Blue Node...who is using one

heiney9

This is probably the route I'm going to go. PD Creative and using my Welbourne Labs power supply.

https://pd-cf.com/produkt/bluesound-node-2021-upgrade-low-noise-psu-interface/

Here's a discussion thread on Audiogon that gives some great reviews/feedback.

https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/pd-creative

Seems like a no-brainer and I already have a great power supply. I hope I can wait at least 90 days before doing the mod. We'll see how much patience I have. I haven't built the computer/NAS for streaming my own files yet. So I'm not in a huge hurry to mod the power supply, but I'll be ordering the PSU interface soon.

I can't leave things alone, because I really hate switching power supplies and I remember the huge difference the Welbourne Labs lps made with the SQB Touch. This seems like a really straight forward swap and it gets great reviews on-line. It seems to be a very popular upgrade w/ no down side other than voiding the warranty.

H9

VR3

It's not a party until you pop the hood

tratliff

VR3 wrote: »

It's not a party until you pop the hood

Haha. Haven’t even had it a week yet. I at least have to pay it off on my CC first.

treitz3

What's the fun in that?

Okay, so I have time to "talk" about it now. The unit is much more friendly than my Auralic G2. The sound of the unit itself would be great for a system that masks much of the sound but if you have a revealing system, the sound leaves much to be desired. When I hooked up my MF Tri-Vista DAC to the unit, the sound improved drastically.

So much so, that the MQA sounded worse than the high rez songs through the normal BS Node2 (MQA is a joke to me).

Overall, for the price? It's a hard unit to beat. Great value. Most everything else I was going to add has already been discussed and I will also add that Trey's LPS made a big difference on his Lumin. The connector cable he used (along with a specific length) made just as much of a difference, if not more of a difference, TBT.

The fact that you aren't required to be married to an Apple product just to use it is a big win for me. I have had mine for about 2 or 3 years now and I'm actually thinking about putting it back in the big rig because the Auralic presents way too many issues for me just to get a song to play.

Tom

heiney9

Received the unit and I'm impressed by the heft of the unit and I like when a company spends a bit more on nice packaging. I've found it means they care. I am waiting for the appropriate length ethernet cable to arrive today. I should have it running later today with at least Qobuz.

For now I bought a hefty C7 to IEC adapter so I can use my own power cable.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B098XJ3ZGW?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details




H9

pitdogg2

tratliff wrote: »

VR3 wrote: »

It's not a party until you pop the hood

I at least have to pay it off on my CC first.

Rookie!
😉

SCompRacer

tratliff wrote: »

VR3 wrote: »

It's not a party until you pop the hood

Haha. Haven’t even had it a week yet. I at least have to pay it off on my CC first.

SCompRacer

heiney9 wrote: »

I bought the most current version (gen 3). It also has HDMI arc and a USB. It cost more the Raspberry Pi, but I feel this is going to give me less issues and should rock solid. My brother uses a Pi with Roon and he says it can be frustratingly buggy at times. He's in IT for a living so he can unbug stuff much better than I can.

H9

RPi with RoPieee? I see a lot of folks using them in the DIY community. There are numerous isolation/reclocking hats available. Ian of Canada has a great lineup that is continually upgraded. His github below. Audiophonics is a seller for his products. No affil....been looking at possibly building one.

You made a great choice with the Bluesound Node.

https://github.com/iancanada/DocumentDownload

https://www.audiophonics.fr/en/227_ian-canada#:~:text=IAN CANADA is a Canadian,improve their existing HiFi system.

heiney9

I did pull the trigger on this. I have a great lps already in the Welbourne Labs I used for my SQB Touch. I am also gong to experiment with the USB digital out and coax digital out.

And look around for any other tweaks and mod's, etc.

https://pd-cf.com/produkt/bluesound-node-2021-upgrade-low-noise-psu-interface/

H9

newbie308

I just ordered a Node 2i on Friday last week after reading about it here. I'm looking forward to plugging it in and starting down the digital rabbit hole with separate DACs and upgrades.

msg

newbie308 wrote: »

I just ordered a Node 2i on Friday last week after reading about it here. I'm looking forward to plugging it in and starting down the digital rabbit hole with separate DACs and upgrades.

I don't know of many other places where a guy can say "I'm really looking forward to spending a schiitton of money multiple times until I get it right," and get group support doing it

heiney9

The 2i is the older version, but there are still upgrades and of course the ability to use an external dac. Biggest differences between the current (gen3) and the 2i are no USB or HDMI, slower processor and they tweaked the dac section a little in the (gen3). Other minor differences with the buttons on the top.

Be anxious to hear your comment and journey. I still don't have mine up and running, just haven't had time to really get into it. I didn't want to half-**** it.......lol

H9

steveinaz

My only con is that your coax cable cannot have an overly large head shell, or it won't plug in all the way due to not enough clearance around the female RCA connector. My DHLabs 75 worked, but my Belden 1694A would not. I don't know if this is an issue with the Gen 3 Node.

maxward

Resurrecting this thread to ask whether adding an LPS to a Node improves the SQ even if the Node’s DAC is bypassed?

Clipdat

Possibly maybe.

txcoastal1

Clipdat wrote: »

Possibly maybe.

Well that was a big help😜

treitz3

I don't have any direct experience and normally I do not comment on things that I do not have direct experience with but since you have not gotten an answer to your inquiry, I'll make an exception on this one.

I used to have the BS Node2 in the rig for quite some time years ago but the only thing I did with it was use an external DAC. I believe you have read about my experiences with streaming and extracting every last bit possible out of it. That said. Drew is correct. There are so many variables at play, I don't believe anyone could give you a solid, 100% certain answer to your query.

