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Going from computer audio to dedicated streamer

A few days ago I purchased a Bluesound Node 2. Immediately after hooking it up I noticed a more relaxed less digital sound than I was getting from my Mac mini into my Wyred 4 Sound Dac-2. My hookup for the Mac was via a good usb cable into a Musical Fidelity Vlink192 coax into the Wyred 4 Sound. It is every bit as detailed as streaming Tidal through the Mac but is more "musical" and relaxed. An example would be on high dynamic contrasts the Mac could sound harsh and a little piercing in the highs. This was with every speaker I have owned. Not that it sounded bad overall, actually sounded quite good but I am loving this upgrade so far. No more messing with Amarra or Audirvana for me and dealing with the associated crashes etc.   
I am curious of others experiences good or bad moving away from computer audio to something else.
Also is anyone running an external hard drive with their music collection and running though the Bluesound or similar device and how is that working out?   
mofojo
mofojo OP
2,174 posts
 
Does your DAC-2 have the femto clock in it? I am sending mine in to get converted to 110v from 220v and adding the femto clock. Not sure I'll hear any difference or not. I was thinking about going the V.2 route but decided to wait and see if they add mqa support. 
jbetanc
6 posts
 
Imac , apple loss less, emotiva pre amp dac, via fiber optic, so far works very good for me
johnnyb43's avatar
johnnyb43
32 posts
 
I've been using bluesound vault for 2 years now and I love it. .I have the first model. Try putting some nordost sort cones under it that will improve your experience even more. 
mofojo OP
2,174 posts
 
Using the internal DAC of the Bluesound. Very listenable actually. Not as detailed or deep as the DAC-2 but more listenable on less than stellar recordings. MQA tracks sound very good as well. 
sandydennis11's avatar
sandydennis11
62 posts
 
I’m using a iMac with Roon/Tidal to the PSAudio Directstream with the bridge11 and cant imagine it getting better than this. PS Audio is looking into MQA but seriously doubt they will go for it unless MQA lessens their demands.
Then send all through the Parasound JC2 preamp to Parasound JC 1's then my Thiel CS3.7’s with their SS2 sub.. On some extremely brassy music the 3.7’s tend to be a little sharp so I switch to the Kef 207/2’s
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