So I purchased a Bluesound node 2i after a previous discussion here. Now I can't get the node or BluOs program to recognize my music on other laptops that are on my same wifi. When my laptop and hard drive was connected to my Parasound Zdac, I could usb the computer into the dac, and use an optical cable from my tv out to the dac. The node doesn't seem to have a way to allow my tv into the node's dac (my tv only has optical & hdmi out for sound) & node has no inputs for hdmi or toslink) so I'm stuck with the dac of the node for streaming music and the zdac for tv audio with the two different analog outputs from 2 different dacs going into my integrated amp. I'm frustrated and feel like I spent this money for a ghetto rig, plus I can't even make libraries , etc. Totally confused and have tried making everthing "dicoverable " on network setting to no avail. So lost, angry, sad, confused and frustrated. And I swear to god if millerwhoever says I should have bought a tricked out fuse or dumb little cone, I'm gonna lose my s***.
Sorry but I have not read all the posts. Go buy an external hard drive and copy all your files to it, then plug it in to the USB on the 2i. Open the app on your phone pick USB and then pick a CD or high res file and enjoy. This way you avoid all the computer problems. HDD cost about a $100 for 1TB at Best Buy.
Plug your Toslink from the TV into the optical input converter plug that came with the 2i. Plug that into the analog input on the 2i and you can listen to the TV through the 2i.
I started steaming many years ago, very few streamers available at the time. I was pretty much forced to build a diy setup from scratch based on a highly modded mac mini. I now have usb renderers, NAS, optical conversion units, linear power supplies for everything. Steep learning curve, many hours spent over at computer audiophile forum. Without the knowledge of the experts over there I would have never gotten this complex setup running.
If I were starting today I would just get one of the quality streamers from Lumin, Aurender, Innuous. Get one with large capacity HD, things are much easier to setup today. The good streamer manufacturers are responsive and computer audiophile has a wealth of information if you do have glitches. Networking is one of the common problems, and has been an issue of mine at times, computer audiophile has saved me every time.
There are three problems. First, because of our age if we have no pension, and almost nobody does, we have to live on social security and nobody will hire anyone over the age of 50 anymore no matter how formidable your qualifications. That leaves out streaming services which have monthly subscription fees. Second, a server will not do 5 channel or store it from 5 channel SACD or DVD Audio. You still have to put the disc in a player. Third, placing a disc in a player is probably less difficult to do than to access it on a hard drive and enter it in a server. Does the several thousand dollar price buy you convenience? For me the burden of moving discs and records if I relocate is not relevant because I love my very special house too much to ever leave it, I will live here till the day I die.
Electroslacker you make some great points about streaming currently I’m using a digital stack with a yet to be released streamer and I’ve already had second thoughts of purchasing this matching box though you have given me more food for thought . Sure streaming is a whole new world of ultra convenience however it’s a new type of business selling monthly subscription’s brought to you mostly by a gang of smart marketeer’s that promote all sorts of nonsense and it’s working .
Besides I have my own CD collection including access to a huge library of CDs that I can borrow to rip . Goose I had all that I ripped so far on my server to another drive memory thing .
This is probably a stupid question, but to those using servers or the Innuos option, what happens when the hard drive fails? This is one of the reasons I'm leaning to the streaming option rather than bringing another "computer" into the equation.
My 2 cents: I'm on the path to buying a Lumin U1 Mini streamer to replace a Windows laptop that's running JRiver, but I'm pausing at the added complexity and loss of functionality. As far as I can tell, all these streamers lose Internet browsing for content and replace it with a sandbox like TuneIn.
To me, JRiver makes a great control point that can be run remote with JRemote on Android or iPad, but they're going to lose the game if they don't provide seamless integration to Tidal, Amazon high-res and Qobuz because that's where many audiophiles are headed. Why? When I got Qobuz it instantly obsoleted my ripped CD's or at least made them redundant.
