2. digital
  3. 129367-1630

Computer, software, USB cable or ?

Had some friends over for the holiday weekend and was playing a bunch of different stuff.  Started with some cable radio @ 48K via TOSLINK into my C50 DAC.  Sounded about as you would expect; good but not great.  Standard streaming, IOW.  Moved on to digital from my laptop via USB.  It's a MacBook Pro from 2012 with OS X 10.11.6 (El Capitan), 2.5 GHz i5 processor and 8 GB 1600 MHz DDR3 RAM.  I have the audio MIDI interface set to upscale everything to 32 bit 192 KHz so I can use iTunes as the file serving app for both standard and hi-rez files.  The USB cable is a decent quality computer cable, not an "audiophile" cable.  The sound was again good, but not great.  All files are ripped in WAV at source resolution (e.g. 16/44.1, 24/96 etc.). Bluntly, it just doesn't compare to my MVP 881 BR disc player.

I'm not expecting my computer source to rock my world, but I am wondering if there might be some way to get better performance.  Thanks in advance and I'll look forward to your input!
effischer
Post removed 
williewonka
3,082 posts
 
effischer...

  The C50 doesn't have a wireless capability and there is no way for me to run computer cable to it of any kind short of tearing out the ceiling in my basement 
The Node 2 has wireless as well as Ethernet networking, so it should connect to your router OK

it also has... 
- Digital Coax and Optical outputs
- a USB port - so you can connect a USB drive directly to it

So...
- it can connect directly to your C50 via SPDIF or optical
- it can connect ro a USB drive directly, i.e.  requires no networking for playing your digital library on a hard drive
- connects wirelessly to the internet via your router - for the various streaming services

From the Blusound web site: 
 Access your downloads and your entire iTunes library – or any other USB NAS drive connected – all without ever turning on a computer. 

FYI - I did run it wireless at one point, but experienced dropouts playing 24/192 tracks - however that was when my wife was working from home adn using the computer + VOIP phone.

Once she got off the phone everything was OK :-)

It's a pretty flexible unit + it has a pretty good DAC and Analogue output stage (if required)

Something to ponder :-)

Regards...
effischer OP
562 posts
 
@williewonka - Just got done reviewing the user manuals for both the Node and the Vault.  Yes, indeed - they both connect to the network via WiFi.  That should solve just about everything, and I thank you for cluing me in.

One question I still have however, is about Internet radio.  90.7 FM out of New Orleans streams their broadcast, and it's one of several stations I like to listen to in this way.  Does the BlueSound control app allow streaming from these stations (sites) directly?

BTW, my buddy went from the Node 2 to the Vault because he had the same problem with playback of hi-rez files when using the Internet (he cut the telephone cord years ago).  He says it worked well.
williewonka
3,082 posts
 
Effischer - re:...
One question I still have however, is about Internet radio.  90.7 FM out of New Orleans streams their broadcast, and it's one of several stations I like to listen to in this way.  Does the BlueSound control app allow streaming from these stations (sites) directly?
I'm listening to it as I type :-)

Simply select "Tune In" from the controller app  interface and then select
- State
- City
- then the radio station from the list provided

There is also a "custom setup' facility for stations not on the list, but I've never had to use it.

I did not go for the vault because I wanted to implement a mirrored RAID NAS. 

In the event of a hard drive failure I simply plug in a new hard drive and the NAS copies everything from the mirror automatically.

Yes - my hard drive failed - so I have first hand experience of drive replacement - RAID makes life very simple.

Regards - Steve
   
auxinput
2,920 posts
 
@effischer - I just came across another re-clocker option.  Take a look at the Gustard U12.  You can get it for $169 at Amazon.  It uses TCXO clocks and had a much better power supply than the Remedy Reclocker.  I think it would beat the Remedy.  Gustard products have had excellent feedback.  I would use COAX digital output from this to feed into your C50.
More to discover