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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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itsjustme
681 posts
 
The amp is listed as “Roon ready” and Roon shows up as one of the inputs.  If I had Roon does this mean I can stream directly to the amp without going through my PC as I’m doing now?

yep
Advantages? Less stuff.  I cannot see any possible advantage of going ethernet --> ethernet --> stuff --> SPDIF (which has timing issues) --> DAC (built in) as compared to ethernet --> DAC's bridge

soundchasr
159 posts
 
Direct is always better.  Unless something in the chain does something to the sound that you like. 
itsjustme
681 posts
 
Direct is always better. Unless something in the chain does something to the sound that you like.

Generally good advice, but in the digital streaming chain there are complications:
1. sometimes an intermediate device isolates noise, for example any time you add a network (ethernet) connection rather than source --. USB --> DAC.  This is almost always good.
2. to distribute processing power - both for load balancing and again to isolate the resulting noise.  Roon is very clear that they favor a 3-step chain of 1) core, 2) bridge, 3) DAC

That said "downstairs" i go directly from my ROCK core to my DAC.  Bad me. Sounds great.
doctorrob77's avatar
doctorrob77
24 posts
 
That’s right cannot hear a difference, except when paired with certain audio components all around or with Tidal (MQA), maybe.
audioman58's avatar
audioman58
4,135 posts
 
Anyone using a printer cable is at a Huge audio disadvantage 
try a Audio Quest carbon for example $169 
and give it 250-300 hours it will destroy any cheap cables much more then just 0110s there is isolation  no crosstalk distortions , timing errors far less which=
jitter which is digital noise . I went through several and settled on theFinal Note 
callisto usb cable . Retail. $860 but everything sound noticeably. More natural
In my system.
oddiofyl's avatar
oddiofyl
3,825 posts
 
One thing I forgot to mention, unlike a PC is the Node is silent , like my Vault.   The fan noise of a PC can be annoying at lower volumes

I use my Vault's streaming capability more than I ever thought.   I was totally against streaming until I tried one..   Its got a pretty good interface imho
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