The hardware issue is whether a laptop reduces sound quality compared to a dedicated streamer. Yes, there's noise in the laptop, and usually a basic USB port, but there's many products that will cleanup that USB signal and provide pristine input to the DAC. E.G. SOtM and Sonore.
Yes, I hate the bloat of Windows, but it's simple to bring up JRiver as the only media interface you need. Do I really want to enter the new world of brain-numbing acronyms and arcane network lingo. The sofrware issue is whether JRiver can provide that total control point and I just don't know what the upcoming version has.
Bottom line: I just want to be an audiophile sitting in a comfortable chair with my Android tablet and effortlessly choose the amazing set of sound sources now available played with maximum quality. Still not convinced the streamers give me completeness.
Labguy I felt your pain , myself recently transitioning away from using a transport I easily got confused over all the options and opinions what next step I should move to ripping music and or streaming . Thinking about it with “user conveniences set aside whatever direction I went it had to be an overall sound quality upgrade.
Initially my budget was six grand however with some in store and home trials including help from some local audio friends I ended up purchasing a Black Friday special in store demo Cocktail Audio x50 server with SSD drives to start with . It will due for now , I view these things as computer parts in a nice looking box though some have proprietary designs here and there in them I question how much are you willing to spend on it . As for streaming the industry would love to get everyone signed up to a monthly subscription .
I enjoy playback of ripped CDs as much and more then listening to them using a transport and the convenience of use managing my music with an iPad ,. Forget about it,.
And best of all you don’t need to rely on a “IT” guy for help though pretty much any 14 year old would qualify I’m satisfied for now .
I have been trying to make streaming work for years. Tried macs and PCs, JRiver, Sonos, Blusound, Apps on HT Receivers and a few of the high end brand streamers.
Nothing was really worth sticking with. Either the sound quality sucked or besides Sonos, the interface was clunky
The INNUOS SERVERS TURNED MY LIFE AROUND!!
BIGGEST CHANGE IN MY SYSTEM IN THE LAST 10 YEARS.
If anyone has stressed and struggled with this issue, you owe to yourself to try one.
Streaming Qobuz or Tidal into a good DAC is now approaching a the sound quality of an expensive vinyl rig. It’s so enjoyable that I find myself rarely playing records now.
They also double as music server so you can ripped all of your CDs to the Innuos as well.
Hey guys. I recently bought a MacIntosh MA8900 and wish to add a streamer for ripping CD's and storage as well as having Tidal capabilities for MQA at the hardware level and software. This streamer would be running through the on board DAC of the MA8900. It is somewhat confusing when shopping for those features. Thus far I have found only one serious candidate in the Cocktail X45. I wish to stay in the $2500 + or - cost area. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Sounds like the cool box is a range extender which could help unless you have drop outs now you will probably still have them. Using a mesh system might be a better option.
That's exactly what it is. I went the mesh route personally, a terrific solution for my needs, which include both a Sonore microRendu and a Bluesound Node 2.
Sounds like the cool box is a range extender which could help unless you have drop outs now you will probably still have them. Using a mesh system might be a better option.
Goose and OP - go to Upscale Audio’s website and run their review of the LUMIN T2 - about two thirds of the way thru he addresses the Ethernet cable issue - he states “for $25 we can sell you a cool box that connects to your router wirelessly but then has a wired Ethernet port that then allows you to connect the LUMIN via an Ethernet cable. I have never used this ‘cool box’ but they are a LUMIN dealer and a very reputable Hi Fi shop. Hope this helps.
Spirit of radio and goose and OP - my streaming experience has been painless but I have a neighbor who is trying to do this ‘on the cheap’ and I have learned to avoid several errors:
1 - do not go wireless - you lose quality fast. 2 - trying to stream via a computer or download music files off a normal computer just generates poor quality. UBS ports are very poor quality ‘generators’.
i do have a great CD collection and I have / still use my Yamaha CD player - the 2100. Just bought a new DVD / CD player Panasonic 9000(?) . Both are in separate stereo systems - but my LUMIN D1 feeds both systems via balanced outputs to system 1 and RCA outputs to system 2.The RCA interconnects are 15 feet long as the second system is in the ‘bonus room’ upstairs. The KEY is it is hard wired. I feed the D1 via an Ethernet cable from my router - again hard wired. My I pad mini works in both rooms wirelessly and controls the system just fine.
