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BluSound Node and Node 2

The purpose of this post is to make everyone aware and think twice before buying BluSound Node / Node 2.

Blusound's customer service is the worst I have ever experienced. As far as sound goes it's decent for the price. Are there better-sounding streaming dacs? Absolutely. I'd spend extra 300 / 400 dollars and get something more reliable vs wasting $549. 

Issue::

Six months after buying my 1st node it failed. It would play songs from the middle and only for 30 seconds and then skip to a random song regardless of what service I used. There are numerous blogs that talk about this same exact problem. It happens if you are streaming locally from your NAS or directly from quboz or deezer. You guys can google this issue. 

 

After several failed attempts with customer service, I sold the device for $75 and bought node 2. I was told by blusound that they have fixed the bugs in node 2 and it sounds way better.

Well there is no difference in sound between node 1 and node 2 and my node 2 failed within 3 months of purchase. After 2 weeks worth of back and forth with blusound tech support and 20 emails from them telling me to reboot / reindex / factory reset my device I was told today that they will take a look at the logs and get back to me. 

Its possible that blusound node owners have owned their devices for years without any problems but it looks like songs skipping and starting from the middle and stopping randomly is a well know issue with the device. 

My suggestion is to look at other brands, spend a little more in order to avoid wasting your $549. 

Im thinking of either getting a used Lumin d2 or the simaudio 280d. 

 

my system:

Simaudio 340i with builtin dac [2019]

Dynaudio C20

2x REL T9is

 

danimaz

Showing 4 responses by baylinor

baylinor's avatar
baylinor
1,253 posts
 

My node works flawlessly with quobuz on my setup, detailed in my system. Never any drop offs whatsoever. Took a bit of equipment adjustments to get there. Biggest one was switching to Spectrum internet from AT&T. Went from 144 mbs to 866 mbs!!! Nothing like getting your internet from a coax cable rather than a phone line. 

baylinor's avatar
baylinor
1,253 posts
 

What really does it for me with the NODE 130 is the bluos app for my android phone is an abolutely terrific app. Since that's the only way I ever want to use my streamer, with my android phone as a remote (no cumbersome laptop), there is nothing out there at this time that can rival the reliability of the bluos/android phone combo. A look at reviews of the various streaming apps will easily confirm that. So, in my case, investing to improve the NODE sound makes so much more sense than buying a "better" streamer. And invest I have. Just check it out in my system. Great sound improving daily as components break-in. Enjoy the journey.

baylinor's avatar
baylinor
1,253 posts
 

This is for the ones who are sticking to their NODE 130: There is a brand new update avaliable. Just installed it. Incredibly enough, the sound improvement is absolutely significant. It exhibits much more space, even going further outside the speakers and better filling the entire front wall. All while even becoming lighter on its feet. I'm floored.

baylinor's avatar
baylinor
1,253 posts
 

Agree with moonwatcher, I was never able to get the ifi zen streamer to connect to my android phone via wifi. Horribly frustrating. Back she went. Love the NODE more and more everyday.

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