Amber Audio
This is the Day
Agreed, I'd worry about the resale value of a modded Node, personally I'd trade for one of the units you mention or similar. IME improvements are incremental rather than game changing adding powers supplies and the like.
External dac for Node 2i?
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JezmondTutu
pfm Member
General consensus is yes it is but I get where you are coming from.
Most of the power supply mods are completely retrofitable. I actually had a Node2i but then bought one with the Fidelity Audio psu on the Bay on one of those promotion days. By the time I sold mine, the upgrade cost me £78. Result!
I bought my Node 2 6 years ago and I have been upgrading it and the power supply over the years.
Prior to owning the Node 2 I had a Sonos system and I had that running into a Rega Dac-R, so when I bought my Node 2 I ran it straight into the Rega.
After inheriting a Leema Acoustics Antila IIS Eco from my late uncle I traded it in for a Primare DAC30 and ran the Node 2 into that. That was an improvement over the Rega.
In the first lockdown I kept reading about these guys on Hifi Wigwam who were upgrading the power supply on the Node 2i, so I thought that I would go for it as well. I bought one of the of Polish power interfaces and an Allo Shanti power supply. I was very pleased with the results. Less background noise and better separation of the instruments.
This Christmas I managed to pick an SBooster power supply off Ebay and an Atlas Opal digital interconnect. I plugged them into my main system and again I got another boost in performance. My main system has never sounded so good
The performance of the Node 2 (and other variants) is scalable. Yes, you could buy a more expensive streamer in the first place, but I could not afford to do that.
My upgrade steps have not cost me that much and I have received a lot of enjoyment out of them. I do admit that I was lucky to obtain the Primare DAC30 back at the beginning of my upgrade journey though.
I also like the BluOS app and after using it for so long I am quite used to it.
The only niggle I have had with it happened just over 5 years ago. For some reason the app would regularly not see the player when I opened it up. It would work okay if I turned the Node on and off, but that was a bit of a faff and detracted from the experience a lot. I raised it with the Bluesound technical guys and whilst they were helpful they could not offer a solution.
A couple of months later, after a software update, the problem was gone and it has been rock solid since (touch wood!)
Prior to owning the Node 2 I had a Sonos system and I had that running into a Rega Dac-R, so when I bought my Node 2 I ran it straight into the Rega.
After inheriting a Leema Acoustics Antila IIS Eco from my late uncle I traded it in for a Primare DAC30 and ran the Node 2 into that. That was an improvement over the Rega.
In the first lockdown I kept reading about these guys on Hifi Wigwam who were upgrading the power supply on the Node 2i, so I thought that I would go for it as well. I bought one of the of Polish power interfaces and an Allo Shanti power supply. I was very pleased with the results. Less background noise and better separation of the instruments.
This Christmas I managed to pick an SBooster power supply off Ebay and an Atlas Opal digital interconnect. I plugged them into my main system and again I got another boost in performance. My main system has never sounded so good
The performance of the Node 2 (and other variants) is scalable. Yes, you could buy a more expensive streamer in the first place, but I could not afford to do that.
My upgrade steps have not cost me that much and I have received a lot of enjoyment out of them. I do admit that I was lucky to obtain the Primare DAC30 back at the beginning of my upgrade journey though.
I also like the BluOS app and after using it for so long I am quite used to it.
The only niggle I have had with it happened just over 5 years ago. For some reason the app would regularly not see the player when I opened it up. It would work okay if I turned the Node on and off, but that was a bit of a faff and detracted from the experience a lot. I raised it with the Bluesound technical guys and whilst they were helpful they could not offer a solution.
A couple of months later, after a software update, the problem was gone and it has been rock solid since (touch wood!)
Brian Ellis
pfm Member
I just purchased the Node 3 with LPS and clock mod from here replacing the Node 2i in my main system (also sold on here) so yes but not on the node 2i’s.
I’d treat it as two separate questions, DAC and pre, which you may find you can answer with one solution. But I’d try DACs first and then swap your Croft in and out.
I own the Node 2i and actually sold my Croft 25 to fund it and own an Audiolab M-DAC to Event Opals. I probably preferred the sound with the Croft but tended not to use it because I favour XLR and remote for volume etc. The sound without wasn’t necessarily worse, but certainly different.
I’ve also tried the Node direct to the Opals, it’s a very passable sound. The M-DAC sounds marginally better than the Node’s DAC, slightly less grainy, better dynamics and detail, perhaps a little less digital. But really, it’s close.
I’d not buy the M-DAC now as a cost effective upgrade if I didn’t own it.
without spending RME money and way beyond don’t expect huge gains. As some have suggested a power supply might yield more noticeable results.
ultimately, differences will be small compared to changing speakers etc, results will often just be different rather than night and day improvements, and given the cost involved you really need to hear for yourself to determine whether you enjoy those changes and whether you think it is money worth spending.
I own the Node 2i and actually sold my Croft 25 to fund it and own an Audiolab M-DAC to Event Opals. I probably preferred the sound with the Croft but tended not to use it because I favour XLR and remote for volume etc. The sound without wasn’t necessarily worse, but certainly different.
I’ve also tried the Node direct to the Opals, it’s a very passable sound. The M-DAC sounds marginally better than the Node’s DAC, slightly less grainy, better dynamics and detail, perhaps a little less digital. But really, it’s close.
I’d not buy the M-DAC now as a cost effective upgrade if I didn’t own it.
without spending RME money and way beyond don’t expect huge gains. As some have suggested a power supply might yield more noticeable results.
ultimately, differences will be small compared to changing speakers etc, results will often just be different rather than night and day improvements, and given the cost involved you really need to hear for yourself to determine whether you enjoy those changes and whether you think it is money worth spending.
Del monaco
Del Monaco
I know it has its detractors but I found the Musical Fidelity M1Dac( later edition) an excellent Dac for the money. It’s standout feature for me was its speed and its articulate bass, made possible by its choke regulation power supply apparently. Some found its top fallible but it wasn’t an issue for me.
steveinspain
pfm Member
I'm a 2i user with fidelity audio interface and Sbooster PSU -excellent value for money imho. I also have the RME DAC although can't compare to any others.
Should you (anyone) be interested in trying an upgrade I actually have a spare fidelity audio interface board and the standard one, either of which I'd be happy to sell..!
Should you (anyone) be interested in trying an upgrade I actually have a spare fidelity audio interface board and the standard one, either of which I'd be happy to sell..!
MarkL56
pfm Member
+1 for this
nice warm analog sound with the DAC r, recently changed to the qutest, can get same analog feel but with a bit more resolution
BigBlue2020
pfm Member
Recommended DACS under £1k - Denafrips Ares ii, RME ADI 2, or Chord Qutest (sh)
Big threads elsewhere to read on upgrading the Bluesound Node
Big threads elsewhere to read on upgrading the Bluesound Node