2. digital
  3. 186673-3418

new to streaming- help!

Hi all-

I'm a long time audiophile but have always gone the cd/vinyl route.  I am trying streaming but having trouble setting up a Bluesound Node X.  Something about my wifi it doesn't like...I am enjoying Tidal on my Macbook, however.  Which brings me to a question.  Would I get better sound quality anyway if I just connected my laptop to an external dac?  Should I scrap the Blue Sound?  And if go that route, does it matter if I have my laptop connected to ethernet, or will sound quality be the same on either ethernet or wifi?  (Asssuming a cable from MAC to DAC...).

Alternatively, would it make sense to run Tidal from Ipad to DAC? Or does one need  a streamer like Blue sound to do that?

I'm sure this will get sorted out, but feeling slightly overwhelmed at the moment.

Thanks!

Margot

mcanaday

Showing 1 response by fredapplegate

fredapplegate
95 posts
 

Shoot an email to the university IT department about what you're trying to do. They might have some answers. If you can stream Tidal on your Mac you should be able to get it to work on your Node X, which is an excellent choice, btw. The BluOS app is great. (I use a Node in the living room.)

In the meantime, using bluetooth to connect to the X works. If it's a dorm room, I'm betting you don't have Focal Utopias, and maybe bluetooth will be fine for now. Or before you buy anything else, you could use the X as an external dac if you want to try that.
Good luck! Enjoy the music. And thanks again, Margot!

(I really don't think switching to Qobuz will solve anything.)

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