Bluesound Node help

Bluesound is one of the few streaming product companies that fully support the product. I have had dealings with them on different connectivity questions and have always got the correct answer and issues solved. It’s not always plug and play, because frankly it does so much.

I think the ARC from your tv should provide the best sound input to your node, but toslink optical should also work.

I also struggled with the Bluesound  app.

I now listen to tv etc with toslink direct to my DAC and 2 channel rig.  It sounds better than my old surround system.

I agree with fastfreight on ARC. As a new Bluesound user with the N130, I can confidently say that Bluesound has resolved my long-standing frustration with PC-based streaming. Previously, I relied on a basic Musical Fidelity M1 CD transport, which consistently outperformed PC streaming, even after upgrading to a linear 5V input for my USB cable. While that tweak slightly improved the sound, it still couldn’t compete with my CD player.

Enter the Bluesound Node. The sound quality it delivers is on par with my CD player, offering more revealing, smoother highs, though I did notice slightly weaker mid and low bass. To anyone doubting the impact of a good streamer: consider this. An Amazon Fire TV Stick is technically a streamer too, but it never inspired me to enjoy music the way the Bluesound Node does. On the downside, I did have times when the BluApp did not load. 

I also connected my TV via ARC to the Node, and the improvement was immediately noticeable. My wife and I both agreed that the 2025 Vienna New Year’s Concert sounded significantly better than the 2024 edition. The difference? Bluesound’s ARC input paired with USB output to my Denafrips Pontus II DAC. My system, which includes Classe CP and CA components with carefully selected AudioQuest and other high-quality cables, has enough resolving power to highlight these improvements.

For comparison, I tried using the TV’s optical output with the same Pontus II DAC. The result? The sound was reminiscent of the 2024 concert’s muted highs and a lack of clarity, with instruments blending together in a way some might prefer, but which doesn’t replicate the live symphonies I have experienced at SF’s Davies Symphony Hall.

Later, I added a DDC, which significantly improved PC streaming. But that's a story for another time.

@hifi_lc  Congrats on realizing the significant improvements even a budget streamer can bring over a PC.  I experienced the same adding an iFi Zen Stream w/ their iPowerX power supply.  You probably already know, but adding an external LPS from the likes of Teddy Pardo, SBooster, or LHY can bring the Node to an even higher level for only around $400 — no brainer to me.  I also added an Iris and got a big performance boost, so are you using your DDC with your Pontus?  I know others have used an Iris or Hermes with a Pontus and likewise got a significant performance bump. 

Hi Soix,

Looks like you are an experienced one.  Yes, I am using Iris with the Pontus. With Bluesound, the sound does feel less grainy too. Also I experienced that with intranet cable, (got a good quality one from Alliexpress for better than eBay price) the sound does not some worse than WiFi sound for sure.  Also, I noticed almost none short sound drop outs or interrupts.  Also never heard any occasional distortion when the volume is high. I think there are reasons why Bluesound asked you to use intranet as much as possible.  I am glad that the intranet wire, a thick, not flexible orange wire, can give me a better streaming experience.  For the linear power supply matter, I understand and believe that it will improve the sound.  I have my headphone amp and Foci basic D amp as examples.  However, I do not know how to implement it on Bluesound Note.  I did buy an Audioquest power cable to power it and heard less noisy background.  I have every unit powered with a good power cable.  I feel confidently that power cable makes difference.  But I do think that do not spend on power cable more than on the components.  My recent upgrade from Classe CP 47.5 to CP 50 showed that the component is the first factor to improve sounds.  Any one need CP 35, 47.5 and 50 and SSP 800, I can share with them.