NAD C-388 w/BluOS2i WiFi Connectivity

I have moved on to NAD M12, which uses the exact same dongle, and am still using that for wifi connection. Having both C388 and M12 (without built-in amp), I can say that any improvement of sound quality from the 'upgrade' is marginal.
I didn't need the amp section of C388 and wanted the M12 for its features - specifically the digital coax output and XLR in/out - M12 also has bigger, nicer, touch screen.

@mwatsme thank you so much, now I am using a wifi bridge with Ethernet output to connect to the MDC 2i for airplay and it works well so far. But I think I will order an replacement USB wifi dongle anyway since I can’t use Bluos app without wifi. Wish you the best. 

I agree it is good to make the unit complete and fully functional - especially if it might be sold or handed down later.
However, as long as the BluOS control device (PC, tablet, cellphone) is on the same network, it should be able to control the BluOS2i MDC card for streaming services and NAS. So if the wifi bridge is on the same network, it should work - although, I haven't tried it.

Also, I had the HDM-2 MDC card installed in C388, and it works great too - now moved to the M12. I use it for watching music videos on YouTube, concerts, Netflix, and Bluray - essentially a 2-ch music/video experience.

The BluOS app also has an Alexa skill available for voice control using Azon Echo devices. "Alexa, ask Bluevoice to...", benefit to doing it this way is the stream isn't bit-reduced by the Echo device; instead, you get full quality/resolution of the streaming service. Have used Tidal this way, before switching to Amazon Music Ultra HD family plan. BluOS MDC supports MQA and does Tidal just fine, but the cost/value/library and ease of use with AzonUHD wins. Pretty wife can listen to country in one room, son can listen to Celtic metal (or whatever that noise is called), while I enjoy my music on the 2-ch system all simultaneously in UHD - which is brilliant. At this point, we have 3 BluOS devices; M12, C388, and a Node2i, which can be easily grouped/ungrouped spontaneously for multi-room/whole-home effect (similar to Sonos/Heos/MusicCast/etc.) all in UHD - and with access to AzonHD personal playlists (my Denon AVR w/HEOS can't do that). My impression is BluOS is a great system with awesome functionality, which adds tremendously to the value of NAD units like C388, M12 and others.

Registered an account here just because this thread solved months' worth of frustration. I have the 2i MDC in my C368 primarily for streaming music, and it's been a nightmare getting it to stay linked to my network and to Spotify Connect. NAD's support just reiterates the same "reboot it" then "it's Spotify's fault" every time I've sent in error logs. 

 

If you're reading this in the future and the Wi-Fi is giving you grief, find any way to get an ethernet cable in your 2i MDC possible. I took an old router and set up a wireless ethernet bridge in 5 minutes, and now it works flawlessly. Most modern WiFi networks are centered around 5GHz, and even when I'd force my phone to get on the same 2.4GHz channel as the 2i's WiFi dongle, I'd would still experience frequent disconnects and drops, or sync issues between what Spotify was supposed to be playing vs. what the MDC was playing. 

 

I'm not thrilled this $500 product has such a cheap WiFi dongle that doesn't support 5GHz, but after hours of troubleshooting, configuring router settings, and turning receivers and routers off and on dozens of times, save yourself the headache and get a WiFi ethernet bridge if you can't hardwire it directly. 

The main difference will be interface. With a DAC playing a thumb drive, you are at the mercy of that DAC's interface (on-screen vs app-based, remote vs no remote etc.). If you have a huge amount of music, and depending on the thumb drive's folder structure and DAC's interface etc., it may be cludgey to navigate.

With a PC, you use the Application of your choice and can control it in a number of ways... physically manipulating the laptop, wireless keyboard with laptop hooked up to a large screen, or even using a mobile app to control the PC app etc. From a PC you can also access the internet and all streaming services.

I have a dedicated PC in my 2-channel setup and another dedicated PC in my HT setup... it's hard to go back once you're spoiled like this. PCs can do... everything :) And you can get good refurbs for super cheap nowadays.