Best Way To Connect A Bluesound Node


Just upgraded to a Bluesound Node streamer and would appreciate your thoughts on how best to use it. Set it up yesterday; iPad Air running Bluesound software (running Qobuz and Tidal) via WiFi to the Bluesound Node, analog out into a McIntosh C52 preamp, MC312 power amp and Magico A5 speakers. SQ was excellent IMHO. I know I have to try this for myself, but, will SQ improve if I connect via bluetooth instead of WiFi? Similarly if I connect the Bluesound Node via an optical cable into the C52 and have the McIntosh act as the DAC? Any other suggestions you have to optimize SQ would be appreciated.

Finally, those of you that have upgraded to a C53 from a C52, is this a worthwhile upgrade?

mgattmch

Bluetooth will sound worse than wifi don't go that route, and yes do try the Dac in your Mac it may indeed be an improvement.

I used to have a Node2 and C2600 preamp.

I found my best experience was ethernet cable to Node and I tried both optical and coaxial to the preamp and didn't notice a difference - I used optical.  I preferred the DAC in the preamp over the DAC in the node.

Overall I used Tidal primarily with connectivity to a server for my local files.  

Good luck and enjoy!

Wired Ethernet for fuller sound and you need to try which of the following connectors sounds best to your ears

Optical, Coax or USB. 

The quality of digital cables matters too so choose wisely. Check out DH Labs, their digital cables are pretty darn good for the money. 

https://silversonic.com/products/digital-cables/