Node 2i sound quality

I bought a Node 2i some time ago (3-4 years) and connected it to an old Luxman amplifier. The overall sound quality was not as good as I expected; I mostly use Spotify and blamed the quality on them and actually went back to CDs using an old Pioneer player (sounded MUCH better than the Node 2i) and used the Node 2i just for convenience. However, later I hooked up the CD player optical output to the Node 2i and I got the same results, as if the quality of the DAC on the Node 2i was not the best; not bad quality as such but a noticeable lack of high frequencies, muffled sound, not clear and chimy sound; you don't notice until you hear CD and Node 2i side by side (switching inputs in the amplifier; I tried reversing the inputs to rule the amp out). I also got Tidal and same results. I thought... if streaming is all like this, I don't see the hype. Today I have received a second-hand Yamaha WCX-50 - it is night and day, even when in some comparisions found in the internet Node 2i overperformed the WCX-50 . I can barely notice the difference between a track played on my Sony XA50ES player and Spotify. I have not modified any settings on the Node 2i and I don't see what is wrong with the player. I would appreciate if you could guide me. Thank you.

Node 2i sound quality

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