Has Anyone Compared the DAC On a Bluesound NODE 3rd Gen to a Separate DAC?

@jjs49

Right now I don’t have any other sources other than the NODE.  Previously I listened to 1980’s CD’s.  I really like the sound of the NODE listening to Paradise Radio MQA Mellow or World.  I used to listen to internet radio using an Apple AirPlay router.  The NODE is a big improvement, with more sounds seeming to be ‘present/real’; such as a bongo or wood block drum.  The sub base and base sound very good, not boomy, with my Paradigm and Hsu sealed subs.  If the music has some very low sounds, they sound very good.  But I’ve never heard vocals with that same presence.  They sound similar to what I hear on a car radio.  I never hear details of a breath or similar nuances.  My BeoLab8000 speakers are supposed to be excellent with vocals, but I’m not getting it.  So I’d like better vocals, and more sounds that seem ‘present/real.’  Also my present system does not sound ‘airy’, which I would like.

I've got a Bluesound Node 2i from almost 2 years ago and immediately thought its DAC didn't cut it, so I bought a Bifrost 2 and it's a significant improvement (my other DAC is a trusty 2nd generation DacMagic with a no longer available bespoke large transformer power supply and it covers a couple other sources, a "touch streamer" used for occasional background music and a CD player). The Bifrost is for high res streaming...Just installed the "64 bit" update card in the Bifrost and now I can't imagine a better sounding DAC...just elevates the whole thing.

@wolf_garcia that Schiit Bifrost 2/64 multibit seems like a good alternative to the Ares II at a roughly similar price point. I’ve heard others mention it having better quality textured bass than the Ares II. Heck, I’ve heard a few mention that the AKM 4493 based Geshelli Labs J2 DAC (at $300 or $350 with a nice wood case) is very comparable to the Ares II in soundstage and depth, and yes, has better bass (especially if you get a linear power supply for it). I guess it comes down to what a user is looking for and what sonic signatures they like. There’s nothing technically "magical" about an R2R DAC but yeah, they can be very good. So can others.

@tcotruvo

among standalone dacs, i would suggest you try a chord qutest or 2qute - qutest around $1400 used, 2qute at about $800 of that amount but the sound is very very close - they also benefit from a suitable filtered or linear power supply ($75-150 additional)

both will give as much airiness in soundstage and detailed midrange among dacs in this price range, and much better than the internal node n130 internal dac, which is smooth but lacks incisiveness

the topping d90 and rme adi2 provide a similar tonality to the chords with a crisp clear sound, but without the excellent imaging and as much clarity of transients

Tcotruvo,

I have the 3rd generation node, and did A/B testing with my Denafrips Ponuts II DAC......absolutely no comparison; the Denafrips improves the sound on every single measurable I can think of. Also though the Denafrips Pontus II ($1,825 US) is twice the price of the Ares ($840 US)....it is worth every penny of the upgrade. The Pontus punches WAY above it's price