Best EXTERNAL DAC suggestions

SMSL SU-9n Balanced Desktop DAC

And added benefit of this is the remarkable bluetooth for streaming.

Anything more expensive doesn't really get you much in terms of final fidelity.

@vthokie83 

Really…thank you for the info!

adding to my Bluesound Node v3, as a DAC first time, will be the Denafrips but an Ares ll? A really great used buy  it comes with a SPDIF cable? I’m not sure about all these interconnects… options… and even if SPDIF will work with Node3… then the order of NAD amp- Rogue RP-1, Node3, and the better cable choices for interconnects  

  I’m hoping to get it right … suggestions? And thanks y’all  to the many posts that have helped me decide on WHAT to do …as EXTERNAL DAC quests can be infinite as it appears…Moose

So

Sell the Node and get an Astell & Kern ACRO CA1000T. It really can’t be beaten for anywhere near the money. Plus, you get full-fat Apple Music hi-res with it. Streaming capabilities are amazing and as just a streamer into an external DAC it is very noticeably better than the Node. As a streaming DAC and Preamp? It obliterates the Node. 
 

The added bonus is that you get a world class headphone amp out of it as well. 

Moose89,

If you are getting the Ares II used and for a great deal, it's a really good DAC for the money. The internal DAC in the Node 130 (3rd generation) is much improved over the 2, and 2i versions, but the Ares II will be a very noticeable upgrade.

SPDIF refers to the topology of the signal, and usually comes in 2 flavors: digital RCA (digital coax) connectors, or optical  The Node 130 has both coaxial RCA and optical SPDIF digital out connectors, so no problem connecting with the Ares II. NOTE: The digital RCA cables are not the same as RCA cables used for analog audio interconnects.

If you later want to upgrade any cables at a reasonable cost: Lavricables, DHLabs, Zavfino, Morrow Audio, and Supra Cables (actually found on eBay) all make great cables and have many affordable options.

FWIW, if I’m you my next move would be to a Denafrips Ares 12th Anniversary DAC with a good digital cable. The reason is this version comes with an i2S input so you can later add a DDC (like the Denafrips Iris) and get a further significant performance bump.

https://www.usaudiomart.com/details/650003588-denafrips-ares-12th-1-all-aluminum-chasis-with-hifi-tuning-supreme-fuse/

For a digital cable I’d highly recommend the Acoustic Zen MC2 (read reviews) that I recently bought used and was a huge upgrade over a good but budget digital cable, and if you’re patient they can be found used on hifishark for around $200 and very well worth every penny. These two purchases will launch you to a higher performance level entirely.  Just my $0.02 FWIW.