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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
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. 

allanblissett
140 posts
 

I am waiting a few more months to see if a new ifi zen streamer comes out with improvements. 

curiousjim's avatar
curiousjim
4,211 posts
 

@temmple 

I have the newest Node, the N130 and as a streamer it’s really pretty good. They also added USB that can be used as an input (memory stick/hard drive) or an output.  The DAC in it is better than it’s predecessors, but isn’t great by any stretch.  I’m currently running it into a Denafrips Pontus ll and the sound is amazing.  I just ordered the Teddy Pardo LPS for it and hope that makes it even better!

Getting a DAC from Schiit is another option. I have an original Bifrost and it sounds pretty darn good. 
 

All the best.

JD

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