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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
jbetanc
8 posts
 
Imac , apple loss less, emotiva pre amp dac, via fiber optic, so far works very good for me
johnnyb43's avatar
johnnyb43
33 posts
 
I've been using bluesound vault for 2 years now and I love it. .I have the first model. Try putting some nordost sort cones under it that will improve your experience even more. 
mofojo OP
2,304 posts
 
Using the internal DAC of the Bluesound. Very listenable actually. Not as detailed or deep as the DAC-2 but more listenable on less than stellar recordings. MQA tracks sound very good as well. 
sandydennis11's avatar
sandydennis11
64 posts
 
I’m using a iMac with Roon/Tidal to the PSAudio Directstream with the bridge11 and cant imagine it getting better than this. PS Audio is looking into MQA but seriously doubt they will go for it unless MQA lessens their demands.
Then send all through the Parasound JC2 preamp to Parasound JC 1's then my Thiel CS3.7’s with their SS2 sub.. On some extremely brassy music the 3.7’s tend to be a little sharp so I switch to the Kef 207/2’s
c_s
15 posts
 
I went from Sonos to computer audio to Aries mini - it was immediately apparent that the Aries was more spacious and relaxed, and upgrading its stock power supply to the Aries LPS brought it up yet another significant step.  Currently running to a Gungnir multibit via USB.   
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