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Bluesound Node 2i digital output problems...

I took delivery of a Bluesound Node 2i a few days ago and am so far happy with it apart from a few quirks with
the software and how it works with Tidal. Also a little disappointed that it doesn’t directly support Bandcamp.

The bigger potential issue is with the digital outputs. My amp has a built in DAC and I was just curious to see if there was an audible difference between using it and the one internal to the Bluesound but wasn’t expecting the difference I got:

—when connecting the Bluesound with either coax or optical to my Onkyo A-9010 integrated amp, sound only outputs through the left channel, not the right so I’m only getting sound out of one speaker. Both cables are brand new and no amount of wiggling or reinstallation makes a difference. Operation is flawless when using the RCA outputs from the Bluesound to the amp.

I’m not finding anyone discussing the problem of single channel output online anywhere so I’m wondering if I’m missing something really obvious about why this problem might be occurring.

Any ideas?


pip_helix
guy-incognito's avatar
guy-incognito
169 posts
 
Have you looked through the settings yet? You can change the output mode between stereo, mono, left and right. 

Settings, Player, Audio, Output Mode.

Also, if the internal DAC in your Marantz is not MQA capable you can turn off the "MQA external DAC" toggle so the bluesound will still do the first unfold. 

Hope this helps.
mwinkc
377 posts
 
Do you have another digital source that you can plug into the same ports to see if both channels are present? If so...sounds like a Node 2i issue.
I used the internal DAC for a few months, but ended up using a slightly better DAC connected via optical cable... no issues or settings changes were required for the change.
richtruss
163 posts
 
Sounds like a fault with the DAC in the amp. I had that with a Quad Artera, I did a factory reset and it cleared the fault.

dynacohum
678 posts
 
To my knowledge, Sonos supports Bandcamp.
fuzztone's avatar
fuzztone
5,638 posts
 
Try a different DAC to determine where the problem lies.
One of these will do for testing.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/USB-DAC-Audio-Converter-for-USB-optical-Audio-Adapter/393002571808?hash=item5b80c75820:g:z4sAAOSwRIJfoyXL
You might even find that it sounds better.
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