NODE as just a streamer / Airplay device

@blisshifi 

It’s what we do.😀

@curiousjim That is a new feature with Bluesound being able to attach external  drives, and it’s great to hear about. Thanks for sharing

@12many Skip the used Node 2i and get the current model. You will be glad you did and the price difference is insignificant.

Good move. The thing I find with my setup is the Pardo does get better after warming up each session. The longer it goes the better it seems. Also putting the Node on isolators really livens up the sound with even better clarity. I use some 1/4  thick soborthane pads between the Pardo and the Node.

@baylinor I just ordered the PD Creative power supply upgrade and an Sbooster LPS. Can’t wait to make the conversion to see how it sounds.

@12many 

the main reason for using USB to a dac is if you want to use the dac's clock. All other connections will use the Node's clock. That is what I found out in my research about the subject. HUGE difference if you have a good dac.

Thanks @baylinor and everyone else. Great info you are all providing. I was told by someone I trust that the output of all good streamers is basically the same - digital data so select a good one, but focus on the interface/reliability, features, app . .. He said the big differences someone like me will notice are in the DAC/AMP/speakers. Not saying there is not improvement with costly streamers, just maybe beyond my ears, budget, and beyond the rest of my system/room. Plus, I am of the belief (right or wrong) that digital data is digital data in well built and properly functioning system. Hence focusing on the software side of the streamer.

I am looking used for a 2i, but sometimes not that much less then new.

This forum is so helpful. Thanks everyone.

This may interest some. Since I operate my streamer with my android phone as a remote, there are very few options for me. It automatically eliminates Auralic since they do not do Android. Lumin and Aurender both have huge issues with it, just look at their super low review ratings (below 3*) and horror stories on their apps for Android. In my $5,000 price range it really leaves only Innuos has a possible upgrade from the Node since they do Android well as per their sense app reviews. However, not sure it really would be a significant upgrade over my Node/Pardo setup so it makes it an easy decision to stick with the Node and bluos app which works absolutely flawlessly on my android. Further proven by the over 11k 4*+ reviews on their app. It's rare when audio equipment available out there makes the decision process so easy for me related to my android setup. Live and learn. T

Was considering node and at the time they had no usb out.  My dac manufacturer has multiple inputs, still suggesting that usb wqs the the preferred method.  Using small green computer rendu.  

After all, that's why many sites have the poster's system listed below each of their posts and of course all reviewers post theirs too with each review. Without that info, I respectfully learn nothing.

NODE N130 with Pardo LPS powered with Shunyata venom 14 PC  to Gustard X26 PRO via DH Labs silver USB cable so it uses the superior Gustard clock instead of the Node. Blujeans ethernet cable from NODE to TP-Link extender. Bingo, life is good. Vinyl setup, CD setup and now streaming setup, all sound equally GREAT with slightly different presentation. It takes time and dedication but is truly a wonderful journey. Of course, none of these results would have been achieved to those levels without the attention to detail in the room building and its acoustics. If interested I give plenty of details about all of it in my house of stereo system page. Seeing other folks systems has always been a big part of my learning process on this site. Everyone should post their system so we know what they are talking about when they make claims about their experiences. 

Node to external Dac with Qobuz works fine…

It costs twice the price of the Node but I would shell out for Cambridge Audio CXN 60.  It adds Chromecast, which blows away AirPlay.  It sounds better just a streamer than the Node, and is really great with Internet Radio, and has a good app.  It also has a very good DAC.

Yes. Go for it. I have had the Node 2i for a few years and over that span have graduated through 3 outboard DACs with increasingly great results. The Node as just a streamer, is a great option with easy and stable software. Mine's been extremely reliable. Add in the external DAC and you'll enhance your experience further. 

I’ve got the Node 2 just streaming with an MHDT orchid DAC. The combo works really well. I plan to soon upgrade the Node 2 considerably by adding an external Teddy Pardo power supply bypassing the cheap internal power supply of the Node 2. Everyone that has gone down the external power supply route seems to think the results are well worth the expense. I considered the Sbooster, but Teddy Pardo now offers a kit where you can convert it yourself in maybe 20 minutes.

The newest Node (130) works very well with a really good DAC. In may case, I'm outputting to a Denafrips DDC to Denafrips DAC.....so the USB port would not be available for a USB storage device.

I can recommend the Node2i as an excellent streamer.  I did not think much of the dac and bypassed it, but I understand the newer version has an upgraded dac.

I replaced it with a miniDsp SHD Studio because I wanted DiracLive dsp.  That it does, but the Volumio gui is decidedly inferior to the Bluesound gui.  So much so that I am looking once more for a streamer with dsp.  NAD?

