What do you hear with the Aurender that you don't hear with a BlueSound Node 2i? If you can hear a significant difference, what would I hear that is different? I might consider upgrading if there is a significant difference in sound quality. Would I benefit more if I added a DAC to my BlueSound?
Aurender N20 Streamer & Holo May DAC vs Analog
A couple of caveats..
1. My retail analog system is 2x $ of my digital.
2. Power cable to phono preamp > to Aurender
3. Analog signal interconnects $$$>$ digital cables.
Analog is much more musical with regards to tonality, airy soundstage with great imaging, detail, impact .. in every way.
Aurender/May DAC USB vs AES/EBU is source dependent and I haven’t figured this out completely, but CD likes AES with upscaling. Most other sources benefit from USB with regards to imaging, airy presentation and detail/tonality. Still early, but, for example, playing “Friday Night In San Francisco” these differences were quite apparent with Qobuz 176/24. I was definitely favoring USB, but Analog was so much more of everything and much more involving. Analog was amazing.
Aurender is major upgrade from iFi Zen Stream with their best power supply and fiber optic Ethernet isolation.