[A_shah]

I recently got a Bluesound node 2i very impressed with it , I am looking for just a" Streamer" no DAC if with a DAC what competes with BS Node 2i ? I know the usual suspects Auralic Aries , Auralic mini , what else ? By the way I love  the way BS Node 2i sounds with my system! , just amazing Bass , Clarity, Airy,  resolution,  3D effect all seems to be their !   

thanks
Asghar

[Mr Peabody]

Coincidentally, I have a NAD M50.2 for sale on the Trading Post (Sources).  It even uses the BS app.  No DAC, has 2TB hard drive with ripping and 2TB back up.  It's like a higher end Vault with no DAC.  The M50.2 will rip or play CD's.

I'm wanting to move up to an Aurender.

There is also Innuos but they are still working on their own app.

Your least expensive option would be to buy the Vault 2i and not use the DAC.  The next best would be the NAD M50.2 since it already uses the Bluesound app for streaming music services.  I find the M50.2 sounds better than the Node2i.  Best results is using an Ethernet connection.  You can use a bridge if not close enough to the router.

If not wanting to rip your CD's, why not just use the digital output of your Node?

[Wind Chaser]

How different can two different streamers sound feeding the same DAC and all else being equal?

[Mr Peabody]

There can be a huge differene.  I've used the HEOS Link, Node 2i, the M50.2 and Aurender.  I don't know the technology but the diference is there and sometimes huge.

The Node is some betterthan the HEOS but I like the tonal balance of the HEOS better.  I don't know what Aurender does but it's a large enough improvement over my NAD I'm willingto take the loss on selling it to get the Aurender.  I'm using what I'd consider high resolution  equipment though.

[ErikMi]

Auralic G1