Any recommendations for aftermarket C-7 power cord for Bluesound Node 2i
Looking for help on finding a better sounding C-7 power cord for my Node. I have read about Audioquest, Pangea, Cullen, Shunyata, etc. I have even looked at making my own. Any suggestions or experience with good C-7 cords would be greatly appreciated! Thanks
I’ll have to look into Ethernet once again. I could have sworn that the consensus was ethernet and wifi offer the same sonics...Although I don’t see an Ethernet plug in the eero. Just a wifi hub. ..,.I always thought you had to have the provider install a phone jack outlet for internet and then plug in cables and hardwire. I’m not too adept on these things
I don’t think I want to plug that iFi into my Classe SSP-800 processor(which has an outstanding DAC).
@vinylshadow The Eero has Ethernet plugs on the back. As far as the iFi SPDIF Purifier 2 you can also use it with an LPS which is what I am doing. I’m currently using a Mojo Illuminati but it’s a pricey power supply. I’m sure the less expensive ones you are looking at will perform just fine. The great thing about the Eero and iFi is buying them from Amazon is risk free so if you don’t hear any difference just return them. Once you can hear the difference you can start playing with cables such as Ethernet, PC’s and DC’s (the ones going from the LPS to your components). Happy tweaking! Last thing: Always try each tweak one at a time so you are hearing what each is doing. You might like what one product is doing compared to others. -Alex
Save your money for something better than the Node 2i. The Node 2i is a great entry into streaming, but if you get to the point where you want to improve sound quality, don't throw a bunch of money into cables, external DACs, etc, just get something better.
I don't disbelieve people when they say a power cord or internet cable or whatever made it sound better. Maybe their hearing is better than mine and they can detect more subtle changes than I can.
However, I did many of those things, "better" power cord, better cables, external DAC, etc. The only thing that made a difference was the external DAC. What took streaming to another level was replacing the Node with a better streamer. Everything else is a band-aid for a mass market device that is nice for its price, but not really an "audiophile" component.
@vinylshadow I replaced my Nodes with the TEAC NT-505. Bluesound has a better interface, but the TEAC is more detailed, warmer, more "analog" sounding, and has a noticeably larger soundstage. I would also look at Lumin as an upgrade path.
@big_greg Thanks for the selection..Even though I have a Node 2i on the way, I'll look into the Lumin's..
I have such a great DAC in my processor that it bothers me to buy a streamer with a DAC as it is like an appendix. Don't need it.
I wish there were good streamers out there without a DAC so all the money went to the streamer.
And one that has TIDAL select!
I was watching a YouTube video with the designers of HiFi Rose streamers and they said they were looking into a streamer without a DAC. But that is likely far away....
I did exactly what adg101 did... built my own through VHAudio. Same configuration, though they have other wire avail. Excellent cable. There are great DIY options on parts Connexion as well if you want to tackle it on your own. A PC isn’t too hard to do...
@vinylshadow Lumin and others make streamers only. I was seriously considering the UI Mini before I bought the TEAC. The biggest downside to the TEAC is that there is no digital out, so you are committed to its DAC. It has a great DAC though.
@vinylshadow Find a dealer that carries Lumin or any other high-end streamers to demo. You will find out if the difference is worth it compared to the upgraded Bluesound.
@big_greg Unless you had a chance to try the upgraded PSU board you might be surprised the potential of Pawel's board + LPS. There's a 150+ page thread on highfiwigwam with people who have done the upgrade and compared to other streamers. I think everyone of them kept the Node 2i.
@vinylvhadow I would definitely wait and use your Node 2i through your DAC before investing in anything else except a good Ethernet cable.. I run mine through an older Museatex Meitner DAC and love it. I did purchase a Supra CAT8 Ethernet cable for less than $70 which was a worthwhile upgrade..
Your not purchasing just a piece of equipment, but a key to a whole universe of music.
Thanks jetter. I told the dealer who sold me the Node 2i, and has one himself in an amazing audiphile system, about my plans for the PSU interface and the LPS. He replied that he thinks I am using a sledgehammer for a nutcracker. British humor but I know what he meant.
And, to get the node 2i then
after it’s broken in and I am familiar with it then look for a power supply
if you want. Then you will know if it was worth the $$.
So, I will take both of your advice and give it a month. My Classe SSP-800 DAC is very good indeed. And I'm using Straight Wire's top of the line Mega Link 75 ohm cable.
As far as the Ethernet cable, are you running the cable from a hardwired to the wall router or a eero type router plugged into a wall outlet. As I mentioned, my router is upstairs and connected to my desktop. Would I need another router downstairs? Or the eero. I asked my dealer about an Ethernet cable. He replied- "
If you go Ethernet go TPLink optical TPLink Ethernet but that’s a whole rabbit hole." He might be right but my Classe only supports 24/96 through Toslink. 24/192 through SPDIF coax 75 ohm cable.
Although, he said he has great ears and can barely, if at all, tell the difference between 24/96 and 24/192. I think I've read many say that 24/96 is enough...But I'm not certain....
