2. digital
  3. 159820-22080

Cambridge CXN vs Bluesoune Node?

I'm a total n00b to streaming, and have an old-school system comprising Cambridge CXC -> Schiit Gungnir DAC -> ARC LS27 --> ARC SD135 --> Vandersteen Treo speakers.  I'm just now unboxing these after 4 years of bumpy life.  But my season tickets to the Seattle Symphony have turned into access to streaming through YouTube. So I need a way to get the YouTube audio into my ARC electronics.

I first considered the Audioengine B-Fi, and then the Bluesound Node 2i and the Cambridge CXN.  Some have told me the Cambridge has better sound, but only using its built-in DAC;  so if I use my external Schiit DAC, I wonder if i would hear the difference.

The other thing I would like to do is access Internet radio.  I'm discovering that I enjoy connecting to Accuradio on my Sonos Port when I'm working from home.  I'm actually using an Ocean Digital Internet radio as my clock radio in my bedroom.  So it would be nice to also connect Internet radio to my good system, although I'm not sure yet whether I want to pay for services like Spotify, etc.  

If you were me, with this gear and these interests, what would be the most relevant differences between these options?

Thanks in advance!
rach_fan
rach_fan OP
25 posts
 
I’m intrigued. The SHD Studio has Dirac Live, and Volumio Network streamer, but loses the DAC. That’s fine for me, because I like my Schiit DAC.

I’m just wondering whether the room correction would be for me more of a gimmick. I can almost hear an ARC friend suggesting that this unit is nowhere near the level of my ARC components. I have never heard a room correction system in action, so it’s good to hear about your experience.

By the way, we discovered today that the Symphony concerts will be using the ’inplayer’ platform. The only option is to connect with a web browser---no way to directly stream it. So I will likely have to cast it somehow. Perhaps Airplay from my iPad. The SHD has no way of receiving that, am I correct?  The Cambridge does have Airplay capability.

The good news is that the inplayer stream appears to be better than YouTube. It’s the same compression and resolution used by the Berlin Phil: AAC compression with a 48kHz / 24-bit resolution and streaming audio bitrate up to 192 kbps.  
djones51
4,947 posts
 
Dirac is comparable to ARC. You can tweak Dirac more than ARC but you don't have to, you can use the filter it recommends. 
rach_fan OP
25 posts
 
Sorry, my bad.  By "ARC" I meant Audio Research Corp. I'm concerned that messing with the signal in such a fundamental way as room correction might be risky if the quality of the components or implementation is at a lower level than my other components (Audio Research LS27, SD135, Vandersteen Treo).
rach_fan OP
25 posts
 
Would it make sense to try to connect the iPad to a USB cable, into the SHD?  Or perhaps connect my computer --- but I would need a 25 foot cable.  Does that work with USB?  This would just be for those Symphony concerts using the 'inplayer' platform, which only provides access through a web browser.
yogi42
21 posts
 
I have the Anthem 1140 and considering the Node 2i or the Cambridge CNX v2. I need some help making my decision. And how to connect the 1140

Thank you
More to discover