I have been using Bluesound for about 6-8 years now. I own the Node 2, Vault 2 and now the Node X. I agree it’s a great player with a great OS/User interface. The Node X now comes with a remote. The Node X internal DAC is a huge improvement in sound but I noticed each Bluesound player can sound better with a higher quality external DAC and external linear power supply to replace the stock parts. I am using the Teddy Pardo PS and Denafrips Pontus 12 anniversary DAC with the Node X and a PD Creative PS and Schiit Bifrost 2 DAC with the Node 2. I have both Qobuz and Tidal, but I must say I prefer Tidal. MQA and Hi-res FLAC files sound superb to me. If i had to come up with a beef with Bluesound and also a major strength I would say the units work much better wired via ethernet than the occasional wifi dropout (beef). The strength is in customer support and help. The Bluesound website and staff are very, very good. They have helped me more than once when I was doing something unusual and needed to point the device to my NAS storage and other things.
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My 2 cents (since you asked): You did not mention if you have an outboard DAC, so I'm going to assume that you do not. (1) IF you decide to go with BlueSound, make sure to buy the Node 130 (third generation) or the Node X. Both have superior DACs over the 2i, which is several years old. If you go this less expensive route, I'd highly consider adding an LHY linear power supply kit ($279) as well, it does make a noticeable improvement in SQ. The Node X also has a headphone amp, that the others do not (2) Eversolo DMP-A6 is becoming a very popular product, but I have only heard it in a friends system; never in my own to compare with my Node 130/LHY LPS.....it did however sound excellent. LHY also has a linear power supply option for this as well at $289. The reviews have been nothing less than stellar, and seems to have an above average DAC as well. Do some reading up, I think you'll find a lot to like.....and probably the inexpensive route if I were to do it all over again. The Eversolo is also the only one that you can add internal storage if you want to rip files to play locally, has XLR outputs as it has a fully balanced pre-amp (3) Wiim Pro Plus - I have heard only the Pro Plus unit with it's included DAC, and also into a Denafrips Ares II external DAC. IMO the DAC is not of audiophile quality, but the streamer seems just fine.....but limited in connections, no ethernet input, no USB out, no XLR out. (4) Dump Spotify, Tidal and Qobuz are far superior streaming services. (5) If you have the option to, go direct into the streamer with ethernet (not an option on the Wiim) Best of luck |
I have a Bluesound Node 130, and found its DAC quite adequate, with barely discernible improvement (if any) adding an outboard Denafrips Ares II DAC. The Bluesound app lets you see the strength of your Wi-fi signal. Mine is excellent when my network is functioning well (most of the time), and I rarely have dropouts even with hi-res streaming. Maybe in some congested areas wi-fi is more problematic than an ethernet cable, which apparently introduces its own set of problems. So in sum, I think you may do fine with wi-fi streaming with a Node for under your target price. I use both Qobuz and Tidal for streaming, Qobuz most of the time. They lack some titles Tidal has, so then I use Tidal. One virtue of the Bluesound app is it organizes your favorites and playlists for whatever streaming companies you subscribe to, and it supports many of them. So in addition to Qobuz and Tidal, I subscribe to TuneIn for "radio" stations all around the world. |
I had so much unused audio stuff in my garage mothball yard that I decided to make a bedroom system to listen to in bed. I had unused Denon 4311 with totl audessey , gnp speakers , Hisense tv with built in roku , a Dayton 15 sub and infinity ssw212 sub. I have one year sub to Apple Music ( around $100). Tv is connected to receiver with toslink. I’m shocked how good it all sounds. |
For those of you into watching YouTube reviews with a grain of salt, here’s a recent one (Tharbamar) that compares the Eversolo DMP-A6, the WiiM Pro (unfortunately not the better Pro Plus), and the Matrix i4: As for Spotify, I simply got tired of being lied to about when they were going lossless with at least CD quality. I’ll never go back to them, even if they offered it for $1/month. Their bait and switch kept me on lossy Spotify needlessly for a year. |
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