@goodlistening64
Thanks for clarifying that you are talking about the Node Icon. I did not know all other versions of the Node are operating in synchronous mode only when accepting data via USB. My hope is that there would be zero or close to it jitter from the SSD drive connected to the Node, that the Node functioning as a server would add little jitter to the signal before transferring it to the Chord Qutest DAC, and that using quality USB and coax cables along with the the ultra low noise Teddy Pardo power supply would add little extra noise. I can say removing the Node N130’s internal switching power supply and replacing with the external Pardo made a big improvement in sound quality for serving files to my Chord DAC.
Reviewers of Node products have noted that they perform much better as streamers/servers only, and that the DACs in older models are not that good, and this has been my experience. Overall, I find the BluOS software very good, especially the latest update, and the Node can serve all my digital files or stream to any other BluOS devices in my house, all controlled by the app on my phone or iPad - convenient.
I should note that the DAC in a new Node Nano set up in my office system is qualitatively better than the DAC in my N130. But even that is improved when running toslink out to a Chord Mojo2, bypassing the Nano’s internal DAC. In any case, I would expect the Node Icon is as good as reviewers are saying it is (except Amir, but that is a whole other topic).
kn