Chord M Scaler with HiFi Rose 130 streamer?

the one thing that stood out in your post was "spotify".  I'd try Qobuz or Tidal before I changed anything else. 

Streamer is much less important than DAC.  The Qutest is a bountiful performer as it is great and not expensive.   I didn't know you can use M-scaler with it but great that you can.  

Yes, the Node is a relatively low level streamer but I've upgraded my streamer twice since the node, currently using a Grimm, and while you get improvement with improved streamer, I find the streamer makes much less differnce than the DAC.

Now the Grimm has onboard upscaling so I eliminated my M-scaler.  I also moved from the Chord DAVE to a Lampizator at over twice the price.  Recently I had my Lampizator out of service doing some mods on it and the DAVE filled in very, very well.   The whole point of this is that you might get more bang for your buck upgrading your DAC...but the DAC you have is darn good.

I wouldn't worry about "overkill" or "too much smoothness".  I think the skips are from spotify, not your equipment.

You're in a great position, not trying to fix a problem but trying to make a great system even better.

Jerry

moose89, I have to very much agree with @carlsbad2 that at the moment Spotify is your most limiting factor. I think you owe it to yourself to check out a streaming service that streams at CD quality and above.

I had a Chord Qutest in my main rig for a number of years and it is a wonderful piece of kit ... still have it in a second system ... and from everything I've read the M Scaler takes it to another level.

And while I agree that the DAC is of more importance than the streamer, I wouldn't underestimate the importance of the streamer when all is said and done.

My main rig currently features a Hifi Rose RS130 streaming to a Rockna Wavelight, and the RS130 is the best player I've experienced in my system, even better than the very competent Bricasti M5 it replaced. And the M5 was a big step up from my Bluesound kit. And this is not to knock Bluesound, as I have 4 pieces of Bluesound kit scattered about the house and got my start with streaming in 2014 with the original Bluesound Node 100.

(And if interested, I have different iterations of my system available for view on Audiogon)

https://forum.audiogon.com/users/carlsbad2, https://forum.audiogon.com/users/jazzman7

  Thank you expounding associates! Very well written and chock full of thoughts I am now!

Blessed we are to have Audiogon!

Dave

@moose89 +1 for the better streaming service.

Hifi Rose pieces are in a different league than Bluesound in-terms of industrial design and execution. So take this for what it is - a hack of a mass produced consumer grade product, but I found replacing the internal switching power supply on my Bluesound Node N130 made a very big improvement in sound quality when used strictly as a streamer supporting a Chord Qutest DAC.  I use a Teddy Pardo Dual power supply that supports both the Qutest and the Node with very positive results.

kn

On question 2.  I upgraded from my Bluesound Node N130 streamer to an Innuos Zen Mk3 streamer and I heard a noticeable difference.  Based on that I think you would hear a difference too moving to the Rose streamer.  Agree that the DAC has more impact on the sound than the streamer in my experience.  If you like the Currant sound of your DAC you should be set.  The Zen Mk3 is just a steamer with no DAC.  Also agree about upgrading your service.  I started with Spotify and tried all of the major services.  Chose Qobuz.  The Sense app Innuos uses works well with Qobuz.  Qobuz had the best combination of music quality with HiRes, selection, ease of use and cost in my experience.  Enjoy your new musical journey!