2. digital
  3. 174865-163317

Bluesound Node 2021 DAC - I sold my Denafrips Ares II

I assembled my system last summer, after 20 odd years in the hifi wilderness. I’ve never been a vinyl guy, so wanted all the convenience of streaming, plus a CDP for my old collection.

I went for the latest iteration of the Bluesound Node - N130, a Naim Nait 5si and a pair of Quad S2 speakers, and Audiolab 6000CDT.

From reading various forums, watching YT videos, you know the script; I convinced my self that I needed an external DAC, as the majority view seemed to be that the BS Node DAC wasn’t very good. As I hadn’t owned hifi since the late 90s (Naim Olive) bi-amped system and Audo Alchemy DDE, I had no reference for how DACs sounded these days.

Anyway, in my new found conviction that I must purchase an ext. DAC, I purchased a Denafrips Ares II. Got it, plugged it in, and didn’t look back. I was content, it sounded good.

Then, about 2 months ago, I was fiddling around inside the Bluos app, with the subwoofer crossover, with a mind to buying a sub to supplement the LFs on my little Quads, and I had the belated brainwave to a/b the Node DAC and the Denafrips. I whipped out some spare ICs and off I went.

OK, I felt like such a fool, really stupid - I a/b’d for literally hours, trying to convince myself that the Ares II was night and day difference - it must be right? The Node DAC is sub-par, not good enough, mediocre, if things I read were correct.

But, in my system, to my ears, this wasn’t the case; I had difficulty discerning any significant improvements, certainly not £800 (£600 pre-owned) worth of difference.

I’m not knocking the Ares II, but in my system, the cost and the difference it made - and the difference between it and the much maligned Node DAC could not be justified sitting in my system at that cost.

Feeling like a complete tool, for rushing headlong in to the DAC game, I re-sold the Denafrips, bought a REL T5x and here I am.

I’m not going to look a further fool and say the Node DAC is the best, but i feel it is criticised unduly, at least the newest version at any rate.

Thanks for reading, I’m not sure this is a cautionary tale, but I just thought the experience worth sharing

 

 

128x128painter24

Showing 3 responses by williewonka

williewonka
3,072 posts
 

@painter24 - the posts above seem to be a mix of Add a DAC or DAC Not equired

There are a few mentions about the digital cables to connect the two with, but I see no mention of how adding Interconenct cables and power cables to the Node 2i has any impact - until this post.

I have owned a Node 2 and now the Node 2i for several years and have tried many difference cables i.e. both power and Interconnect

ALL the Bluesound products I have tried (I now own three) have responded extremely well to good Power cables and Interconnects for the Node 2i

I use an ethernet connectoin on two of them and Wifi on the Pulse Mini speaker

The Power and Interconnect cables elevated the Node 2i to performance levels that surprised me, trouncing my Bifrost performance (which also had great cables) by a considerable margin.

If anyone wants to "improve" the performance of their Bluesound products take a look at these cables

  • Zavfino cables - they provide great sound for a reasonable price
  • or the Helix DIY cables http://image99.net/blog/ - which are extremely good and a little more affordable

I believe you would need to add a very good DAC in order to compete with the Node2i when connected with great cables!.

Just another opinion

Regards - Steve

 

williewonka
3,072 posts
 

@painter24 - I meant to ask - how old is the Nait 5si?

I had a Nait 5i from new

It came with a built-n "design feature" - you have to replace the power supply Caps after 10-12 years.

I had mine 10 years and they stoped the amp from working

  • you have to send it back to the distributoe
  • Pay them arouns $300 US to fix it
  • turnaround time about 3-4 weeks - without an amp

Just thought you should be aware about that "feature"

Whilst I loved the sound of the 5i - this feature put me right of Naim as a brand i.e. for amplifiers, so I sold it and moved on to a Bryston

  • same great dynamic neutral sound BUT with much better imaging
  • AND a 20 year warranty 👍

At the time it was a toss-up between the Bryston and the Sinaudio Moon

Regards - Steve

williewonka
3,072 posts
 

@painter24 - Living in Britain you have the advantage. There are not many guys that will "upgrade" a NAIM in Canada, so I had to go through the distributor

Not sure if this is the cause, but I left my amp on 24/7 since I heard Naim recommended this approach - wouldn't do that again

Know what you mean about the cables - I was very disapointed with all NAIm cables/connectors, so I made my own - they work much better and specs are well within tolerances for NAIM amps.

Happy Listening - enjoy

More to discover