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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
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jjss49
6,612 posts
 

I have the Ares II, Pontus II, Gustard X26 Pro, Topping D70 and MHDT Orchid. The simple fact of the matter is that if you pay VERY careful attention each of these DACs sounds SLIGHTLY different but none of them is clearly better than the others on all types of music. People that claim dramatic differences either have bat ears or are letting the psycho part of psychoacoustics rule their judgement.

based on personal experience, i disagree, the difference in sound is quite discernable on a sufficiently high res system

a-b using a dena pontus 2 (os mode) versus mhdt orchid (unmodified, stock ge 5687 tube) -- i can (and did) pick out a vs b each time on blind a-b test, on my system... (we used my ava abx comparator on blind test mode, volume matched) - dena has immediately noticeably more forward, fine grain treble, wider soundstage, stronger deep bass vs mhdt more recessed treble, narrower but deeper stage, grainless treble and mids, slower but fatter midbass weaker deep bass

bluesound node 2i streamer into dacs using rca spdif -- into hegel h390 driving proac d30rs speakers

dhite71
288 posts
 

@painter24 

If you do ever find yourself curious again, I would strongly recommend giving a Schiit Gungnir Multibit a try.  My DAC experience is limited but I have had the Node2i for about 2 years.  I initially used it with the Audio Research GSi75 integrated that has a very well reviewed onboard DAC.  I was able to easily connect my analog RCA and a digital coax at the same time and go between inputs.  There was no comparison.  Then I traded for separates and got a Gungnir in the deal.  I now have Audio Research separates and the Gungnir sounds so good.  Schiit are reasonably priced and offer a 15 day trial.  I also like to buy used and you find them from time to time so keep that as an option.  

aeschwartz
40 posts
 

I have Denafrips Ares II  with the Node 2i.  I use a coax connect, and the Ares II is much better than the Node 2i DAC.

parker65310
209 posts
 

I ran the Node2 for about a year with no external DAC (BAT VK-5i tube preamp & BAT VK-600 w/ bat pack solid state amp) feeding my Apogee Acoustics Duetta II Signature full range ribbon speakers. I then upgraded by adding the MHDT Orchid tube DAC (with a Silnote Audio “classic” entry level digital coax cable to the Orchid and the Silnote Audio entry level RCA to balanced XLR cables). I must say it was a huge upgrade. The Node DAC sounded ok, but compared to the Orchid it is muddy, lacking dynamics across the board. In my experience the Orchid is better in every way and switching out the tube gives the sound a different flavor. I don’t see myself purposely ever going back to not having an external DAC with the Node2.

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

 

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