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Streamer Advice: Bluesound Node 2 vs Aries Mini vs Oppo

Hello,

I know a lot of these advice threads already exist, and plenty of useful info from those. I’m looking for a network streamer with a budget of $500 ($600 is my absolute max). I’ll be playing my own redbook quality FLAC files, and streaming via Tidal. The Bluesound Node 2 and Auralic Aries Mini each check a lot of boxes for me, but I’m having a hard time finding an Aries Mini for sale.

My questions are...

Is there a significant benefit to the Aries Mini over the Bluesound Node 2? If folks think I’m better off with the Aries Mini I don’t mind waiting, and continuing the search for one.

And would an Oppo BDP-103 or BDP-105 be a better choice compared to either the Bluesound or Auralic?

I can’t afford the prices that Oppo UDP models are fetching, but I’m finding a lot of BDP-103s between $300-$500 and even some BDP-105s around $500-$600.

Having a Blu-Ray, CD, SACD player coupled with streaming is very enticing. Since Oppo’s digital components are no longer in production my hesitation is software support potentially going away.

Thanks, and cheers!
- MD


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Showing 3 responses by uberwaltz

uberwaltz's avatar
Ag insider logo xs@2x
uberwaltz
4,946 posts
 
Exactly what Everest audio said!
The dac in the node2 is its weakest link imhoRunning it into a quality dac gives superb resultsIf however you do not have a seperate dac and budget does not allow for one then the Oppo MAY be slightly better and of course you get a cd/sacd/dvd/bluray player to boot!
The airies mini is great little unit but as already stated well out of production and it seems owners are hanging onto them.
Good luck!
uberwaltz's avatar
Ag insider logo xs@2x
uberwaltz
4,946 posts
 
I thought the difference between node2 and 2i, and vault2 and 2i was just connection options like airplay etc.

My understanding was that the internal DAC were the same.

So in theory there should not be much difference in SQ if any.
uberwaltz's avatar
Ag insider logo xs@2x
uberwaltz
4,946 posts
 
Then I stand corrected on the node version.
I have the vault which is wired internet connection only so that wifi chipset improvement might not be  applicable to the vault.

I am going to go sit in a corner and be quiet now...…..
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