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Going from computer audio to dedicated streamer

A few days ago I purchased a Bluesound Node 2. Immediately after hooking it up I noticed a more relaxed less digital sound than I was getting from my Mac mini into my Wyred 4 Sound Dac-2. My hookup for the Mac was via a good usb cable into a Musical Fidelity Vlink192 coax into the Wyred 4 Sound. It is every bit as detailed as streaming Tidal through the Mac but is more "musical" and relaxed. An example would be on high dynamic contrasts the Mac could sound harsh and a little piercing in the highs. This was with every speaker I have owned. Not that it sounded bad overall, actually sounded quite good but I am loving this upgrade so far. No more messing with Amarra or Audirvana for me and dealing with the associated crashes etc.   
I am curious of others experiences good or bad moving away from computer audio to something else.
Also is anyone running an external hard drive with their music collection and running though the Bluesound or similar device and how is that working out?   
mofojo
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wtf's avatar
wtf
307 posts
 
@mofojo .. congrats on your purchase. 

I moved from a Mac mini to a Bluesound Node 2 just over a year ago and never looked back. I don't miss any of it. I think the sound quality of the Node 2 is every bit as good, if not better, than the mini. (I have licenses for Amarra Symphony, Audirvava +, Bit Perfect, Fidelia, HQPlayer, JRMC, and Pure Music.) I'm really happy with the Bluesound platform and purchased a Pulse Flex also.

My music (flac) is located on an Oyen Digital MiniPro USB hard drive attached to my AirPort Extreme router for the most simple NAS imaginable .. works great. 

Best of luck with the Node 2. 


ghosthouse's avatar
ghosthouse
4,316 posts
 

Hello mofojo - 
Curious if you have tried running digital out from the BlueSound Node into the V-Link and then to the W4S vs BlueSound going right to your W4S DAC. 

I went from a MacBook Air >> V-Link >> Gungnir, then switched to an Aries Mini.  Wasn't too impressed with the Aries direct to the Gungnir but when I put the V-Link back in the path, the sound improved greatly.  

My CDP hardly gets any use these days.  Listening mostly to ripped ALAC, Tidal or Spotify via the Aries>>V-Link>>Gungnir.  
mofojo OP
2,304 posts
 
ghosthouse
The Vlink 192 only has a USB input. I definitely would try this if possible but the Node 2 does not have a USB output. I am considering a wyred4sound remedy for this. The digital out from the Bluesound seems pretty clean but I'm sure could be improved with convertor. Since you are hearing an improvement makes me more curious to try one.
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ncarv
983 posts
 
Why do you need the Vlink? Can't you run the Node directly into the W4S with coax or toslink? I'm also curious of the result, too.
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