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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
mahler123
3,322 posts
 

All good comments here.  Ethernet and using the Mac DAC the way to go.  I would get use to Bluesound for at least a few months before considering an upgrade 

ericsch
752 posts
 

@audiotroy What does this mean?
"neveruse optical coax or usb willl be best"

Do you ever proofread your posts?
There is a preview option you can use, review
the post and make corrections as necessary.
 

 

mgattmch OP
571 posts
 

Thanks for everyone response to my post. Experimented at the weekend with an optical/toslink connection to the preamp (C52 does the D/A) and analog from the Bluesound Node to the C51 (Bluesound Node does the D/A). Not really a great deal of difference IMHO. The optical/toslink connection was probably slightly better (clearer/crisp?)?

christianb5s4
236 posts
 

I found in my system coaxial was best. The main determinant of the sound quality was connecting it to ethernet (hardwired) which made a big improvement.

 

I didn't find the USB was noticeably different than coaxial, which the Node was feeding into an external DAC.

jond's avatar
jond
5,807 posts
 

Try using coax from the Node to the C52 see if that's better.

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