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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
wlutke
723 posts
 

painter24,

You may have thrown in the towel too soon. I had the same experience with adding a MHDT Orchid dac to my Node 2i and latest new Node. The sound was barely different and barely noticeable. I then added (to the Nodes) the PD Creative power board with smps power supply. Things sounded much better. Then came the Sbooster LPS power supply. Things went through the roof good. Audiophile sound from Spotify (!) Sure, you void the warranty, have to lift the lid, unplug a connector, remove a couple of screws. The back panel is held in place by magnets only. Lift it off to see the screws holding the lid on. It’s a simple upgrade. The rewards are stunning.

 

 

painter24's avatar
painter24 OP
270 posts
 

@wlutke you may be right. But, at that point in time, and where I was, the Ares II paid for my REL, which is definitely an overall improvement.

However, I definitely take your point regarding modding the Node; I’ve been tossing around the idea in my head of ordering the Teddy Pardo upgrade kit/PSU for the Node. It may have kicked the Ares II into full blown glory, but that chapter’s closed. I may still opt for the Teddy Pardo in the next few months as the logic of removing the in-built SMPS for an outboard PSU seems pretty nailed on.

 

 

dragoncave
4 posts
 

Among all the upgrades I have had, an addition of a subwoofer is definitely most noticeable with the highest performance/dollar ratio. Speaker upgrade can be lateral, depending on the taste and various priority, always gain some by losing other characteristics. Amplifier is a distant next on the list. DAC, especially with current advancement of technology, it is a long solved problem, unless you are uber focus on the sound signature, and most of time you have to listen through microscope to appreciate the difference, which beat the purpose of music enjoyment. And above all, a good recording beats all, doesn't matter what format. When reading reviews, we have to have our own sense of validity and perspective to evaluate how much ourselves can tell and willing to spend to tell this much difference.

fuzztone's avatar
fuzztone
5,512 posts
 

Nice share. Your ears are the only thing important to your listening. To my mind this is more of a critique of the Chinese designed big box of resistors. And maybe whatever cables ran into it.

 

rhljazz
1,250 posts
 

Here’s something that needs to be addressed when comparing the sound of the Node vs.Node with external dac.  The Node’s analog outputs and digital outputs are active at the same time and both outputs are linked to the internal volume control.  Therefore you will have two inputs on your preamp/integrated receiving a full signal at the same time.  This will result in a certain amount of channel bleed-thru negating an accurate comparison.  The sonic result is generally pleasant at first.  I hear it as an increased spaciousness like reverb has been added to the recording.  In any case the sound is altered/contaminated now for both inputs.

I have observed/heard this interaction on my tube preamp which has a conventional input selector and on my integrated amp which has a push button relay switched input.

IMO, the only way to perform an accurate comparison, one will need to physically remove one set of input cables when comparing.

Too bad the Node doesn’t have the option to switch off the digital output.  That would solve the issue.  

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