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Upgrade Internal DAC of Node or go with Atoll ST120.

Looking at upgrading to a external DAC for my Bluesound Node or picking up a all in one streamer/dac like the Atoll MS120 or ST200 or another brand all together. My price for all in one would be around $1500 and DAC only would be $1000. I stream via Qobuz. Big question would be what option between these two would sound best. 

128x128temmple
temmple's avatar
temmple OP
120 posts
 

I am really trying to decide between the Lumin D2 and the Atioll ST200 but hard to find any comparisons online. 

temmple's avatar
temmple OP
120 posts
 

One last shot here before I pull the trigger.

Lunen D2 or Node with Denefrips AresII DAC? Just looking for the best sound quality.

parker65310
209 posts
 

I have a Node 2 with an MHDT DAC (has an output tube). It sounds excellent, but the streamer is the weakest link in the signal path. Instead of a new streamer I’m buying a Teddy Pardo external power supply kit for the Node 2 that I’m told will only take maybe 20 minutes to install without any special tools. Everyone’s experience is it greatly improves the Node 2 SQ. I highly recommend this route.

leorousseau's avatar
leorousseau
70 posts
 

Good morning,

    I have a Bluesound Node 2i feeding into a Denafrips Ares ii dac and the sound is very good. In the past I had a Schitt Bifrost, but the Denafrips Ares ii can mop the floor with the Bifrost! My next change will be to upgrade to a better streamer to achieve even better sound quality. Go Denafrips! 🇺🇦🇺🇸🤜

temmple's avatar
temmple OP
120 posts
 

What streamer options are you looking at? Thinking I might go with the ifi zen streamer if I go the Ares II route but the Zen streamers does not have proper Qobuz integration so not sure. I am now thinking about ditching Qobuz for Tidal because of this issue. Wish Qobuz would step up to the plate and offer a connect feature like Tidal and Spotify do. 

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