Best EXTERNAL DAC suggestions

Best DAC I ever tried and used myself was the Playback Designs MPD6. I liked it so much that I traded in my MPD6 for the MPD8. I am not the type to spend 20k+ on DACs... first time for me.

If you’re using your Bluesound Node as preamp, you will continue to be held back in the two areas you’re looking to improve. In my opinion, picking up a good preamp, i.e. Rogue RP1, will take you further than adding an external DAC. Just a thought…

DACs under $1000, even used, will not offer much of an improvement especially if you’re bottlenecking the system with the Node as a preamp. 

If you don’t want to get a dedicated preamp, I would then recommend a used Lumin D1 which is a streamer with a built in DAC. It has a better DAC and a much better volume control than the Bluesound Node. Only downside is the Lumin app which is not as user friendly as Blue. 

For warmth and soundstage a used Gustard X26 Pro (i owned) or maybe the new Gustard  R2R version which I have not owned. Both can be bought for under a $1000.

I’ll tell you, I have several systems with one as my reference. In my reference I jumped from a node to an Esoteric network player and it was a quantum leap in DACs, sound wise, performance and the ability to play DSD. However, I’ve played with using external DACs on my other vintage systems with the node as a streamer and the Nodes DACs are hard to beat. Even from their earlier version nodes. The only thing that came close at that particular price point were a Schitt Mani and an Jolida Glass tx tube dac however none or poor DSD support. So, I guess what I’m getting too is if you’re considering an upgrade go big or stay with what you have and enjoy! Otherwise the cost vs benefit isn’t there and you’re just wasting you money. Hope this helps and enjoy!

I think many Burr Brown based designs will deliver the warmth that you’re looking for. Bluesound Node uses Burr Brown (except for the latest X which uses Sabre).

check out the Parasound Classic 200 (preamp or integrated) which implements the PCM1798 quite well and can be found used for about $1000.

Or, if you use Roon then the best that I’ve heard in that price range is one of the old Parasound D/AC 1000/1500/2000 which used the PCM63. I mention Roon because that chip can only accept 16/48 so you’d need to set the Node output in Roon not to send a signal higher than that sample rate. As an aside, Mike Moffat is on record saying that the PCM63 is the best DAC chip ever made. The fellas from Pass Labs are also on record saying the same.