The moral is that the gui is critical, and Bluesound has one of the best in the business.

@curiousjim That is a new feature with Bluesound being able to attach external  drives, and it’s great to hear about. Thanks for sharing. 

Agree that the Bluesound Node has some of the most robust and user friendly stable user interface around.

For the digital side, the difference between streamer is minimal but the difference a DAC makes is great. Put your money there. I upgraded soon after getting a Node and loved the improvement.

I’m using a Node 130 as we speak and you can plug a memory stick in the USB with your CD’s and use a digital RCA or Optical to your amp.  The software makes it easy to switch to Tidal/Qobuz/CD.   I did just that until just recently.  Now I’m using the USB to my amp and my CD’s are coming from the NAS.

All the best.

JD

AirPlay passes Redbook played by Apple. I might prefer 320 kbps played by a decent streamer.

Amen to the wired requirement.

I have been using a Node 2 and later a Vault. I was using the Node 2 wired and then accessed ripped CDs through my network to a MyCloud HDD. Later I transferred all aiff files to the Vault HDD and started to rip future cds into the Vault. Both Node 2 and Vault are feeding external DACs. The sound is good enough for my ears, whether I stream CD or MQA via Tidal or stream CD or HiRes thru Qobuz. It’s also fine playing ripped FLAC files. But IMHO you must run it wired, too much fuss using it wireless.... way to finicky.

I agree. Definitely better than the old 8 track quality that happened to be in my first car. 

For the money the Bluesound Node is hard to beat. I've always been very satisfied with the sound quality from 16/44 files and up to 24/192. 

@tgilb 

As I understand it, you are correct.  Airplay is limited to about cd quality.  It is for convenience mostly and CD quality is still very good - better than 8 track right !!   Hi res would be straight from Qobuz with the Ipad used only as a controller.  I can not confirm 100% on Airplay 2, but I think it is the same.  

Does using Airplay to the Node support 24-bit/192 kHz hi res streaming? I have a Node 2i running through a separate DAC and if I stream a 24/192 Flac file directly from a streaming service on my iPhone or iPad to the Node 2i using Airplay the maximum output is 24/48 but streaming through the Bluesound App on iPhone or iPad to the Node 2i through WiFi the output is the full 24/192.

I’ve read on the Bluesound web that the maximum output from Airplay is 24-bit/48 kHz unless that has changed with the new Node.

Due to that I always stream through the Bluesound App to get the full resolution.

Easy to use if you like persistent queue. I don't.

Every file that I plug into the USB-A plays into the digital outputs.

I store on external SSD.

If I wanted what you do I would go with an iFi and not pay for an unused DAC.

AirPlay is  puts the crappy player in the stream.

I use a node with an external DAC with good (better than the internal dac) results.

Maybe you could store the files you want to play on your network?

I'm not familiar with Benchmark DAC3 but I have owned a NODE and I do the the Bluesound interface.

When I upgraded from the Node, I selected a Moon Streamer/DAC.  Moon's makes numerous streamer/DACs and the streamer module in the 280D for ~$3k is the same one in their top of the line unit that is ~$18k.

I like the simplicity and the interface was almost as good as BlueSound.  I use a combination of TIdal direct, Roon and Moon's MiND2 interface. 

Depending on your goals and budget the Moon 280D is a great unit in my experience.

Node 2i and the later Node N130 both added AirPlay support, but if you want to store files, you’d have to use the Bluesound Vault 2i, not the Node.

@12many The Bluesound ecosystem does a fine job of streaming (and file management and serving of using the Vault), but its sound quality is inferior to other high end digital sources on the market. Is it good enough? It was for me for many years, and very convenient to use. But if you’re looking for endgame there are many better options at exponentially higher price points. 

1) Does the Node do AirPlay?

2) Does the Node have a HD to store your 30 albums?

I have an older Node2 and it does neither

I just looked it up and the current Node adds Air Play.  As per the previous post you can probably store 30 albums on a flash drive which you connect to the usb input on the Node.  I've never done this so I can't comment on how well it works.  Then connect the Node through a non usb connection to the Benchmark.

  Otherwise the Node will probably serve your needs.  Keep in mind that many have had product reliability issues with Bluesound, but fortunately we are a minority.  At the price it offers a lot of functionality and the App is pretty good 

Node works fine (I own two) for this but doesn't store any media. I have a large library of media that it connects to and sometimes use a USB drive. If you use the USB drive with media you can't use that connection for a DAC FWIW.  I have one using the USB connection to the DAC and another which uses the coax to a DAC.