DDC Sound Improvements???

The improvements you got very much echo what I experienced adding a DDC.  Enjoy!

OCXO vs. Accusilicon crystals (38ps) on the U18, along with the dual power supplies. It will be nice if U26 also publishes its jitter performance (I guess it will be on par with any other OCXO; usually under 10ps).  I wonder if using the further-refined (yet still dirt cheap) Node Nano with a 5V/3A LPS like the iFi iPower X could bring the combo to about 80-85% (just a hopeful guesstimate) of the NT-1.  At $379, the Node Nano is the best streamer under $900 that I have tried.  Detail and musical with weighty low ends.  According to trustworthy reviewers, the Nano sounds significantly better than the old Node. You may also be able to reuse the LPS.  It’s important to use a 3A-rated LPS even though the Nano only requires a minimum of 2A on paper. Try ordering a returnable unit from Amazon first—and thank me later.

@lanx0003 

i still have a modded node n130 (s booster) as well as a node nano here, both driven by 5v lps’s -- they sound the same to me from their spdif as well as their usb outs (into various dacs - lampizator msb weiss chord)

not unexpectedly, they are both outperformed by my auralic aries g1.1 as well as my grimm (using its spdif out) but the performance margin is fairly small/subtle

i have not tried the matrix unit, which seems to be the current flavor of the month touted by churn and burn reviewers

the gustard units are very well built, sound quite good (i really enjoyed my time with the r26 and M18)

@jjss49  

My impression of the BS line of streamers has always been ICON > Nano > Node X (or ES A6) > the older Node 130 or 132, based on the descriptive statements provided by Tarun about the sound of BS. There are also a handful of feedback reports and reviews stating that the older Nodes are beaten by the Wiim Ultra. That was why I never bothered to consider BS until the Nano and ICON arrived. Now your mention that the old Node (with an LPS mod) and the Nano (with LPS) sound alike kind of surprises me.

Anyway, my proposed upgrade path is purely based on the aforementioned notion. If I were the OP, I would not be content with achieving only about 60% of the target sound performance. If not the Nano, there must be some other higher-end yet still affordable streamer alternative that could get you there with the help of a capable DDC—perhaps the ICON or Rivo+. 

Maybe I’ll try the U26 myself and see how much it can elevate my system. This curiosity really drives me nuts sometimes.

@lanx0003 My system is pretty well sorted based on me and my wife's sound preference right now.  I have mesh network > OFC 22awg CAT8 > 2 Trendnet switches w/LPS & w/fiber > MonosAudio cryo sterling silver cat8 > BS Node w/ LPS (Monosaudio sterling silver DC cable) > AQ Carbon USB > Gustard U26 DDC > Veritas Optimus 50 i2S > Gustard X30 > Xangsane X-1105 sterling silver XLR > ARC Ref 6 > Xangsane X-1105 sterling silver XLR > Classe Delta Monos > DIY OFC solid core strands 10 awg true bi-wired feeding both the hi and low post > SF Sonetto VIII Gen 1.

I have a better USB cable but cannot plug it in with the larger ethernet plug.  Right now with this setup, the system is exceeding the normal BS Node's perceived or experienced sound characteristics.  I may test a Rivo + because it can use my current LPS powering the BS but I've found that to completely blow away the current streaming setup, I'll be spending some serious coin.  The Matrix NT-1 is very good but my next stop way down the road now in streaming is probably DCS with their built in module to see how that compares in the streaming and DAC perform.  

On the immediate wish list is the upgrade in speakers and no small incremental improvements in my digital.  Stepping up to Marten or Tidal w/diamond tweeters would truly raise my system greater than a better transport.