If if you cannot run an Ethernet cable to your stereo - please consider locating the LUMIN near your router so it is hard wired and run long RCAs to your stereo - my 15 foot RCAs were costom made by Anticables - again not cheap but high quality.
I think you made a very good choice. Over the long run though, as the market for streaming services evolves, hardware/firmware and corresponding software systems will have to adapt to remain convenient or even useful. The OP is trying to get into streaming with a relatively inexpensive and pretty flexible piece of equipment. I admire that and I think he just needs a little help getting it going. There were a couple of good suggestions made on here for him but posts like:
“I just looked at my BS App and for local shares it needs to be either on the computer the app is running on or connected via USB. There is no wifi connection available. Bob”
Which, incredibly, packed no less than 3 errors of fact in a short two sentences, don’t help the op, in fact they do the opposite.
I simply can’t believe the number of posts made on here by people who don’t know what they’re talking about. It’s not helpful.
my experience is different. Redbook CD into the same DAC as my Bryston BDP3 streamer sounds a wash. There is a slight difference, but can’t say one or the other is better.. And the Naim house sound isn’t for me; all that rhythm and pace sounds great with a Chopin Waltz but leaves me cold in the slow movement of Beethoven’s Eroica. Enjoy the music
Mahler123 my experience with redbook is the server rips sound better than my McIntosh transport because no cd laser error correction. The NAIM ripper is bit perfect and then cached to a large SS drive for playback
a NAIM core and streamer might help you from moving all those CD’s
i am a boomer ( tail end) and hate being my own IT Department... but I do it
What’s wrong with having an SACD player? I have 3 and listen to them all. There is no inherent audio advantage in listening by streaming vs silver disc. In fact, the only advantage would be in eliminating my Redbook CDs, so that if I downsize I wouldn’t have to move thousands of CDs. I will keep my SACDS, Blu Rays, etc. At present, I am inclined to forget the whole streaming thing and just move the CDs with me, because I cannot find a decent software program for Classical Music
tom8999 your comments have given me some hope since I am of the same vintage age and have yet to stream. Not interested in any server or files or computers to mess around with. The Lumin gear T2 or if I really reach the X1. I will still own an SACD player. My only real issue besides just jumping in is that I don't have an ethernet connection on the second floor of the house. I'm hoping a mesh router would be usable to send a WiFi signal to that mesh router on the second floor which would accommodate an ethernet connection. I should be OK since I am transmitting a Wifi download speed of 205 Mbps.
If the idea behind Node 2i was to eliminate laptop from your system, then Node 2i makes perfect sense. I would connect Node 2i using its RCA out to your Integrated. Secondly, I would transfer all the music from your laptop to NAS and connect the NAS directly into Node2 USB input. The default password for external NAS access is ‘admin’.
Connecting an external hard drive via the Node's USB input is the quick and dirty way but Bluesound doesn't recommend it for the long term (there are technical reasons why). That said, it's very convenient when a friend drops by with a thumb drive full of music for you to listen to and it doesn't affect your library of music which you have painstakingly created.
The easiest and more stable way is, as already mentioned, to connect an external hard drive(s) full of music to your router/switch via USB and go through the discovery/share process with the BluOS app.
Sorry, the node 2i internal DAC cannot be used with external devices.
Spirit of radio - thanks for the info on the Bluesound node 2i. I read a lot of these threads and see so many issues people have trying to stream. I guess I was just lucky when a stereo shop in Indy convinced me to go with LUMIN. It’s app runs great on my I pad mini. It sounds so good thru both of my systems using Tidal HiFi with MQA - i know the upfront cost is high but the ‘lack of headaches’ is great. What does a good turntable, tonearm and cartridge cost? $2,200 sounds very cheap to me.
