Any “value” competitor streamers vs Bluesound Node 2i?

spirit of radio,

You wrote, “I do not agree that BlueOS is acceptable. I think it’s crap, like their cheap BlueSound hardware, and they should be ashamed of themselves. Moreover, it won’t index a hard drive. Talk about engineering to a price - There are any number of sub $100 or even sub-$50 more reliable wireless gizmos out there with better dacs in them than the node 2i.”

I’m interested to hear why you feel this way? I don’t want to presume, but your strong opinions would imply that you have some expertise in this area. I do not question that. Just want you to explain a bit more?

Scott_w wrote, “NAD 658. $1,500 new. Landmark product.”

This as well as the M10 seem very intriguing. 

Another option in your budget is Pro-Ject Stream Box S2 Ultra, $850.  Very good reviews from HB and Darko.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7CX-pZRhbtI 

https://darko.audio/2019/03/have-your-pi-eat-it-pro-jects-stream-box-s2-ultra/

Guess I will throw the best ( IMHO) sub $100 option out into the room. Although a friend said prices have risen of late on eBay but still....

Google Chromecast Audio.

Sadly discontinued but no idea why.
Hockey puck size but streams up to 24/96 very reliably.
I have two of them.
Google Home makes setup a breeze.
Control with bubbleupnp.

Sound really really good to my ears.

+1 uberwaltz--the chromecast, which you used to be able to pick up for $25, had to the greatest-ever value in audio. i've a/b'd it with a ($500) bluesound node using the same dac and system and the differences were very small.