Just installed a bluesound node 2i , quality not so good

I switched back-and-forth between the bluesound node built in Dac to two different dacs.
An orchid dac for about $1100 and an older Peachtree dac which was originally $500 but which I got used for $100. In both cases the external dac was superior to the streamer, but the orchid was light years ahead. 
To my mind it totally makes sense to spend much less money on the streamer then on the dac.  These have become relatively stable while streamers are changing quite rapidly, still. So by going with separates, one can invest in the stable one rather than the changing one. Otherwise one spends a lot more on something that would quickly  be compromised by change.

+1 @jjss49 
I went back and forth with my node from internal to external dac many, many times, on a variety of speakers. There is a difference that is unmistakable. That said, the internal dac isn't terrible and everyone has their own systems and tastes.