If you want to stream trouble free - the LUMIN D2 costs $2,200 I think.
The Bluesound node2i is a streamer and dac in one unit.
It doesn’t sound the greatest and its software isn’t very good but it will do everything the OP wants for 500 bucks - but not without going through the right steps.
Here is my 2 cents - go buy a streamer and DAC in one unit - I did and I have been streaming with my LUMIN D1 for 5 years. Sound quality is over the Moon great - I use Tidal HiFi with MQA for $25 per month. Cost was $2,000 for the LUMIN D1. You have to hardwire the LUMIN via Ethernet cable to get the quality. I feed two separate systems, and the Tidal catalog is humongous - I am 66 years old - not a computer expert and very happy! Retired my turntable! Saving Hugh Money by not buying CDs any more. May upgrade to the T2 soon - per the reviews it has a better DAC.
The upgrades on the D1 are automatic via the internet and it has run for 5 years with no issues.
I just looked at my BS App and for local shares it needs to be either on the computer the app is running on or connected via USB. There is no wifi connection available. Bob
Yeah contacting Customer Suppport is the way to go with Bluesound. I had a fair share of connect/disconnect problems with mine, and the IT guys were awesome, that notwithstanding it is a stellar piece of kit for what it is intended to do. IMO.
Whatever folder your Flac files are in needs to be on a network share then the node should be able to see them it won't use foobar but it's own player.
Thanks everybody. I'll elaborate more later tonight. I'm at work right now. I was able to get the internet radio stations to work. For some reason I thought the node would wirelessly recognize my Flac files that are playing on my computer using foobar2000. I had hoped to interface the two wirelessly over my internet connection/IP address. I'll try contacting bluesound, and getting more suggestions here later.
I got a node 2i and absolutely love it... Initially had difficulty connecting to my existing library... And grudgingly put in an email to Bluesound tech support (I say grudgingly because I had low to no expectations)... Turns out they were awesome and got me all fixed up (my Jriver (which I loved) is now obsolete) .
If you allow them to... They will remotely control your computer to resolve... so less need to worry about your technical prowess.
We understand your frustration. As others have pointed out, there is a bit of learning curve with Node 2i.
If the idea behind Node 2i was to eliminate laptop from your system, then Node 2i makes perfect sense. I would connect Node 2i using its RCA out to your Integrated. Secondly, I would transfer all the music from your laptop to NAS and connect the NAS directly into Node2 USB input. The default password for external NAS access is ‘admin’.
And lastly, download the Bluesound iOS app on iPad. You can sort your library by 7 different categories (all listed under Library icon).
If you plan on streaming from Tidal or Qobuz, I would recommend a wired Ethernet connection to Node 2i over WiFi. The hardwired connectivity does sound better to my ears over WiFi. BTW, I own Vault 2 so feel free to PM me if you have any further questions. PS: Sorry, the node 2i internal DAC cannot be used with external devices.
Second, there is a bit of a learning curve so you need to take a deep breath Boomer. (I'm also a Boomer and have had plenty of frustrations with computer/digital audio over the years.)
Now I can't get the node or BluOs program to recognize my music on other laptops that are on my same wifi.
The setup for NAS is a bit finicky on the BluOS platform and was the cause of most of my initial frustrations with the Node. Once you get it sorted you'll find it to be quite a nice product. Bluesound Support is very responsive and helpful. If you haven't contacted them yet, now might be a good time to do so. Their support forum members are helpful as well:
Generally speaking, you would locate your music library on the network in some way, whether a simple hard drive connected to your router or a full-blown NAS solution like QNAP. What exactly are you trying to do with your other laptops in the mix?
You must have a verified phone number and physical address in order to post in the Audiogon Forums. Please return to Audiogon.com and complete this step. If you have any questions please contact Support.
