Best EXTERNAL DAC suggestions

Nice!!! Yes I think this is the best move to upgrade the sound quality. The DAC in the node is not terrible at all. Yes you can do better but not with $1000  

As to RP-1, it doesn’t run hot. There’s a little “window” above the two 12AU7 tubes. One note on tubes - the stock JJs are quiet and reliable but you can do better with Gold Lion (not expensive, good improvement). Listen to it with stock JJs to get used to it first though. One other thing I really liked about RP1 when I had it was the built in phono stage. Surprisingly good!

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. 

Congrats! Keep us posted!

@mr_m I used Brimar CV4003 from upscale audio in the RP-1. I think these and your mullards are essentially the same tubes. Very nice improvement but the Gold Lions aren’t too far behind