Blue Node...who is using one

treitz3

What is it doing? (Or not doing)

Tom

rooftop59

newbie308 wrote: »

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.

With squeezeboxes (especially the touch) I always noticed an improvement with a good linear power supply, and I was always using an external DAC fwiw...

invalid

treitz3 wrote: »

What is it doing? (Or not doing)

Tom

When I first got it, the song would change and the data would stay on the last song, that issue went away a few updates ago. It has always froze up and then I have to uninstall the app and reinstall it, also with the latest update, it's constantly looking for my node even though I have opened the app and amm listening to music with it.

newbie308

That's interesting @invalid . For me, the installation, setup, and operation of the Bluesound was flawless. I downloaded the app, plugged the unit in, and was streaming music in fewer than 10 minutes. Then I transferred my favorites from Pandora and ran the update when prompted. I'm sorry that you had difficulty with yours.

treitz3

invalid wrote: »

treitz3 wrote: »

What is it doing? (Or not doing)

Tom

When I first got it, the song would change and the data would stay on the last song, that issue went away a few updates ago. It has always froze up and then I have to uninstall the app and reinstall it, also with the latest update, it's constantly looking for my node even though I have opened the app and amm listening to music with it.

Hmmm, is it hardwired or over wi-fi? Also, what is your "remote"?

Tom

invalid

treitz3 wrote: »

invalid wrote: »

treitz3 wrote: »

What is it doing? (Or not doing)

Tom

When I first got it, the song would change and the data would stay on the last song, that issue went away a few updates ago. It has always froze up and then I have to uninstall the app and reinstall it, also with the latest update, it's constantly looking for my node even though I have opened the app and amm listening to music with it.

Hmmm, is it hardwired or over wi-fi? Also, what is your "remote"?

Tom

It's hardwired, remote is my Motorola Moto G phone.

treitz3

Okay, that's weird. It should work fine, even with lower speeds. Is your phone getting a good signal or using VOIP?

Tom

invalid

My phone gets a good signal from wifi, I don't ever use VoIP.

newbie308

@treitz3 what streamer are you running currently? I have been eyeballing the NAD M16 ever since I heard the M33 at a local audio store. The idea of an all in one preamp, phono stage, Blue os streamer and DAC is very appealing, but at the same time scary. I have only heard the streamer portion and that sounds fantastic.

rooftop59

Not Tom, but I have had great experience with Cambridge streamers at their price point, and drew @Clipdat is highly recommending their new entry level streamer fwiw...

treitz3

@invalid - Man, I don't know what to tell you then. I never experienced any of those issues when I had mine, and I had some pretty bad internet/Wi-fi during that time. It just worked and worked flawlessly for me and the family, from pretty much any remote we used (phone or laptop) throughout the house.

@newbie308 - Currently running with the Lumin UX1 with an Audio Sensibilities umbilical and SRA PC.

Tom

heiney9

Mine has worked flawlessly. I do have the Node 3 which has updated processing and dac. I've never tried the internal dac but reviews say it is a bit better than the 2, but I have pretty high standards.

The Node software isn't the greatest, but it does work for me every time. I will be integrating Roon as soon as I get in the new place and have things set up.

For me coming from a SQB Touch it was the perfect choice. I run it hardwired.

H9

tonyb

I remember when all this streaming talk was farmland, lol.

I think in the begining, the concern was swapping quality for convenience. I think in some aspects, it still is. Mainly because one has to realize any device that wants to be a jack of all trades, is going to have to make some compromises, especially at the lower price points.

Once you come to grips with a decent external dac to kick up the quality, adding in a quality pre-amp/amp....then you have something. Many audio shows are running streamers, you'd be hard pressed to tell the difference between CD.

Of course, many out there are not into audio to the tune we wack jobs are. So you'll have all in one devices for those everyday casual listening people. Devices that don't take up a lot of room, easy peasy to set up and easy software to navigate while not looking too ugly either on a shelf. The Node hits those marks as a stand alone . To make it better, you add better playmates. But then you have more componants taking up space, more wires, and your back at square one. Except for the convenience factor, which then becomes the main selling point.

newbie308

I had a strange experience with my Node 2 last weekend. Essentially, the SPDIF coax digital output stopped working about 15 minutes into playing music, and no matter what I tried I could not get it to work again. I did a little online investigating into this issue, and learned that this is a very common problem that Bluesound refused to acknowledge for several customers who complained about the issue. One owner tried an iFi in line RCA coax S/PDIF i-purifier and that solved his issue, but I don't have one to try on my Node. I tried various cables and DAC's, but the only solution was to use a toslink cord between the Node and the external DAC. The analog outputs work, and the Toslink works, but not the coax RCA connection. I know that the RCA coax DAC input works on each of the DAC's I tried because I tested them with another source.

pearsall001

newbie308 wrote: »

I had a strange experience with my Node 2 last weekend. Essentially, the SPDIF coax digital output stopped working about 15 minutes into playing music, and no matter what I tried I could not get it to work again. I did a little online investigating into this issue, and learned that this is a very common problem that Bluesound refused to acknowledge for several customers who complained about the issue. One owner tried an iFi in line RCA coax S/PDIF i-purifier and that solved his issue, but I don't have one to try on my Node. I tried various cables and DAC's, but the only solution was to use a toslink cord between the Node and the external DAC. The analog outputs work, and the Toslink works, but not the coax RCA connection. I know that the RCA coax DAC input works on each of the DAC's I tried because I tested them with another source.

Sorry to hear about the issue your having with the NODE. I'm wondering if it could be a bad unit & hopefully it's still under warranty. In previous posts I see where you aren't too excited about it's performance. Just thinking out loud here but maybe your current issue may also be effecting it's performance.
I bought my NODE 2i back in October of 2020 and it has been solid as a rock & sounds phenomenal. I hope you can get the issues resolved.

newbie308

@pearsall001 I suspect that this unit is one of the original (old) Node2 models and it is well outside of the warranty period. From what I understand, the 2i and later units have not had this issue. I find it very strange that it worked fine for a couple weeks of continuous use and then just decided it no longer wanted to play nice with the external DAC.

tonyb

I had a first generation node, and a Sonos. As a stand alone, the Node was slightly better on sound quality. Run into an external dac, exactly the same. To me at the time, the Sonos was more user friendly on the software side of things so the Node went.

Today, at least the Node is making attempts at making their product better, both software and audio quality. Sonos, not so much. They are still focused like a laser beam on the software side, and could care less about audio quality because they think most can't tell a difference anyway. I've gone my rounds with Sonos administration about this, they refuse to see the writing on the wall.