For practical reasons I’ve been using my Node 2 sans external DACs (Chord Qute EX and Schiit Bifrost Multibit) for a couple of months now and I must say, I don’t miss either of them. The on-board DAC in the gen 2 Bluesound gear is surprisingly good ... shouldn’t be according to some, but it is. I think we all need to keep in mind it’s not just about the DAC chip in a product like this (i.e., the whole is greater than the sum of it’s parts). Like @williewonka I also think the Node 2 is quite a bargain.
Is anyone doing this with a Bluesound Node 2 or other streaming component?
I have a Bluesound Node 2 that I have been using as a streaming device for Tidal music files, Spotify music files and my own digital music files on a WD MyCloud device. The Bluesound Node 2 has been fed into a Benchmark USB/DAC1 as an external DAC running to a Parasound preamp and Amp. I wanted to know how good the Node 2 (internal DAC) was....so... I ran the Node directly into my Parasound A21. Essentially I am using the Node 2 as both preamp and DAC. It sounds really fantastic. I did this with the Benchmark with good results long ago. Does anyone else do this with a Bluesound device or other streamer? What is the downside, despite the obvious lack of preamp functions (switching sources, volume pot, etc).....