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Any advantage to Bluesound Node 2i Versus Streaming from PC

I'm trying a loaner Bluesound Node 2i streamer which salesperson said will sound better than streaming from my PC.  I doubted this since both are just feeding a digital signal to my Amp.  It's just zeros and ones right?   I have the Bluesound connected with a decent (not high end) digital coaxial cable to my Lyngdorf 3400.  The PC is connected with a cheap USB cable to the same Lyngdorf.  The sensitivity of both inputs is set to 0dB.  The bluesound is set to fixed volume and the PC volume is set to max.  I am playing Tidal through both input devices.  I am trying to discern if there is any difference in sound quality.  When played through the amp the bluesound volume is a whole lot louder than the PC.  I have not found a way to level match the two inputs for comparison.  The bluesound sounds good and is a lot louder per any particular volume setting on the amp.  Does this mean the Bluesound is sending a better signal to the amp?  Is the  coaxial cable a better medium to transmit the  audio signal?  Is this the reason it's louder?  Could the Tidal feed through Bluesound be better than the Tidal Desktop app on my PC?  I need some help as I have to decide by Saturday whether to keep the Bluesound or return it. Other than sound quality there are only minor advantages to owning the Bluesound which don't warrant the purchase.  My amp has a built in streamer but no built in Tidal (which is the reason I'm using the PC.)
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ppack's avatar
ppack OP
26 posts
 
I curious about Roon and thinking about giving it a try.  They say computer should have solid state drive and mine has spinning disk.  However if the computer is on 24/7 does it matter if it has a spinning drive?  Also I'm using the computer to access entertainment from Amazon Prime, YouTube websites, etc.  Does it matter if the computer is not entirely dedicated to Roon?  I don't use if for any actual computing but it does Microsoft Office suite, Itunes etc? 

What do you mean Lyngdorf won't provide full experience.  Master tracks playing through Tidal show up as 24/96.  Assume  I would get at least equal quality using Lyngdorf as Roon endpoint?
soundchasr
159 posts
 
I've been down this road with Roon.  You can do everything absolutely perfectly, the way Roon says you should, or you can just use what you have and if you think something is missing, make a change later.  Try Roon and see how you like it before investing in all of the things they say you need.  You can quickly drive yourself nuts by trying all of the requirements Roon has.  

I use Roon once in a while because I like the information it provides. But for music listening, I prefer Audirvana or Tidal.  I'm one of the few who doesn't like the sound of Roon (blasphemy!).  

sptwriter
7 posts
 
If the Node is like my Vault, the volume can be controlled with the plus and minus buttons at the top of the device.
ejlif's avatar
ejlif
1,370 posts
 
Roon is a deep dive if you take it.  I was frustrated at first with it but am so glad I stuck it out.  I can't imagine life without it.  It's the most important piece in my system.  Seems like many are confused by how it works.  Roon is the software (the core) that runs and controls all the files like your own local hard drive files or those through Tidal or Quobuz.  You need a computer and ideally a dedicated computer to run it.  Then the streamers are the end points.  They don't run the software they just are access points to be able to play to from the main (core) computer either wirelessly or wired depending on the unit.  I have many endpoints that also have access to Spotify connect so sometimes I use that in in that case Roon is not at all used.  It's nice for a streamer to have Spotify connect, Roon, airplay and bluetooth.  You are pretty much covered for anything if it has all four of those.  You can add Roon remote to any iOS or android (I think ) or desktop computer to be able to remotely control the core software.  
mahler123
3,318 posts
 
Lyngdorf doesn’t support MQA.  It doesn’t do the “unfold” or whatever the term is.  What you are referring to is bit rate.  Read up on MQA  so that you understand you need both a streamer and a DAC need to support it.
  I tried Roon with a MacAir vintage 2010.  It worked for a day but when I turned it on the next day the Computer froze and seriously overheated.  My one day trial didn’t tantalize me enough to want to retry.  I would run it on a dedicated PC, or else buy one of Roons own machines.  
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