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
mwinkc
368 posts
 

The issue is that neither my iPhone nor my MacBook recognize the player.

Dumb question. Are you trying to connect to the Node with the BlueOS app or some other way? Does BlueOS see the Node?

Tidal Connect can be finicky. Can you stream Radio Paradise from the Node?

Are you trying to use Tidal Connect?

 

kerrybh
143 posts
 

Keep trying- it will be worth the effort 

the node will be far superior to your computer and is generally a very reliable device. 

styleman
132 posts
 

I have a question for SOIX and Carlsbad2 as I also want to widen my music experience by streaming:  My main music system is in my living room.  My modem/router in in my home office delivering WI-FI service to my two computers there and my TV in the living room.  So how could I ditch a  PC which I would locate near my music system and receive the music o replace a streamer there (and feed into a DAC) but not connect by Wi-Fi?   I am admittedly ignorant of the whole streaming setup. A little basic help would be welcome.  Thanks.

pureclarity
68 posts
 

Some streamers have built in dacs which either can be connected with Ethernet or Wi-Fi. Also when I bought my Auralic, they recommend even a certain router for streaming, so you won’t lose on the high speed data.

pureclarity
68 posts
 

But also I second ghdprentice, get the laptop outta there, been that route, and you will have much better sound with a separate streamer/dac.

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