Thoughts and suggestions please

@knownothing 

The Bluesound NODE ICON - sorry, I thought you had that one! - can connect via the USB-C port directly with a computer - which would be far better to manage your files while having a visual viewpoint and better the sound (asynchronous). 

You would have to have that Bluesound NODE flagship "ICON" to get asynchronous. All other models are synchronous. 

For those that have large digital file collections like me playing them from the computer is really the only way to do it. My wife's Klipsch sound bar has a USB-C for music playing and it is "meh", due to numerous limitations. I would have to get an adapter to hookup my jitterbug, that has been in a drawer for years, but have not bothered. I guess if I was to buy a streamer, it would be the NODE model because I am committed to playing from the high-resolution collection that I have. The reason I don't purchase one is because the sound from it would not better the Schiit Yggy. But they are a nice offering for those that have not already made the dive with a higher end DAC. Especially those that both a collection and a want to stream.

I find it interesting however as USB-C will ultimately replace USB-A, so at some point, USB-A cables will only apply to legacy electronics. Besides the reason that it uses a cable with both ends being identical, it also supports faster speeds but I doubt it will provide better sound. Who knows, somebody will say they like the sound of the bigger A-ports of old. Ha-ha.

Generally speaking, the smaller C-ports are the de-facto standard for all time. Let's hope. Each manufacturer can do whatever they want with them but most fail at making them really usable outside the need for utilitarian tasks. Akin to your USB port in your car, there is a small bit of code (Linux?) that allows for capability to offer up basic options to do so. I am sure that a more pronounced effort would only end up in some possible "failures" and what manufacturer wants to be forced to fix sound bar ports, car mfg USB ports, or Bluesound returns due to not playing a .WAV file it said on the box it could play. You know, let's put in minimal effort so we don't have to pay lawyers. But the ICON does step up to the plate at a fair price.

Anyway, checked out your system...not sure I have seen speakers like that before! That space looks like it took 14 years to populate accurately! Great use of space.

I did find a good response from A.I. on the subject that I will share:

Synchronous or Asynchronous Transfer?

When connecting a computer to a DAC (like the Bluesound Node Icon via USB-C), the transfer of audio data can be either synchronous or asynchronous. 

• Synchronous USB connections: The computer dictates the timing of the data packets, and the DAC must synchronize its clock to that of the computer. This method is generally considered less ideal for high-fidelity audio due to potential jitter caused by the computer's clock.
• Asynchronous USB connections: The DAC has its own high-precision master clock and requests data from the computer at its own pace. This approach is preferred for audiophile applications as it significantly reduces jitter, leading to improved sound quality. 

Based on the information available, the Bluesound Node Icon supports asynchronous data transfer when acting as a USB DAC. According to a Bluesound support forum discussion, devices compliant with USB Audio Class 2.0 (which many modern DACs, including the Node Icon, are) support asynchronous mode, and the DAC's clock is used for processing. 

Therefore, the Bluesound Node Icon, when connected to a computer via USB-C for audio input, should be operating in asynchronous mode. This allows the Node's high-quality internal clock to govern the data transfer, resulting in optimal sound quality. 

@goodlistening64 
Thanks for clarifying that you are talking about the Node Icon.  I did not know all other versions of the Node are operating in synchronous mode only when accepting data via USB.  My hope is that there would be zero or close to it jitter from the SSD drive connected to the Node, that the Node functioning as a server would add little jitter to the signal before transferring it to the Chord Qutest DAC, and that using quality USB and coax cables along with the the ultra low noise Teddy Pardo power supply would add little extra noise.  I can say removing the Node N130’s internal switching power supply and replacing with the external Pardo made a big improvement in sound quality for serving files to my Chord DAC.

Reviewers of Node products have noted that they perform much better as streamers/servers only, and that the DACs in older models are not that good, and this has been my experience. Overall, I find the BluOS software very good, especially the latest update, and the Node can serve all my digital files or stream to any other BluOS devices in my house, all controlled by the app on my phone or iPad - convenient.

I should note that the DAC in a new Node Nano set up in my office system is qualitatively better than the DAC in my N130.  But even that is improved when running toslink out to a Chord Mojo2, bypassing the Nano’s internal DAC.  In any case, I would expect the Node Icon is as good as reviewers are saying it is (except Amir, but that is a whole other topic).

kn

Everyone can do as they wish but just a FWIW, if it hasn't come up before. Bluesound will not honor the warranty on a Node if you use anything other than their power supply.

@knownothing 

I was in the same boat for a few years with Schiit Yggy DAC. I had purchased the original Yggy many years back (2016?) and it took a couple of years before the Unison USB board became available. The Unison USB board was what provided asynchronous transfer and it was a huge difference in sound once I installed it. So it was a huge leap in sound quality. 

Yes, I guess there are two drawbacks with your Bluesound Node. The switching power supply (vs a Linear Power Supply) and the transfer not being asynchronous. The Chord DAC you have is really well respected and is not reaching it's potential. If you were to get the kind of upgraded sound I got when I installed the Unison USB board, it will be a huge sound difference. 

Just a quick look at the ICON and it too has a switching power supply, so if you were to upgrade at some point to an ICON, you may be able to use the Pardo power supply in the ICON and put the old one back into your Node for resale.  

“Bluesound will not honor the warranty on a Node if you use anything other than their power supply.”  This is correct, if they actually bother to check that you opened the box.  But for me, the low initial entry cost of their devices generally and the performance gain make the risk/reward calculation an easy decision.  Just make sure you get a quality after market power supply that provides adequate current and the correct voltage - and hope your streamer wasn’t a factory lemon.

The Node Icon supposedly has a beefier built-in switching power supply, commensurate with greater cost.  But replacement supplies are available from Teddy Pardo and others for it as well.  For this pricier Node, the financial risk is of course higher, and I do not have any experience with it, but the sound quality reward for replacing the stock supply in the N130 for me was high.

Adding a power supply with a switch also has the advantage of saving electricity, reducing your power use (however for replaced switching supplies this is small), reducing the number of lights glaring from your rack when not listening to digital music, and reducing the potential electrical fields and interference in your rack if you also have a vinyl setup.  For serious listening, I turn everything off in my rack except for the source I am using at that moment.

kn