Bluesound Node Icon Owner Impressions

I added a temporary ethernet cable snaking through the house, which cured the problem, but I feel the WiFi signal sounded better. I can't put my finger on it, but I'll do some more listening.

You should consider adding a Mesh node or Wi-Fi extender in your listening room and running a shorter (and better) Ethernet cable from that to the Node.  It’s possible the long (and likely cheap) Ethernet cable was compromising performance as the direct connection should sound better than Wi-Fi as it avoids the Node from having to convert the Wi-Fi signal.  Many here have done this and found significant improvements over Wi-Fi, and it appears the Wi-Fi receivers in streamers compromise sound so this is well worth a try as it’s not expensive.  If you decide to try this, here is a good Ethernet cable that’s not too pricey and has been recommended highly here before.  Hope this helps. 

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07VVFC1XZ/ref=ox_sc_saved_title_8?smid=A1EA54VWB150Z7&amp=undefined&th=1

Thanks Soix,

I feel validated that I'm not just imagining the SQ degradation via Ethernet.

Guilty- I am using an ethernet cable that is low end to say the least. It's flat, so I doubt it's twisted pairs in there. I have a split level house, and running a wire from the router to the Icon is a bit tricky. Within a week or so I'll be running a real Ethernet cable with some help from a friend.

I tried a Mesh extender about a year ago with no luck.

I didn't want to mention it in my initial post, but after noticing the sound quality change, I ordered this from Stack Audio.

Audiogon Discussion Forum

Someone inquired about this filter on ASR and at the end of the thread I believe they had sentenced him to death...

Hopefully between the proper run of Cat cable and the filter I'll be in harmony. As it is, it sounds pretty good, so any improvement is a plus.

Thanks for the reply.

I wouldn’t give up on the Mesh/extender option with a better Ethernet/CAT cable as a really long Ethernet run can’t be helpful and could get expensive depending on the cable. Also, you should seriously consider adding a good LPS from the likes of Teddy Pardo, SBooster, or LHY as many have found doing that boosts the Node’s performance close to the level of much pricier streamers. And for only around 400 bucks it seems like a very cost effective upgrade. FWIW.  Given customer feedback the Stack filter seems worth a try, and please share your results if you could. 

I have to agree with soix regarding the LPS.  I have a Node2i,  using the coaxial digital out into a Denafrips Hermes 12th ddc,  then into a modified PS Audio Directstream DAC Mk1.  I am using the Node2i rather than a more expensive streamer because of the BluOS; I stream from Amazon HD and Idagio and it's the only OS that supports both of these streaming services.  I moded the Node2i with a TeddyPardo LPS,  and it made a huge improvement in the SQ! It wasn't a "Yeah,  that's better " improvement,  it was a "holy crap" improvement!! I've thought about getting a new Node Icon, but since I'm not using the internal DAC,  I'm not convinced I would see any improvement in SQ. Bought the Hermes DDC instead,  which did make a difference. I'm thinking that since I'm using the digital out from the Node,  the only improvement might possibly be less jitter,  but the Hermes reclocks the signal using two high quality OCXO clocks,  The Hermes also allows me to use the I2s input on the APS Transformers modified Directstream DAC.