I will say this, each separate/dedicated/upgraded PS I have added to the streaming rig has had an impact on reducing the incoming or introduced noise. What I mean by introduced noise is the common mode noise, noise riding the signal and current leakage (along with others but you get my drift, I think) introduced by the SMPS that comes with the BS Node2 stock.

A LPS will help to thwart those noises from being fed into the system to amplify. Now, as to improving the SQ? Highly situational dependent. That is the case with literally everyone's rig though. Not just yours. Factors include but are not limited to A/C line noise, EMI, RFI, incoming cable noise, whether or not you have line conditioners or any other noise reducing apparatus, do you have a moat somewhere in the chain, etc..

If it is a good quality LPS, then you should be golden but make no mistake....there is no guarantee that you will notice a difference. Some of these things are cumulative and then you also have to factor in things like the efficiency of your speakers, how revealing it is and how you listen (or what you listen for). All of the aforementioned can and will have a possible effect on whether or not you would hear an improvement on sound quality.

I do remember reading about someone who has done this on this forum before, with positive results and H9 was going to do this before life got in the way but no update on his experience....or if he's even done it yet. If I were in your shoes and you are happy with the BS Node2? I would go for it. It damned sure wouldn't make anything worse. How much it lowers the noise, to where you hear the difference in the playback has way too many variables to say for certain that it will or will not make a difference.

Tom

Clipdat

I would say it also depends on the cost of the LPS. It could make more sense to just save that money and put it towards a different streamer.

maxward

Thanks, Drew and Tom. I’m looking at either addling a streamer and using my current DAC (LKS) vs getting a streamer/DAC and selling the current DAC. The latter option would keep the box count the same since rack space is tight. If the Node had an optical or coax input, I’d give it a try because I’m not sure I’m ready to step up to the Auralic, Lumin, etc. price point just yet.

rooftop59

maxward wrote: »

Thanks, Drew and Tom. I’m looking at either addling a streamer and using my current DAC (LKS) vs getting a streamer/DAC and selling the current DAC. The latter option would keep the box count the same since rack space is tight. If the Node had an optical or coax input, I’d give it a try because I’m not sure I’m ready to step up to the Auralic, Lumin, etc. price point just yet.

I have never tried a node. But with a SB touch and an external dac, a LNS made a clear and discernable difference. Mainly a blacker background and better seperation of instruments, and slightly more articulate bass iirc. Of course, who knows if that would translate? @Jstas?

heiney9

I read it does quite a bit, especially if you use a really good power supply. In my experience with other gear replacing the switching supply with an LPS, the differences have been night and day. I haven't installed mine yet. I will once I get moved and the rig is set-up in it's new home.

Hopefully Phil will chime in. He has thread about adding an LPS to the Blue Node and it was very positive. The search on here stinks, but maybe look for that thread.

Looking up at this thread, it'll be almost 2 years (in September) and I still haven't installed it....lol. My main hang up was integrating the power supply into the rig. SInce I knew I was moving it didn't make sense to tear down the entire rig to add the power supply and then tear it down again to move.

In the new place I'll have a lot more space in a dedicated room. Looking forward to more frequent listening sessions and ease of swapping things in and out.

H9

heiney9

Clipdat wrote: »

I would say it also depends on the cost of the LPS. It could make more sense to just save that money and put it towards a different streamer.

Depends on how much more expensive you mean? You could really make that statement about everything in this hobby.

H9

newbie308

I recently purchased a Node 2 (NIB) from Goodwill for under $100, so I ordered a linear power supply kit to put in it and I'm still under the cost of a new Node. I will audition the Node as is and then again with the "upgrade" and post my findings here. From what I read elsewhere, the linear power supply is most effective when using the internal DAC. If you are using an external DAC the linear power supply is not necessary.

newbie308

I'm still waiting on the linear power supply, but in the meantime I decided to compare the on board DAC with the stock power supply to the Tri Vista 21. It's really no comparison at all. The Tri Vista is way better. More clarity, deeper bass, and more high range sparkle. I'm still planning on doing the power supply upgrade, but I seriously doubt that it will top what I'm hearing with the external DAC.

treitz3

Actually, it would most likely enhance even more what benefits you are getting from the DAC. I definitely agree on your assessment of the external DAC. That's the one I ran with the BS Node2 when I had it.

It has been my experience that anytime you attack noise riding the signal? It is a good thing. I can't really stress that part enough.

Tom

newbie308

Did you find the music to be lifeless and dull from the Node? I understand that it is supposed to be CD quality, but I feel uninterested and blah about sitting and listening to the music when I use the Node. However, when I play the same material from CD through my Oppo/Tri Vista combo, I enjoy the music more. I also have a very frustrating latency issue with my internet service right now. The music just cuts out for 5 to 10 seconds every hour or so. I'm sure that is because I am using a cellular modem.

treitz3

With the Node by itself? Yes. That's why I made the comment that is was delegated to background music only. I could never really critically listen to it. The Tri-Vista definitely brought it to another level but it was still lacking, when directly compared to physical music off LP or Just the Marantz SA7S1(now retired).

Until you get the internet issues addressed, it will be hard to ever get streaming to a level that is comparable to physical music IME. I know, it took me almost 2 years to figure out how to solve the internet/Wi-Fi solution in my house. Then, ya' gotta work on eliminating as much noise that rides the signal to really bring out the best of streaming.

Tom

gudnoyez

Run a Blue Node I got from Tony B probably original model through a Musical Fidelity DAC with Tidal, with good success. I think they shine at the price range they go for.

treitz3

"Price point".

Ed Zachary. They are what they are. Nothing more, nothing less. A bargain to get you into the game......but what a game it is!......and with the best (IMO) operating system/user control system out there. (again, IMO)

Tom

invalid

I hope bluesound doesn't have the best operating system, my node has been nothing but trouble on the operating system side of things