It takes a little bit of time for the changes to soak in. You’re used to the Bluesound presentation. Listen to the N150 for at least a week or so, then switch back. Also, your USB cable needs some time as well…it’s still new.
The Node is a good value but I find it hard to imagine the N150 is only a marginal improvement.
New streamer
I recently opened a discussion on upgrading my DAC. I started at the beginning of that discussion, that I was a vinyl guy, but with my purchase of the Chord Qutest, I realized that digital music can be outstanding and want to now upgrade my Node.
That will provide 2 benefits: Maximizing my current systems digital, and allow me to move the Node & Schiit Modi Multibit 2 to the family room, a small HT setup with a Yamaha AVR driving a Goldenear soundbar. Streaming there is currently MusicCast using the AVR DAC. The improvement there should be very nice.
My 2 channel equipment is as follows:
Rogue RP-1 w/ NOS Brimar’s, LSA Warp 1, KEF R11’s, Rhythmic F12SE, Pro-ject 1Xpression w/Hana ML, Rega Aria, Bluesound Node w/Qubuz, Marantz CD6007, Chord Qutest. Good to very good power, speaker, interconnect cables.
My weakest link (I believe) is now my Node.
I don’t want or need amplification or volume control, ripping storage, nor an internal DAC. Sound signature should be neutral.
My budget is $2,500, but willing to spend less. My current favorites are:
Lumin U2 mini. Very well reviewed, beautiful, perfect form factor, good app & controllable via my Harmony One remote. It is currently my #1 choice.
Auralic Aris. If new, the G1.1, if used G2.0 or 2.1. Very well reviewed, good app, OK form factor, but not controllable via harmony.
Naim ND5 XS2. Considered the best high end streamer by What Hi Fi Would need to buy used to stay close to budget.
EverSolo DMP-A6. Included based upon reviews, but may not be a serious contender.
HiFi Rose RS250A. The streamer EverSolo seemed to copy
Aurender. Don’t think they have anything within my budget, but included for discussion.
LPS upgrade for Node. Included because I know it will come up. Plan to reuse my node downstairs, so out. Would prefer LPS upgrade for one of the above.
Please let me know your thoughts and/or recommendations. Thanks!
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+1 It takes a little bit of time for the changes to soak in. Going from a Node to the N150, the changes don’t necessarily smack you in the face like other component changes might. But very soon you’ll be listening and thinking to yourself how good things sound realizing how much of an improvement the new streamer has actually made.
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@signaforce Actually I purchased the A8 for the streamer function primarily,I have great dacs on hand. The dac I am currently using with it is a Aune S9c dac with a Aune SC1 external clock.Same dac/clock I used with the Node. I also have a Denafrips Ares II that I used with the Node and tested with A8 for synergy/curiousity the Aune twins sound better with both actually so the Denafrips Ares is now in my second system paired with a Sonos Port. In my system with the Eversolo I have the amp setup with both the USB to dac and RCA to amp directly both signal paths sound outstanding but the USB/Aune out is superior to the dac in the A8 by a noticable margin however the A8 (dac) still has less than 80 hours on it and steadily improving the external dacs I own are both very broken in. We'll see...Glad your happy with the Aurender perhaps I read too much into your observations. |
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