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Bluesound node 2i

Hi all

My Audio Research CDT1 is apparently unrepairable so I've been thinking about replacing it with a network streamer instead of another transport.  The local audio shop has the Bluesound Node 2i and it has a digital out that I can plug into my DAC, so it seems like a possibility.  But then the sales person said something that seems a bit strange to me: he claims that the sound will be much better if I plug it directly into the router than if I let it use the wireless.  Does anyone have any experience that would back up or refute this claim?  I admit I am a Computer Scientist not an Electrical Engineer, but I would have thought that any decent wireless streamer would buffer the input that came in and I think my DAC buffers and re-clocks whatever input it gets, so I'm not sure why this should matter.  For context I have Google WiFi and 450 Mb per second service.  Any other streamers I should consider? I know a lot of folks seem to like the Audiolab 6000N. Thanks for any comments.

Howard
howardlander

Showing 1 response by gdnrbob

gdnrbob
4,489 posts
 
I use my Node wirelessly (on the 5 ghz band). 
I have never had any problem with dropouts, -which would be the main issue of using wireless. If you have a good signal, you should be fine.

Is there a difference between ethernet and wireless?
Maybe, but I haven't noticed it, but, then again, I am not anally retentive about such things. If it sounds good, it is good.

The only other streamer I would consider is the Aurender N100.
A bit more than the Node, but very, very good.
The main drawback is that it only works with Qobuz and Tidal, whereas the Node has a greater number of applications to choose from.
Bob
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