any suggestions on what to replace Bluesound Node 2i with


I am doing a major upgrade on my home theater system. I want to upgrade my streamer. I can spend around $4500 if I have to. My dealer played a Lumin T2 and the music, Tidal, sounded amazing. He said I would be okay with the D2 if I wanted to save money
Any one have any experience with the the Lumin's. I am open to other streamers, it does not have to be Lumin. Thanks 
galleybob

Showing 6 responses by hilde45

Some say that there are implementations of the Raspberry Pi that are better than other options. Anyone find that, counterintuitively, the way to improve streaming is to spend less money on a Raspberry Pi?
@mapman +1 My bluesound streams via an excellent analysis plus cable to an R2R tubed dac with various upgrades and a good quality powercord. I would like to A/B the Bluesound with another streamer, but I suspect it would be hard to tell a difference.

But, OP, you asked for opinions about Lumin and I'll confess to not having experience, there. Whichever streamer you do get, if you get a chance to compare it with your Bluesound -- keeping the DAC the same -- I'd love to hear from you what kind of improvement you hear when every other variable (including the room) does not change.
On further reading, I’m seeing that @jjss49 comments about the power supply not really pertaining very much to the streamer section of the BS echoed by other posters on other forums. I lack the knowledge to assess but since I have a very good digital coax and power cord, probably leaving it alone is the way to go on the BS.

See, e.g.: Comments exchange:
oskar bjuhr
3 months ago
So is this only gonna affect the sound when using the inboard dac and not when you are using a digital out and a seperate dac?

TheAlphaAudio
2 months ago

Correct.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mVJW7e6ZSxQ&ab_channel=TheAlphaAudio
Ok, folks -- you got me thinking about either upgrading my Node or just upgrading the streamer. 

@elsfan -- which upgrade forth the node did you get? There seem to be two options for the Node 2i.
@elsfan 

Thanks. It's not clear to me, as @jjss49 pointed out, whether a power supply upgrade helps very much is one is *already* bypassing the Node's DAC. Indeed, I would bet it is not worth it.
@coltrane1 
You’ve got your priorities mixed up. Turn to vinyl for real music. IMHO.

It's advice like this that makes people run from the internet, screaming. And "IMHO" -- LOL. Not humble at all.