PC+Dac or Streamer

Mahler123 - thanks for the suggestions.  As it turns out, running Ethernet to this particular location is problematic so I have been forced to use the WiFi function of the Bluesound.  However, I may try to run Ethernet through the floor to the location of the system to improve reliability - and because it would give me additional server options too as WiFi enabled servers are kind of rare. I thought about the NAD M50.2 - as that has local storage and a CD ripper which would generally solve my problem.  But I’m reticent to give Bluesound OS more business - and I don’t feel like re-ripping my entire library anyway.

FWIW: I reached out to Bluesound’s tech support for input - and they ultimately wanted to remote into my system to sleuth things out.  Frankly, while I’m not in IT, i’m not tech illiterate and needing a company to remote into things to solve these challenges tells me their software is not fully developed.  So, I restarted the process multiple times and was successful in getting things to work again.  And then, for a reason I can’t yet explain, I again can no longer access the files on my network, even though I can clearly see the address of the files in the Bluesound OS setup.  I haven’t gone back to redo it again because frankly, I don’t feel like it yet.  But, I’ve left feedback for Bluesound corporate accordingly.  

IT’s too bad because I think overall, the Bluesound Node 2 is a killer device.  For the price, it sounds great when using the coax digital out to my DAC. And, the idea of being able to reasonably easily play files on my network, or Tidal, Spotify, etc. all within the same app is very appealing.  

I think software engineers frequently forget that they work that they enjoy is maddening and/or tiresome to most.  I want to come home, turn on music and enjoy an experience I’ve spent quite a few $s to create.  Waking up my system to find that it needs an update, or worse, needs a fix to a file sharing request, or whatever, sets me on edge in a hurry.  I want it to simply work.  Like my Aurender does.  I wish Aurender had a WiFi option....  

@mgrif104 It sounds like your issue is more of a networking issue than a Bluesound issue. When I moved to a new place where I couldn't run a long ethernet cable like I did before, I switched to wifi operation and because of the distance between audio room and the router, I had intermittent trouble. 
While not as good as the suggestion to run ethernet cable thru the house, in the interim, this might solve your wifi problem, it works for me.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00Y3QYTS6/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o08_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Theoretically, I don't like the idea of making all the copper wiring part of my rig, but I feel like airborne wifi is probably worse sonically and certainly more troublesome in terms of stability of signal. Cheers,
Spencer

mgrif104, FWIW I was using a simple laptop running jriver and outputting USB near the stereo and with my music files on a small portable HD.  Control was on my phone.  The sound was fine.  But I got a NAS so that I could centralize my music and also do programming and ripping from a desk-top.  However when accessing the music via wi-fi the SQ suffered.  So I did drill through a floor and set up an ethernet cable to the laptop.  Even though the cable goes through an ethernet to USB device at the laptop the sound is at least as good as originally, and probably better.  As usual YMMV.

@melm Exactly same story in my old place except my NAS replaced a MacMini with external drive. The NAS via ethernet to microRendu ethernet/USB to the same dac was a huge improvement. Friends have had similar experiences with a variety of PC/Mac setups all bettered by NAS setups.
Cheers,
Spencer