Streamer Upgrade


I have a modified Bluesound Node 2i with an upgraded power supply board and Terry Pardo power supply. While I am happy with it, I have the upgrade itch! I'm curious if anyone has upgraded from a modded Bluesound Node and what your thoughts are/were? On the TP website, they claim this upgrade brings "it very close to the level of network streamers costing twice as much" which makes me curious as to how big of a jump others experienced. I'm looking at streamer only as I am not interested in units with onboard DAC's. I currently use Roon with a Mac Mini as my Core. My DAC is the Schiit Gungnir MB. 

Thanks!

-Will

128x128willg1985

Showing 1 response by riccitone

I’m now on a Mercury streamer by Pi2design. I mean, I’ve already mentioned it way to much here, but it just keeps blowing my mind.

It’s based on a raspberry pi 4, but with some extremely high end clocks, a well built-out/extended board, and some really heavy duty galvanic isolation circuitry. Already leaps and bounds ahead of the Bluesound Node, seeming to perform even better than the new ifi stream (more reviews are about to drop soon I think). It also acts as its own ddc, being able to spit out coax, bnc, aes, I2s and optical simultaneously. Roon is more than compatible, and very flexible in that you can change out the OS with just the switching of an SD card.

Caveats: even though it comes preloaded with Volumio software, can be a bit glitchy during setup. Occasionally on playback as well. So not as plug and play as other more expensive streamers.

But INSANELY great for the $600.