There’s no doubt you’ll hear a significant improvement with the Pontus over the DAC in the Node (you’ll need a good digital cable BTW). You should notice better tonality and much better imaging/soundstage. The thing is, and with pretty much everything in audio, it comes down to balance — the audio chain is only as strong as the weakest link, and in this case that would be the Node as a bottleneck. The Pontus will show you much more fed by a better streamer. With your budget, and as I mentioned above, you could get both the Pontus and Pulse Mini and solve both issues, so why not?
Streamer/DAC combinations
Looking for opinions on Streamer/DAC combinations. I am currently using a Node as my streamer and DAC. Considering upgrading. The options seem to be endless, so thought I'd solicit some of your opinions. My node is currently running through a McIntosh C42 Preamp into a McIntosh MC352 Power amp. Using Klipsh Forte IV's. The node sounds good, but I think I may be leaving something on the table in SQ. Not wanting to break the bank so to speak. Maybe spend in the $2-3K area for budget. Opinions???
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I recommend upgrading in stages. First a better DAC… as good as you can afford, then wait, save. Then a good streamer. Like every audio component a carefully chosen upgrade of 2x - 3x investment and you will get a very noticeable and satisfying improvement in sound quality.
@soix +1 |
a few thoughts 1) make sure your networking front end is clean and well filtered (ether regen, lhy switch with nice clock, and/or network acoustics filters and the like ...) -- this can help soundstaging downstream in digital processing 2) you did not say which node you have... the node x should be better (still not great, but better) than prior versions whose dac noticeably dulls the sound and robs it of spatial info 3) a denafrips pontus is a nice dac that images well and brings a dose of midband/midbass warmth, otherwise a chord qutest or gustard r26 will bring even better delineated imaging with a greater sense of air and transient clarity
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I was using my Vault 2i with RME dac which was good, bought the excellent sounding LAB 12 DAC 1 Reference. Great sounding combo. I ultimately put the Vault in my second system. It sounds great with my Integrated amp's built in DAC. I have Forte IV in my main system and the Vault / Lab 12 combo sounded great. I ended up getting an Aurender , wasn't really looking to replace the Vault it's a great machine but I got such a great deal on an Aurender N200 I couldn't pass it up Node/ Vault is a great streamer and pairing it with a great DAC is worthwhile. |
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