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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
chiadrum
26 posts
 

I had a very poor experience with mine and returned it for a full refund. It was not reliable, had to be defaulted and then the app wouldn't be able to find it. I would have to run through the setup process again for no apparent reason. It was hardwired. I have a tube amp with very revealing Klipsch Cornwall IV speakers, and at lower volume it would sound just fine. But good luck trying to get loud. Everything just fell apart. It was a terrible match for my system besides being unreliable. The fact that power supply upgrade kits are sold for it told me all that I needed to know. At that point, you have spent 1k so why not get something better?

I ended up buying a wonderful unit from Cary Audio, when bundled with their amp I got a big discount and the results are stunning. Totally transformed my system. The best money that I have spent.

I'm amazed when I see posts where people have systems much more expensive than mine and this thing is part of the chain. IMHO, this thing has no business in the chain of a truly HiFi system. And I like Bluesound- I think they sound much better than Sonos. But not as a source for really expensive HiFi gear.

mahler123
3,319 posts
 

After sort of defending the Node in earlier posts, mine is now stuck inno man’s land, with the icon spinning relentlessly.  I had this problem with previous units and had to do multiple reboots, factory resets, etc, which sometimes work and sometimes didn’t.  I had been thinking about replacing this Node, which resides in a secondary system, with the Cambridge CXN 60, which I use and love in my main system.  This generation of the Node doesn’t do AirPlay or Chromecast, and those two features are increasingly desirable in this system.  I think I ‘ll skip the calls to BS CS, the multiple factory rests, etc and give this one a proper burial after several years of service 

alarcono
4 posts
 

Sometimes it is your WIFI. It sounds like you are having a connectivity problem. Or, possibly a dirty, uneven electricity grid problem.. I have had a Bluenode 2 for a year, and it works 99% of the time. It is good to unplug it once a week for reset.

As far as sound quality, It is what it is for $600. It is a heck of a streamer that connects to almost every streaming service there is.  I use it with a Classe DAC with good results.

mahler123
3,319 posts
 

@alarcono

I use wired.  Everything else in the house is ok.  I have had this issue with Bluesound before

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