Upgrade from modified Bluesound Node 2i and linear power supply (LPS) ?

I’m running Bluesound Node - Schiit FreyaS - Schiit Vidar - Kef R3.

I made the following upgrades to the Node this week:

1. Polish/PD PSU interface

2. Sbooster BOTW 5V LPS

3. Supra Cat 8 Ethernet cable

This wasn’t a 10% or 20% improvement. This is a whole new ballgame. Total cost is around $600 which is how much the Node costs so I guess there had better been an improvement but I wasn’t expecting this. 

I had a friend over who played a Drake song.  Immediately I was confused where all the bass was coming from.  I have a Kef KC62 sub on the way and honestly not sure if I would have ordered it had I heard bass like this before coming from the R3. Next I played the Qobuz hi res masters playlist I’m familiar with. I could make out vocals I couldn’t hear before without looking up the lyrics. Overall, I would describe the sound before the upgrades as muddled compared to what it sounds like now.

Now I think I’m going to hold off on upgrading the streamer until I’m ready to invest in the $5k plus range. I’m scared the base ~$3k models from Auralic or Lumin won’t be much of an improvement.  

Next up is an external DAC.

I did a similar upgrade to my Node: PD PSU Interface, Jay's audio
LPS with Supra Ethernet cable. I'm using a Pontus II DAC. I have
no desire to upgrade any further at this time.   

How noticeable was the Pontus 2 over the Node internal DAC? 
 

Thats the one I’m looking at also but not sure if I want to give up Tidal/MQA functionality.  I have Qobuz also for critical listening but the “connect” feature on Tidal native app is a big plus. 

jj, your moniker should be Dacman. 50 Dacs? Wow.

I went from the Vault2i to a Lumin U1 Mini and a week later after sending the Lumin back I landed on the Auralic Aries G1. The Vault is a pretty unit but the Auralic was definitely a step up and easily bested the Lumin). I currently have my Auralic for sale since I've went a step higher.