Moving up from a Node 2i


I want to keep it between 1K and 1500.00, closer to a grand if at all possible. I don't care about onboard DACs, since I have a keen liking for mine. What is out there for a streamer, new or used, that will sound better than the Node when outputting to an external DAC? I like the functionality of the Node, don't want something with a sketchy user interface. But honestly, I think my old Allo Digione (Raspberry Pi) might have sounded a little more organic and fleshed out than the Node.

What say ye, Audiogon?

Oz



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Look at a BelCanto.  Take a look at a better DAC.  It is all about the DAC.
I tested a Zen Mini but no MQA for Tidal and no Amazon interface meant no go for me. Went with the Vault 2i and will probably add a better DAC later.
I went from a Squeezebox to a Node2 and then kept the Node as the streamer to feed a Gumby. The first change was an improvement. The adding the Gumby was more so. best investment I had made in a long time to my sound quality.
No streamer will make any meaningful difference. Get yourself a NUC and a Roon subscription, you'll spend 1K or less and be able to enjoy your music at a different level  . . .
@marklings So Roon fed into an existing streamer and dac using it as a Roon endpoint delivers an improvement in sound quality?