What are you streaming tonight?

Bluesound’s (DAC) sound is OK, but underwhelming. That’s why I no longer use it’s internal DAC. External-DAC-wise I think we are at a point where it is difficult to improve things any more (although marketing will try to convince people otherwise). Which is great -- we can concentrate on music itself and stop obsessing about equipment :-)

Greg,

I've been "getting by" with streaming Spotify via a bluetooth connection. So, I'm obviously not obsessed with ultimate Sound Quality :~)

I am concerned about ease of use, supported services (Tidal, Qobuz, Spotify, local rips and Internet Radio). Connectivity is also a concern. I would prefer to use wireless (I have excellent wi-fi coverage and speed) but I can connect via ethernet from the mesh node that is located right by my audio rig.

I may even go with a Vault 2i so I can rip some of my CD collection to HDD. But who knows? I've been talking about this for 2 years now, and just now got around to subscribing to Tidal (first step).

Thanks for your feedback guys.......

@reubent I have ripped all of my CDs, about 2,000 of them, and stored the FLAC files on a 2 TB WD Passport external drive and connected (USB) to the Node 2i. That way I stream from the internet or get the FLACs from the attached disk. Same quality given that the recording is the same. Sometimes Qobuz has remasters of my old CDs, though. I have used Node 2i over 5 GHz WiFi or ethernet cable w/ equal success.

ghjuvanni

i did the same thing!  I ripped all my CDs to my computer, in addition to digitizing many of my records (over a period of several years.  Not something I would recommend casually). I stored everything on my 2TB external hard drive and listen through my USB port on my PowerNode 2i.  I had more than a few rare/obscure records I can’t find on CD or digitally so at least I get to listen to them still. 

@reubent Get the Bluesound then. Great interface, works well with wifi.