My Node 2i is hardwired via Ethernet cable to my combination moden/router, which is only a couple of feet away.
I have not tried the 2i with only a wi-fi connection so can't help you with personal experiences. But from what I remember reading here, those that had trouble using wi-fi due to drop outs, etc. seemed to solve the problem with a wi-fi signal extender.
@rareace I tried a lot of things to make the Node sound better and some helped (an external DAC made a noticeable difference).
I'll have to take your word that a PSU somehow magically transforms a mediocre streamer and DAC into something magnificent. I'm not an electrical engineer and never heard it, so I could be way off base, but that doesn't pass the smell test for me.
@jetter@ericsch Thanks guys. I should be getting my Node 2i next week so I'll see how it goes.
One thing about WiFi signal to downstairs is I've been using a Google Chromecast dongle in my processors WiFi, getting the WiFi signal from the upstairs router with no dropouts or problems. The music and the video is great. I would hope that with the Node 2i it is even better.
While the designer of the Aurilac streamer has "perfected" the WiFi circuitry and prefers WiFi over Ethernet, I don't know if the same can be said with Bluesound. But it is worth an email to ask about it.
@big_greg@vinylshadow There are two main weaknesses of the Bluesound when used strictly as a streamer which is noise and jitter. The PSU fixes the noise part and iFi SPDIF Purifier 2 fixes the jitter. I'm partial to R2R DACs so not interested in the Node 2i for it's DAC. -Alex
I’ve been corresponding with Pawel and he told me that he will soon be updating his website(and maybe EBay?) and will be lowering the shipping costs for his PSU adapter to the U.S..
The UK company Fidelity Audio also makes a Node 2i PSU interface but it is twice the price of Pawel's...Could it be twice as good?
As far as the iFi SPDIF purifier, I’ll need to do more research.... IFi says that it can be used with Chromecast but I don’t see how as the Chromecast dongle plugs into an HDMI port.
The PSU interface+LPS+shipping+iFi Purifier costs $450. Node 2i costs $500.
Is a Node 2i for $1000 still the best streamer out there for the price vs more expensive streamers that also support TIDAL select(but they may need a new LPS and iFi too?)?...Things that make you go hmmmm.
@vinylshadow I don't have any experience with the other PSU so can't comment but I'm very happy with Pawel's board. I actually have a lot more invested with my Mojo Illuminati LPS costing more than all those products combined. Also, Ethernet is your true source so investing in a good switch or filter (for the Eero) is where I would start. Your streamer can only do so much with a noisy source. Look up the Network Acoustics ENO thread and you will know what I mean.
I was lucky to have a dealer loan me a $10k streamer so I could compare and believe it or not I preferred the Bluesound presentation. Enjoy the process in exploring digital as you will be very surprised by how much everything matters. However the beauty is you don't have to spend a King's ransom to get great sound! -Alex
Just plug it into an outlet, or outlet on a power conditioner, and it will acquire the Wifi signal from my upstairs AT&T modem?
Then a very good Ethernet cable from Eero to Node 2i? If so, that is easy enough...
As far as LPU’s go, Fidelity Audio makes the Node 2i PSU interface and LPS’s of varying quality and costs. Maybe I’ll consider those. Or at least their LPS’s...I read on HiFiWigwam that the Fidelity Audio gear is very good.
If I can pick your brain again, as far as an Ethernet switch, I tried reading up on it and I’m not too adept at figuring it out. Being that I don’t play internet games, stream 4K video(I have a Plasma TV), or transfer large files do I really need an Ethernet network switch?
The only thing I’d be connecting to the Eero is the Node 2i..... My Dish Satellite box has an Ethernet port but I’m not certain what it would gain from an internet connection as I have the new Chromecast for YouTube and Netflix etc if I cared to subscribe... Currently, I have a wall wart type thing plugged into an outlet behind my equipment rack that has a phone jack in it and the connected phone line connects to my Dish box for upgrades and upgrading the schedule.
Since the Eero has a 2nd available Ethernet port, maybe an Ethernet cable from the Eero to the Dish box would do the same as the phone connection for updates and schedule updates and would replace a phone line connection?
I am also trying to find a proper cable for my N130 which is close to the node 2. I have tried an isotech c7 cable (silver plated copper) which changes nothing but adding brightness.
I saw wireworld (WW) electra mini recommended, but someone also mentioned that some other WW cables improve the details but at the cost of bringing the entire stage forward (I hate forward stage).
I am wondering can someone help to comment on a bit more details of the WW Electra mini? How does it improve the sound compared to the original cord? Thanks a lot folks!
I had the same result, the WW presented a more forward image than I wanted. Excellent sonics; detailed, dynamic, music with weight. But But I wanted more of a 3D soundstage for classical music and the Cullen C7 had it along with great dynamics. Less detail than WW but a sense of realism.
I put Pangea C7 on both my Node2's and Vault2. I didn't hear any difference with it but I have to say I do like the build quality and the cosmetics are very nice. It ended up being a good WAF so I quit looking at power cords after that.
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