Walk me thru upgrading from my BS Node


First off I like the Node, the box was easy to install, form factor is excellent for my space (in a credenza) and the UI is excellent... and it has been bulletproof in terms of connectivity in the wireless mode. I have been pleased with the audio quality, but I haven't really compared seriously an upgraded solution

However after reading quite a bit of opinions across the digital thread I am really curious as to the order of magnitude audio improvement.

Budget is around $5-7k

I need the singular physical box to be reasonably small, it is in a credenza so I don't need to see a screen, I would prefer a set and forget interface like the BS... once it is up and dialed in, I don't need to mess with it...wireless only as the cable reach is prohibitive, connected to a Manley Stingray II...streaming Qubuz only...

The message I get is that the BSN is a good starter solution, but upgrading the DAC/Streamer is worth the ride..

Where to look, the YT reviewers (with the exception of Amir) just fawn over every product they test...

poke33

@poke33 Yes NAD streamers use BluOS for controlling streaming services just like the Node does. 

I resent the PM from yesterday as I saw your message on not having received it. Let me know if you get it. 

FWIW, I stay away from Hifi Rose products. While the large screens are beautiful, I find them to provide a fairly bright and etched sonic presentation at times, and congested and unclear in others. This depends on the model used. I’ve heard them at shows, dealerships, and friends’ homes, never in my own, so take that with a grain of salt. But if you compare the innards of a Hifi Rose unit with say the innards of an Aurender, you’ll see that the architecture of the Aurender is much more robust, especially in the power supply and chassis isolation. I find Aurender to be both more articulate and musical. 

Although a wifi extender often helps there is no substitute for a mesh router/Ethernet for a dedicated connection.

As others have noted I think a one box solution is misguided as far as price AND sound quality.  Unless your home wifi network is robust I would avoid wifi.

 

Thanks again to all for the council and guidance.... much to evaluate...much to think about and experiment with...