I have a Node2i and it is easy to do A/B tests because all its outputs are hot. I found a small preference for using coax out to an external dac (the one built into my amp) over RCA out of the Node - but I couldn’t tell if that was because of the different cables or because of the different dacs. I keep reading about the amazing difference cables can make, so, you know...
Bluesound Vault 2i, with external DAC and hi-end CD player
In trying to get rid of the thousand physical CDs i own so I demoed the Bluesound Vault 2i against my Theta Miles CD player (with a Krell integrated amp and Thiel speakers.) The Theta produced better sound so I sent back the vault. Someone suggested that I use an external DAC, like the Chord Electronics Quest DAC, with the Vault 2i to produce the quality of my CD player. Has anyone any experience with this scenario?