Getting Bluesound Node2i tomorrow. anyone else have one of these?

jbail2011

I pulled the trigger on this as I am new to this and don't have an extensive collection of quality digital media, YET. This should do the trick for the next few years. Any thoughts?

deronb1

I have the node 2. Love it!

steveinaz

I have the 2i, love it. Connect an external hard drive to it, loaded with flacs. I run mine via digital coaxial to my PS Audio Stellar Gain Cell DAC/PRE.

tophatjohnny

Hear nothing but good things about it so you should be off to a great start. Congrats.

jbail2011

This node 2i is fantastic!

gudnoyez

Enjoy your Node 2i, I recently picked up a Node 2, been busy to mess around with it much but the times I have I've throughly enjoyed it. Great addition to your rig, and not having to pay a arm and a leg for a decent streamer is even better.

jbail2011

gudnoyez wrote: »

Enjoy your Node 2i, I recently picked up a Node 2, been busy to mess around with it much but the times I have I've throughly enjoyed it. Great addition to your rig, and not having to pay a arm and a leg for a decent streamer is even better.

Tidal and the node 2i are a game changer! The music quality is awesome. I didn't expect it to perform this well.

gudnoyez

jbail2011 wrote: »

gudnoyez wrote: »

Enjoy your Node 2i, I recently picked up a Node 2, been busy to mess around with it much but the times I have I've throughly enjoyed it. Great addition to your rig, and not having to pay a arm and a leg for a decent streamer is even better.

Tidal and the node 2i are a game changer! The music quality is awesome. I didn't expect it to perform this well.

I agree with you , if you have it hooked up to your router with the stock Ethernet cable try replacing it with a Pangea Ethernet cable and Pangea power cord, this with Tidal is a good match, I new you would enjoy it great performance for the price.

Clipdat

@joecoulson Pangea ethernet cables!

halo

Congrats on your new acquisition!

I've had the Node 2i for a little while now and the sound quality is quite good; no complaints there. However, I am a little unnerved about the user interface software, especially the album artwork having to be manually uploaded/input by me.

I would also like a more user-friendly way to shuffle through the tracks on my networked hard drive as I had with roon essentials on my previous streamer, the Elac Discovery.

ambiophonics

Does the Node2i require you to use their software to stream qobuz? I currently use a Chromecast Audio and have a drop-down menu within the Android qobuz app to choose it as a playback device.

rooftop59

@steveinaz do you think there is any SQ improvements over you old squeezebox touch with ci audio ps you used to have? I have that same setup as a secondary streamer and am contemplating the node, but only if there a clear SQ improvement. The functionality of the SBT and roon is awesome and the SQ is pretty darned good imho...

treitz3

I have the Node2 and you will be better served with an external DAC. With that, you are very close to CD quality sound. The only really noticeable difference is what I would describe as a mid-bass suck out. You still have it and hear it but it's not at the same level of the rest of the frequency range. This is true IME whether or not you have 100K of front end gear on Vandersteen's or a starter system.

Tom

deronb1

I love the Node2. I am using its' internal DAC with AQ Golden Gate out to the Yammy. USB into it from an external HD. FLAC files sound great and am verry happy with the app.

mantis

I have mixed feelings about it. The setup took forever to link I had it hard wired to the network and it just didn't want to connect. I had to reset it right out of the box a few times and then it works.
Just a few months later maybe 2 now its already acting up. Could be a bad unit but so far I'm not very happy with it.
it's not as polished as HEOS or SONOS which SONOS is a bit unfair they have been in the game since 2006. They claim earlier but we didn't see them until 2006.
Good luck with the setup, report back your experience I'm curious to know how to went.

steveinaz

rooftop59 wrote: »

@steveinaz do you think there is any SQ improvements over you old squeezebox touch with ci audio ps you used to have? I have that same setup as a secondary streamer and am contemplating the node, but only if there a clear SQ improvement. The functionality of the SBT and roon is awesome and the SQ is pretty darned good imho...

Hard to say because I bought the power supply shortly after getting the Touch. Keep in mind, mine was run digitally to my external DAC. I run my Node 2i digitally as well. I prefer the Node 2i as it has far more sources of music, and the interface is easy. With the Touch, I bought the Logitech remote w/screen as well---so this isn't needed with the Bluesound, and the Touch screen remote was NOT cheap. IMO, the upgraded power supply would likely be more advantageous if you were using the analog outs on the Touch.

Another benefit with the Node 2 (2i) is the ability to plug your hard drive straight in, no network needed. This is what I do with a Western Dig 2TB external drive.

rooftop59

steveinaz wrote: »

rooftop59 wrote: »

@steveinaz do you think there is any SQ improvements over you old squeezebox touch with ci audio ps you used to have? I have that same setup as a secondary streamer and am contemplating the node, but only if there a clear SQ improvement. The functionality of the SBT and roon is awesome and the SQ is pretty darned good imho...

Hard to say because I bought the power supply shortly after getting the Touch. Keep in mind, mine was run digitally to my external DAC. I run my Node 2i digitally as well. I prefer the Node 2i as it has far more sources of music, and the interface is easy. With the Touch, I bought the Logitech remote w/screen as well---so this isn't needed with the Bluesound, and the Touch screen remote was NOT cheap.

My SBT runs coax out (with the enhanced digital output applet) to my Cambridge 851c dac. I use roon so software doesn’t matter. So I am just wondering if there is any improvement purely as a digital streamer...

steveinaz

Tough to say as I never a/b'd them, what I can say is that I LOVE my Node 2i, and it sounds fantastic via my Benchmark DAC2 DX.

Mikey081057

I had the Node2 and loved it... I upgraded to the Lumin U1 mini and love it... The Node2 and 2i are great bang for the buck and the app is fine too. I use roon with all of various devices I have and highly recommend it as well. Many devices, 1 interface + more....