCA cables out of the Node and insert them in the DAC. Your node will then send a digital signal to the DAC over USB and your DAC will convert that signal to analog and send it to the amp over RCA. 

@nealkot Thank you! That works when I play through my MacBook. When i disconnect the cable from my MacBook and connect it to the Node---nothing. I was beginning to think the Zen Dac wasn't working but it works fine with my computer, just not the Node. About to give up at this point. 

I am likely missing something, but it seems the Node isn't recognizing the DAC.

Call Bluesound, there must be a way to instruct the node to do that. 

That works when I play through my MacBook. When i disconnect the cable from my MacBook and connect it to the Node---nothing. I was beginning to think the Zen Dac wasn’t working but it works fine with my computer, just not the Node. About to give up at this point.

Well, continue using your MacBook with the Zen, if it sounds good...You could use your bluesound for a secondary/bedroom rig etc instead. If you don’t have more speakers, you could plug your headphones into it. You could even Bluetooth stream from bluesound into some quality wireless headphones and become a dancer...dancing all around the house wirelessly. So, as you can see, bluesound could still be beneficial to ya.

Bluesound song:

https://youtu.be/4iwHb189X84?si=HnlRr2RhMNIuC7ht