DDC Sound Improvements???

I currently only use the Node as a transport feeding my Gustard X30.  @fthompson251 

The current setup is pretty decent for a streaming option.  Are there better options? Yes!  I wanted the Innuos to be a total revelation (at home demo not observation in the store) but it wasn't to my ears and my system which is well sorted.  The Hifi Rose RS130 was okay but the Matrix NT-1 presented a better sound in which my wife and my store rep both agreed.

A purpose built transport will have better filtration out the gate in an all-in-one solution but I'm torn. Will the DDC add the last bite of nuance to the system or should I look at the 1 box solution.   Reviews out on the U26 are great so  buying a DDC for 1/4 of the price is all appealing. 

@soix what is your transport in your system?

For what little it may be worth given differences in systems and subjective preferences, I use a cheap digital front end- a Shanling ET3, as a file transport from an SSD outputting via USB. I installed the earlier Gustard (U-18 DDC) to run I2s into a Gustard X 26 Pro. Substantial improvement in clarity, tone and harmonics/depth. Sounds better than I would have expected using very modest digital gear. The system is a substantial one, voiced for vinyl playback through tubes, SETs and horns with multiple woofers and though I don't compare the two for a "best," there are some recordings on which the digital system just shines. 

If you can buy/try and return without penalty, may be  worth exploring. I have no experience with the Node and do not use streaming services- all local files. Good luck!

From what I can tell you might was well save up and get the Matrix NT-1. You know you and your spouse like it, it will be a solid upgrade to your system. USB to your Gustard X30? or -(Maybe I am reading it wrong but it may have I2s output too?) If it does you can use that connection to your X30. I see it does have a clock out feature so down the road you can get a nice outboard OCXO clock instead of the DDC for added refinement. This approach is less of a temporary band aide and a calculated upgrade path approach. JMHO of course. 

What were the conditions that you were listening to the Innuos? Also What is the rest of your equipment consist of speakers, preamp, etc.? 

It’s really impossible to answer how close the U26 with the Node/LPS will get to the NT-1 — too many unknowns/variables so best would be to try the U26 with a trial/return period or if you can buy through Amazon or something as that’s the only way to know for sure.  I’m using an iFi Zen Stream w/ upgraded power supply to answer your question.