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Hardware Streamers

I am loving the feeling of the hi-res world at your fingertips with Tidal. Well, not really the world.  I'm currently using my laptop to deliver Tidal MQA streams and I would like to free up the laptop.  I've read some discussions here on the Bluesound Node 2 (now 2i) versus other devices.  My Hegel amp has a very nice DAC with a USB input, so I would use the digital out from whatever device I choose.  Some of you have indicated that you don't like the sound of the Node, but if I use the Hegel DAC, how much difference might I notice between it and something like the Aurender N100H.  The sound from my laptop is pretty good, but the laptop cost 1/3 of the Aurender.  Could I expect the Node to sound better/worse than the laptop?  What about the Aurender?

 Would love to hear from any of you who have used the Bluesound products and anything else in a reasonable price range (that is, if the N100h at $2700 is my upper end).
cstaples57
yashu
196 posts
 
Guess you’ll just have to try it.  I really have no idea.  Can only tell you about my set up......
uberwaltz's avatar
uberwaltz
13,381 posts
 
My experience with Bluesound vault2 for near 2 years.
I consider it to be a stunning bargain at $1000 and the Node2 at $500 should give the same streaming experience. If you do not need the CD ripper go with the Node2.

Imho the sq via its own dac through analog outs is considerably worse than as via spdif to my Brooklyn DAC. It’s not even close in my system.

Others report different experiences but just my notes here.

The Bluesound app on android is a joy to use and handles tidal, Quboz,Deezer, Spotify and many more direct in its own interface. I have found it to be much better than say Tidal own android app.

And Bluesound are constantly updating both the app and the players, all done seamlessly over the net.

I do not think you could go far wrong with a node2 at $500.
cstaples57 OP
5 posts
 
Thanks for all your help.  Sounds like, for my purposes that Bluesound is the way to go!
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