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Bluesound node 2i DAC VS Vincent SA-T7 DAC

Got a question for you DAC experts. I’ve been running the bluesound node 2i for about a year now and I’ve been really pleased with it. The software could be better but for $550 I thinks it’s hard to beat. Fast forward to about 4 months ago when I added the Vincent SA-T7, their flagship preamp. I had been using the RCA connectors but today decided to try the toslink connection. Ok so the bluesound’s dac’s sampling rates are 32-192khz. The Vincent’s are  24-192khz. Am I correct that a higher sampling rate would be the better DAC? Is the rate changed once it goes through the Vincent? I left the rca’s in place so I can toggle between the two for comparison. I don’t know if it’s placebo or not but to my ears the toslink is better. It definitely is louder than the rca’s. I’d like your opinions on this and thank you in advance.
superstoked

Showing 3 responses by lowrider57

lowrider57's avatar
lowrider57
5,397 posts
 
@superstocked, what music services are you listening to thru your Node?
Are you using ethernet from Fios router to Bluesound?
lowrider57's avatar
lowrider57
5,397 posts
 
Interesting concept to go with fiber, well done.

Have you tried using S/PDIF coax from Node to Vincent?
SQ is superior to Toslink when using a good quality digital coax cable.

lowrider57's avatar
lowrider57
5,397 posts
 
The TOSLINK digital should sound better than the analogue output you’ve been listening to.
The streaming services such as Tidal and Qobuz play back files with sample rates of 16/44.1 (cd quality), 24/96, and 24/192. The Vincent will play each natively without resampling. The stream is clocked and processed by the Vincent and you’ll hear music at the same resolution that the streamer is outputting.


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