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New Bluesound Node – First Impressions

I'm new to streaming. To get started, I ordered the new Bluesound Node, the just-released successor to the Node2i. It arrived Friday. System: Sonus faber Olympica III speakers, McIntosh MC402 power amp, Magnum Dynalab MD208 used as a preamp, Denon DCD-1600NE SACD/CD player, and various cables, mostly Audioquest. I offer my first impressions, FWIW. I don't claim any particular expertise.

I connected the Node to the pre via Audioquest interconnects. It doesn't accept my aftermarket power cords. Used wireless, not ethernet. I have free trial subscriptions to Amazon Music and Qobuz.

First, Amazon Music. Tried some Beethoven, and some Rameau, with poor results. Compressed, tinny, and unlistenable. 10 minutes of Amazon HD was more than enough.

Next, Qobuz. Brahms, Schumann, Led Zep, Bowie. A very substantial improvement on Amazon HD. Notably, on the same tracks, the Qobuz high-rez sounded significantly better than the Qobuz CD-quality. Differences were immediately apparent on Led Zep's Dazed and Confused, available in both formats.

But the Qobuz high-rez can't compare with CD quality sound on my system as currently configured. On the same recordings, CD quality is clearly superior to Qobuz high-rez played through the Node. Detail, presence, dimensionality – there's no contest.

As a means to explore music to purchase on CD, the Node, playing Qobuz, may or may not suffice. As a substitute for CDs, I very much doubt it will do.

Let me re-emphasize that these are only my first impressions. I don't know how the Node will sound after further break-in, or with an ethernet connection, or with an external DAC, or with different interconnects/preamps/amps/speakers, or with other streaming services. I hope this post is helpful to other forum members considering this or similar equipment.


gg107
Post removed 
parker65310
212 posts
 
I’ve got the Node2. When I first bought it I used the internal DAC. It was ok with high res Tidal streaming. However, when I hooked it up to a MHDT Orchid tube DAC it was a massive upgrade. I also use a digital coax (Node2 to Orchid) and RCA to Balanced XLR to my BAT tube preamp. All cables are from Silnote Audio. Excellent quality via direct sales, very affordable prices with great build quality. I took the setup to my dad’s recently when I visited for a week. He has always been very skeptical about streaming quality compared to cds and that is not the case anymore. He thought this setup sounds better than his CD player and I have to agree. He is still startled with how good it sounded. Every aspect of the sound quality was exceptional through his Martin Logan hybrid speakers (BAT tube preamp and BAT solid state amp). CDs he has listened to for decades he thought emphatically sounded better than he’s every heard them before. Quite an endorsement. Bottom line, upgrade to a separate DAC and only use the Node for the streaming itself.
vinylshadow
533 posts
 
I have the Node 2i and made a crucial upgrade.
I replaced the Node 2i's PSU borad with a PD Creative PSU upgrade board(sold on EBay) and bought a 5V/3A SBooster Linear Power Supply(Upscale Audio). I was then able to use a Vertere Acoustics Redline power cable with a 15A IEC.
The sonics quality jumped immensely. Tremendous improvement. I imagine you could do the same with your Node.

You can find forums where folks did what I did and it is unanimous how great the improvements are. I am not using the Node 2i's DAC. I'm using my Classe processors 24/192v DAC with a Blue Jeans Belden 1694A coax with Canare RCAP connectors. Although I just bought Canare LV-61S cable with Canare RCAP C4A connectors from B&H Photo that are supposed to sound better than the Belden.
oddiofyl's avatar
oddiofyl
4,230 posts
 
I have a Vault 2i and it sounds great .  Quality silver digital coax to my RME adi-2 DAC sounds excellent.  Connected to network via CAT 8 cable.  I have used the Vaults RCA and it sounded decent , not as good as the RME , but sounds pretty good with good source material. 

I am perfectly content, I am curious how much REAL  improvement would cost.   I bought the Vault to mainly rip CDs but it quickly became my most used source due to its streaming capabilities. 
mwinkc
385 posts
 
I've used a Node 2i for 18 months and I agree with many here that it's a great, easy to live with streamer with a mediocre DAC for a modest price.
An external, higher quality DAC definitely improved my SQ. A Morrow coaxial cable and $150 power cable helped a little.
I've had it set up on cat8, gigabyte ethernet originating from my Google Fiber Switch from day one.... didn't want to compromise the data stream with wifi. I think a good, fast, wired connection is important.
I have Spotify & Tidal and just started a 4 month free trial of Amazon. The Node 2i navigates the different sources very well.
For my modest system and my 66 year old ears, the Node 2i with better DAC is quite satisfying. 
Didn't see it mentioned in the discussion yet, but another new feature on the Node is an HDMI-arc input, which is intriguing. The idea of routing TV sound through my main system and outputting to a spare set of speakers at the TV might be an interesting project, since they are in the same room. The arc connection would allow the TV remote to control volume..so no extra remotes or pointing a remote to another part of the room where 2 channel audio resides.


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