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

@painter24,

  There is no need to defend what you have experienced.  It’s not like you never tried something,but chimed in with an”opinion”. Like happens so often with cables,or contact enhancers,or….. you get the point. This or any hobby, is about a little self indulgence.  Everyone is after something different.  Congratulations on narrowing your chase down. 
Enjoy! 

The aries2  is a far better dac then the node that is for sure 

they are both entry level  the node has the streaming built in. ,a dedicated computer server is much better , I use the uptone ether regen 

cables are very important ,I use AQ Diamond Ethernet, and usb 

both are very good and btw the new synergistic purple fuses make a nice improvement also.

Using Node 2i with pd creative/s booster.  Musetec mhda005 dac.  Sounded like crap until I turned off Node setting “mqa external dac”.   

Well, I think that sounds like a GREAT system. Have to say, synergy is a big part of things. May even supersede needing any particularly expensive or separate pieces in the chain. Puts a smile on my face that you mentioned the Quad S2’s. Ive got them, and feel they’re terribly overlooked. Outstanding to me in every way, and they just keep surprising me! Got them at the end off a Creek Evolution 50a and Topping D70s dac, Allo Digione/Rpi.

Sorry, not really in thread with the discussion! But happy you like them too. Also happy you you’ve added a Rel t5/x to good effect. Was considering one of those for my own next purchase.

Pehare

 

I would doubt that the Node will sound as good as the Cary, but if the Cary has digital inputs, then you can run the Node into the DAC of the CD player and do your own comparison