Moving up from a Node 2i

I have the BluOS running on an Apple iPhone SE, a Dell Venue 7 tablet and an Amazon Fire HD8 with excellent results. No need for a computer?

I have also never had any "flakiness" with the Node 2 which I’ve had from almost the time they came out, (like 3 years now). Never had an issue with the updates either.

I run my Node 2 out via coax to a DAC. I’ve also have it hooked up though the RCA outputs so that I can A/B it’s internal DAC with the outboard DAC.

In doing so you lose 9/10 of the MQA unfold.

Actually you lose 2/3rds.  A full MQA decode unfolds (3) times.  The Node2 does the first unfold via it's digital outputs.

I have been told that the first unfold is the most critical, however I haven't been able to verify it.

In my setup, the Node2 out to my DAC, (via coax) doing the first unfold, (on MQA material) sounds better than the full MQA decode via the Node2's internal DAC.  My standalone DAC is not an MQA DAC.

I have the Node2i and use an external dac and it sounds really nice in my system.

+1...same here.

Why pay for something you'll never use.  I sure if you eliminate the TEAC CD slot drive and the 1TB hard drive, it would save $300-$400 dollars...no?  That would be ideal.  Shouldn't be that hard to do either.

Please report back when you get a grasp on the difference.  I'm curious...

I just moved from the Node as well. I am super impressed with the Audiolab MDAC Plus. 32 bit capable for BT and super detailed and warm. Highly recommend for $1200

I haven’t heard of the MDAC+, so I looked it up. I couldn’t find any info about it being a streamer? Looks like it’s just a DAC? How do you stream to it?

We've been talking about streamers only or streamer/DACs...

@dernst...you said you moved from a Node? Even an original Node hooked up via it’s digital output to the MDAC+ is going to be way better than streaming Bluetooth from a phone?  All the B1 is, is a Bluetooth receiver. Sure you have a Node?

From my limited knowledge of streaming, it’s seems the consensus is USB seems better than coax?

It's been a few years, but I did a shootout with all the various digital output types when I had a bunch of gear that allowed it.

My findings, (and this strictly MY preference) were:

1. Tie---I2S and Firewire (very rare to find)
2.  AES/EBU
3. Coax on BNC
4. Coax on RCA
5. USB
6. Glass Fiber
7. Toslink

This was probably 4-5 years ago.  Has the USB interface changed?  I found it to be one of my least favorite?  Just curious, because I've never looked back towards USB after this...

@ozzy62 ...thanks for taking us on your odyssey. All of this has convinced me to just hang on to my Bluesound Node2 for awhile.

Everyone who posted said that they did improve upon the Node2’s performance, but it was not by a huge margin.

This is the fastest growing sector, (servers, streamers and DACs) of high-end audio, that tomorrow there will be something better.

My rig sounds absolutely wonderful that spending 4+ times the money for marginal improvement just doesn’t make sense "right now".

I’m hoping for a one-piece solution down the road that rivals what is available now. I have a high-end audio manufacturer friend of mine that has just gotten the new NAD C658, that he can’t shut up about. ESS Sabre DAC, BluOS, DIRAC Live, modular design. Maybe I might try one of these...

Thanks again OZ.