Any Bluesound Node2 owners

kgveteran

Not uncommon to spend much more on a separate DAC to run with a Node 2. Knowing your budget will probably help but I’d probably say stay under $1500 on a DAC with a Node 2 as at that point might want to step up to another streamer. I’m running a RME ADI 2fs DAC with Teddy Pardo power supply and very happy with that combination with my Vault 2, but that being said I’m toying with the idea of a dedicated streamer only. Before the RME I was using the DAC in my Cambridge 851C and it was much better than the DAC in the Bluesound so if you want to experiment I’d say find a used Cambridge DacMagic as that will be a nice upgrade for not much money. If you have a CDP does it have coax digital in as that might be an option too.

+1, MHDT DAC or Ayre Codex. Also try aftermarket PC and Digital Coax or Toslink (for Codex)

https://www.cullencable.com/c7-power-cable/

https://silversonic.com/products/digital-cables/d-750/

https://silversonic.com/products/digital-cables/toslink-optical/

I have used Node products for a few years. I started with a Node N100. I used the internal DAC. This worked good for my needs and my budget. I moved up to the Node 2. Again,I used the internal DAC for a couple years before dipping my toes in the separate DAC world. There is definitely an improvement in moving to a decent external DAC.  However depending upon your needs and budget,the internal DAC in the Node products is not horrible. YMMV. 
    
     Best of luck!

Geez, the guy doesn't even have it yet and you're all telling him to go out and buy power cords, magic cables and expensive DACs before he's even heard it!  Do we have any idea what the rest of his system is?  Is it good enough to resolve all the magic stuff he needs to add to it?  It's fun to spend other people's money.

To the OP, listen to it for a while and make sure that the streaming experience is for you.  If you enjoy the Node 2 and find that sonically it's not as good as the rest of your components, don't waste your money trying to polish a turd.  Not that it's a turd, it's not, but it's only capable of so much. 

Get something better.  For what you'd spend getting an external DAC and fancy magic cables that may or may not make any difference in your system, you can get a much better streamer / DAC.  There are streamers from Lumin, TEAC, and others that will outperform the Node 2 + a DAC.  

I know because I've been down both paths.  Adding a better DAC can improve the sound quality, but it will only take it so far.  I noticed zero difference using more expensive power cords and interconnects. 

Buying a better streamer / DAC (in my case the TEAC NT-505) took things to a much higher level than any add-ons I tried with the Node 2, which include using an Auralic VEGA as the DAC (originally a $3500 DAC), and the DAC in my Sony TA-ZH1ES headphone amp which is also very good.

I'm not sure why people seem to think that the streamer itself doesn't matter in terms of sound quality.  Why not just get a Roku or use your smart TV to stream into a $2000 DAC?

I do agree that if you can, hard wire it.  I also agree that MQA is a bit hyped and prefer Qobuz' hi-res files over MQA.

Big Greg,
    Ur killin me, i laughed for awhile at your post :0)
    I got it wired LAN. Zero’d out tone controls, she’s glowing blue and my Eero router says its connected!
    Im streaming LedZepplin Presence MQA and my first impression is a much quieter noise floor, it just seems quieter and the music “fuller”
   My system is a Denon x4300 receiver as a prepro. My amps are (7) Outlaw mono m200’s. My mains are a DIY design clone AerialAcoustic CC3 from HT guide, dual 8” woofs, 6”mid 1”dome, all DaytonAudio, XO are poly caps aircore inductors and one iron core on the 8’s. For all aluminum drivers they are really sweet, i XO to quad 15” AdireTumults sealed, actually the whole system is sealed.

     It’s primarily its a 7.1.4  HT rig, with decay times in the bass area of under 20-25ms. First reflection points are 4” OC 703 panels. All other parallel walls have wood diffusers i think 2D also DIY