BluSound Node and Node 2

Thanks to the OP for the post. I had been considering a Node but based on the information in this thread I'll probably go another direction.

Regarding the high rating on Amazon, I take that with a grain of salt because most people leave their rating fairly soon after receiving and installing their product. It it tends to work OK for the first few months and then breaks down very few people go back and leave another rating.

I don't know what percentage of Nodes are failing but apparently it's enough so that there are known issues. It doesn't appear that Bluesound is taking it seriously as far as I can tell.

The biggest issue to me is the poor customer service. If the unit is not functioning properly it should be replaced with a new unit. It's probably unusual that the OP got two defective units in a row but odds are it's going to happen once in a while.

I always take complaints about a particular product with a healthy dose of skepticism but this one seems to have good credibility.

This is for the ones who are sticking to their NODE 130: There is a brand new update avaliable. Just installed it. Incredibly enough, the sound improvement is absolutely significant. It exhibits much more space, even going further outside the speakers and better filling the entire front wall. All while even becoming lighter on its feet. I'm floored.

baylinor,

I’m keeping mine for now.  I just downloaded the upgrade and it went well.  A prior upgrade bricked my player.  The fix was to load the upgrade from a usb stick. Your post gave me courage.  Haven’t tried it for sound yet.  Multi use room.

I had a Node 2i and now have a Node (130).

Have external DACs. BS is great.

i added a Teddy Pardo LPS last year and i think made BS even better.

Love the app, love widi connectivity, love airplay, love Bluetooth for frirnds when they come over.

great value for $550.

Sounds like the OP has had bad luch and vented here. Says more about him than about BS,

even though I’ve had a couple of Bluesound units go bad after a few years, I still use one that has survived and recommend Bluesound as an entry point to people who want high resolution streaming. It does an amazing number of things, and fairly well, at that price point.

As for reliability, well all streamers are networking computers that are gussied up to look and sound like audio products. I think of them like Dell Laptops. I’ve worked at places that had 20 or more Dells in circulation in one office, and every few months one has to be replaced. Maybe 80% survive the long run. I’ve talked with IT people that say when they open up the insides of a Dell they can’t believe what cheap parts are in use. Bluesound also probably has to cut a few corners to make that price point .

I heard the newer Node demonstrated at a shop, on equipment and recordings that I knew well, and I was very impressed with the improved DAC.

So I still think it is a great entry point for high resolution streaming, with one of the best apps. If you are unlucky enough to get a unit that fails hopefully it happens while under warranty. And if it goes bad after 5 years or more of heavy use, then the purchaser got their money worth. After all no CD Laser lasts forever either