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BlueSound Stinks(!), anyone?

I am looking for your help.  We recently switched from Sonos to BlueSound to get higher streaming rates.  So far we have had consistent problems and issues(!!).  Specifically, about 50% of the time my and my wife's BlueSound app does not recognize the Node 2i's.  When I delete the app, reinstall it and reconnect the Nodes, we again have the same problems at least 50% of the time.  It is simply a joke of a product and I find we are not alone.  I have tried just about everything.

Also, when I go online to get help, I find that I am not alone and there is a tsunami of negative (to the degree of very hostile) comments about BlueSound and for the most part it is the same issue.  I have tried just about everything and I am about to simply trash/sell mine and go back to Sonos.  If I do go back to Sonos, I will also leave a stream of bad comments on every forum I can since going back to Sonos will represent a big financial loss to me simply because Bluesound is an irresponsible/deceptive company at my expense.

Alternatively, I just want it to reliably work.  Do you you have and advice and/or guidance to get Bluesound to reliably work?  Is there a better alternative to to get higher bit rates thank Bluesound?

Thank you in advance for your help.  Dave


butterman
recluse
270 posts
 
Disagree.

When it works. It doesn't stink. It actually sounds quite good.

Although, i do think they need to make their own remote device. I also have problems with bluetooth connectivity every time I start it up. Again it alk comes down to problems shaking hands with others. Sign of the times?
crustycoot
643 posts
 
I went through a monthlong period where I got constant error messages on my BluOS app. Coincided with an upgrade from conventional network to Eero mesh. Hours of phone support calls to Bluesound, RCN, Eero later, one support person from Eero finally asked me what modem I was using...yup, that was the problem...SB6183 has bad firmware, never fixed. A new Motorola solved it. Now it works flawlessly. Wired with CAT5 (not even 5e) through an unmanaged switch to my EeroPro. 
alchemyman
21 posts
 
Node 2, three years now, works fine if using ethernet.  BluOS app on I-phone is fine as is the app for I-pad. The Desktop app for Mac IOS is desperately bad.  I've used apps from Naim, Sonos and Auralic -- If streaming Tidal or Qobuz, the BluOS is equal to Sonos and superior to Auralic and Naim.
musicfan2349's avatar
musicfan2349
234 posts
 
If I may? I too originally had bad experiences with the Node2i. Bad connectivity to the internet, the decommissioned Apple i6 I use couldn’t find it, etc. I was thinking it would be "plug and play" however it is not. Like any other component, it takes proper setup and dialing in to work its best. I did the following: 1) As mine is not hardwired I made sure it gets the best wifi signal I can give it. I got a wifi extender for my livingroom and it’s configured such that the only thing that connects to it is the Node2i. That was a big improvement right there. 2) I raised the Node2i’s location in my cabinet so that the wifi has a better line of sight not only to the wifi extender but for its internal hotspot to the phone I use. 3) I keep it updated. Bluesound regularly releases new software. It’s best to keep it up to date. With just those minor adjustments to the setup, it’s been very much better. Occasionally the phone will drop its connection but it reconnects on its own rather quickly. I like that I stream from Amazon, my own library of ripped music or use Pandora via BT. I think for the $500 it was a good purchase for me.
Happy listening!

erik_squires
16,056 posts
 
Get a phone or PC based Wifi analyzer app.  Make sure you are on an unused channel.

Best,

Erik
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