Where do you go after a BlueSound Node 2i?

@jjss49
Node 2i dig out to...

-- Chord Qutest or 2Qute or even Mojo
-- ADI RME2
-- Topping D90
-- Neko D100-2
-- Schitt XX Multibit
-- Musical Paradise tube DAC
-- and so on

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+MHDT Labs Orchid Tube DAC

Many BlueSound Node2/i owners run MHDT Orchid DACs. Linear Tube Audio sells them in the USA or you can buy from MHDT direct on eBay. Several members here and other sites own MHDT DACs, well regarded for the $. 

@feldmen4
It amazes me how people start a thread and then buy an item before they have received all the feedback from the community and then complain about the audience not following the thread closely enough...

And, I've seen no rules indicating responses belong to the original poster with a time limit or pre-conditions. Thankfully, it's an open forum where threads can continue for years beyond. Others will camp on later and continue to benefit from from feedback and experiences well beyond the original post and first few pages of replies.  

@Larry5729
I purchased an external DAC with my Node 2i and preferred the Node 2i played by itself. Bass was better with just the Node 2i and I thought the imaging was also better. ...

That can happen if an inferior or equivalent external apples-to-apples $400-$500 DAC is used. The internal Burr Brown 24/192 DAC in the Node2"i" version is not horrible. It’s okay. Not great, a bit veiled over, less detail, less soundstage and simply not at the level as a really good external DAC. Try a better $1200-1500 tube DAC paired with the Node2i and it can be a completely different listening experience if the rest of the system is up to par to realize the difference. Can be me much more musical and engaging when the Node2i is paired with a great external DAC. 

@cio52
06-15-2020 10:46am
This does seem to be an open forum on streamers and operating systems. I would like to know if anyone likes or dislikes the Play-FI operating system?

I use Play-Fi. It’s fair to "okay", evolving slightly each year with updates; not nearly as good as something like the native Spotify interface itself, more on par with the native Tidal application interface. However, with Play-Fi one can easily switch between Spotify, Tidal, Qobuz, Radio net, etc. The interface each of these players integrate with, like BlueSound (Node, Node2i) and Arcam, others using PlayFi works but needs to evolve more, and it can if they want to invest more time, $, effort in it. i.e the other important aspect of these streamers, including the Node/2i, Bluesound. Slightly off-track here, but relevant when selecting your preferred streamer/DAC, etc. 

@azbrd

I use a Node 2 and as suggested multiple times in this thread connect it to an external higher end dac, in my case a Schiit YGGDRASIL. What ever DAC you chose to go with make sure its upgrade-able.

I wonder if some folks do not understand digital or do not believe adding a $1500-2000 DAC on to a $549 Node2i streamer will produce favorable results. Certainly can understand why if they never tried it before.

During evaluations, before I purchased my current MHDT tube DAC, I tried adding on a new $2199 Benchmark DAC3 to my current lower $ Arcam rPlay streamer and it was remarkably different sounding, shocking in fact how much more expansive the sound stage became. While I prefer a NOS R2R Ladder tube DAC setup to change tubes (in my system), it was an extremely valuable demo to prove to oneself just how much a really good DAC can change the sound one way or the other.