2. digital
  3. 127298-20042

Bluesound products to add to hifi satisfaction?

I have a hi-fi system of moderate quality and price point. I actually have two systems. I would like to improve the sound and functionality of my digital music playback by adding a Bluesound Node 2.

I have an external HDD connected to an older Macbook Pro running Itunes with my library of ripped CD music and I also use Spotify on my Iphone 5s on a Pure I-20 dock as my music sources.

The rest of my system is digital, I don't run a turntable.

Currently I have a Parasound A21 and P3, Shiit Audio Bifrost Uber DAC, Iphone on a Pure I-20 dock running Spotify with Magnepan MMG speakers in one system. I have a Line Magnetic Audio 216ia (integrated tube amp) with a Benchmark  USB DAC1 and Rega Apollo CD player and the Pure I-20 dock with Iphone running Spotify with Vandersteen 2CE Sig II speakers in the second system.

Now on to the question. Would adding the budget friendly Bluesound Node 2 allow me to simplify my digital system by combining my library of music on HDD and having one place for Spotify streaming... the Node 2. Would the sound quality improve as well?

The Node 2 at $500 seems to be an incredible deal for a HQ streaming device 24/192.

Am I missing something??
2psyop

Showing 1 response by williewonka

williewonka
3,110 posts
 
2psyop - I had an iMac running iTunes for library management and Audirvana for actual streaming of my songs from a NAS drive. The iMac was connected via USB to a Musical Fidelity V-Link192 that in turn was connected via SPDIF (wire) to a Bifrost DAC - with a NAIM 5i MKII as the amplification

I’ve since replaced the iMac/V-Link/Bifrost with a Node 2 - connecting via ethernet directly to the NAS drive.

Reliability has improved, although I did experience a few dropouts of 24/192 tracks when connected via wi-fi, but that was on a day when voip phone and VPN was very active.

Sound quality was marginally better with the Node 2, but then it’s only had a few hours burn in compared to much longer on the previous setup - I expect it to get much better.

The Node 2 control interface is not quite as flexible as iTunes, and some functions, like creating playlists, is a little more awkward.

is it perfect? - not yet.

But I won’t be going back any time soon

BTW - the Node 2 sound quality improves when good IC's and PC's are used

Regards...
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